The estimated value of buildings in the Settlement for which permits were issued during the first seven months of 1937, was $9,151,880, compared with $6,044,990 for the corresponding period of last year, an increase of $3,106,890. Since the commencement of hostilities in August, however, there has naturally been very little activity in the building trade, the estimated value of buildings for which permits were issued during the - last five months of 1937 amounting to $1,619,800, compared "with $5,465,000 for the corresponding period of 1936, showing a decrease of $3,845,200. The total estimated value of buildings for which permits were issued during the year was $10,771,680, compared with $11,509,990 during 1996.
The estimated value of minor works for which General Permits were issued amounted to $892,500 (compared with $1,140,000 in 1936), Many buildings were leased and fitted to accommodate Schools, Hospitals, Nurses' Quarters, the Volunteers and Rice Storage.
The cessation of the normal supply of such native products as bamboo-ware, sand, broken stone, bricks, and lime caused a serious shortage, which was met by improvised products and substitutes of various kinds.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.