JERRY BUILDING.

Northern Advocate, 26 January 1922, Page 4

JERRY BUILDING.

LOCAL MAN" FINED.

USING FAULTY TIMBER.

At the Whangarei Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon before Mr F. H. Levien, S.M., James Jackson, for whom Mr J. F. S. Briggs appeared,., was proceeded against on the information of the borough buildings inspee* tor. Thomas A. Williams, for whom Mr 0. E. Stout appeared, with having used second-class, worm-eaten and "dosey" timber in the building of a house in Sea View Road, contrary to section 71 of the borough by-lawdi It was explained that "dosey" timber was full of dry rot.

Mr Stout said that "defendant had used second-class kauri, whereas the bylaws required, at the lowest, ordinary .building quality, which was higher grafted The buildings inspector had given notice under section 18 to Jack* son to remove the condemned timber, and part was removed, but not the whole of it. The case was deemed an important one, as the regulations were aimed at protecting the public, who were ignorant of relative timber values. Thomas A. Williams said that he had inspected the house in Sea View Eoad, and had previously granted permission to build after seeing the plans and specifications. He had periodically inspected the work after it was begun and had found that it was not proceeding satisfactorily. He had asked for certain work to be done on several occasions, and the bracing was not done yet. He found that Jackson was second-class kauri It was in the base and facings of the buildings. He told him about the base, and some of the planks were removed. Then witness inspected the recess of the building, where he found worm-eaten and "dosey" kauri, which was decomposing and going rotten. The specifications and plan were submitted and the inspector said that the '' t. and g.'' second-class lining was faulty. Tffe specifications had not been altered and no permission to alter them had been given He considered that a third of the lining in two rooms would have to be removed to comply with the borough by-laws.

In reply to Mr Briggs, Williams said that shaky-heart kauri was timber with slight defects. It might, however, have pinholes, and as such could be used, according to the by-laws. There were no classes for rough lining, though he had a free hand to condemn it if he thought fit. Classes of timber were laid down by experts and the by-laws were made from those classes. In Ms experience it had always been specified that lining should be firsl-class timber, any other class, other than "ordinary building," was not allowed in Whangarei borough. The complaint was that the timber had been in the water for months and that it was wormy. When Mr Briggs asked if the defects were caused by earth worms or what,'the Magistrate stated that lie did not want to know sort of worms they were, and he then indicated that L? would save time by going up and having a look at the building.

The Magistrate made the indicated inspection, the case being deferred for half an hour.

Mr Briggs reported on resumption that Jackson had had no idea that there were split boards in the building and he' had therefore instructed him plead guilty. Mr Stout said his instructions were to press for a heavy penalty, as Jackson had till the last minute defied the Council. Mr Levien said he was pleased that he went out to see the timber for himself. It was such that no sane and intelligent builder would have used It was clearly what it would be expected of a jerry builder to use, and such as Jackson would not have used if he were building a house for his own use. There had been a good deal of discussion at the house and it had been recognised that Jackson must? take out the faulty timber. The (by-laws were to the effect that a builder must build with timber in good order and approved by the inspector. It seemed to him that the inspector was a very reasonable man under the special circumstances, and he therefore inflicted'a fine of £5, with £4 7s costs.

and go there if she wished. He described the nffairs of Wailwxuma House, and then Mr Stoadman questioned him severely about his statement that Ihe was getting only .10s a day working on a timber lorry. The Magistrate said that on Iveigh's showing he was evidently keeping his boarders instead of his wife, and ihe advised him (to close the doors if he could not make the business pay. The Magistrate made no order for separation, but one for maintenance at the rate of 35s per we-ek, payable weekly, with costs £2 25..