Action in Court Over the West Wing: Contractor's Claim for Tls. 40,000 A dispute between the Governors of the General Hospital and the Chinese contractor concerning the building of the new west wing of the hospital was the subject of an action, begun in H. M. Supreme Court on Tuesday, before: his Honour Judge Grain.
Plaintiff, Chow Hwang-shing, claims that by a contract in writing dated April 20, 1917, he agreed te build a new wing to the hospital to the west of the existing block in accordance with plans and specifications, at the price of Ts. 228,886. Defendants undertook to provide various materials, and the work was to be completed on or before December 31, 1918. Plaintiff commenced to build the new wing and expended much labour and material thereon, but defendants failed to supply the materials as and when required by plaintiff, hereby he was prevented from and/or delayed in proceeding with and completing the work, and suffered damage in the sum of Tls. 41,386.25.
On various dates between April 25, 1917, and May 20, 1917, Messrs. Moorhead & Halse, architects, acting on behalf of defendants, delivered to plaintiff 182 tons odd of steel bars. Of these only 77 tons odd were suitable, and the remainder were sold by Messrs. Moorhead Halse to other purchasers. Plaintiff purchased for the purposes of the contract 191 tons odd at yaru prices all under Tls. 900 per ton. In addition to the work provided in tha contract, plaintiff carried out extra work amounting in all to Tls. 25,990.75 or thereabouts. On various dates, plaintiff was paid sums on account amounting to Tls. 210,000. Accounts were subsequently transmitted in which Messrs. Moorhead & Halse charged plaintiff Tls. 995 per ton for 77 tons odd of stea] bars and in addition a sum of Tis, 7,490.55 for commission. Plaintiff alleged that this price was largely in excess of the market
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.