BUILDER IN COURT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20370, 26 September 1929, Page 9

BUILDER IN COURT

SPECIFICATIONS AMENDED. ALTERATIONS WITHOUT PERMIT. Five charges relating to the modification of a building in course of erection at Newmarkot without obtaining a permit were brought against S. Wallath, builder, in the Magistrate's Court yesterday by W. W. Murray, building inspector to the Newmarket Borough Council (Mr. Craig). Mr. Jacobsen entered a plea of guilty to all tho charges. Mr. Craig said that the prosecution was brought because accused departed from the plans and specifications of the building which had been approved by the Borough Council. One charge was in respect to beams which had been left out of the construction, two related to the addition of a room in the basement, and tlio others to the addition of a stairway and landing at the back of the building. Admitting that there was no excuse for the offence, Mr. Jacobsen said that it had been customary for builders to make alterations to the plans after referring them to the building inspector and to proceed with tho j.iterntions in the interim before the amended plans were officially sanctioned by the local authority. The omission of tlio beams had not weakened tho structure, as other steelwork had been incorporated in tho design and expert evidence could be culled to show its strength. Defendant had written a letter to the Borouglfl Council explaining the position and was willing to fulfil any further requirements. Convicting Wiilliith, Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., ordered him to pay Court costs £2 10s and solicitor's fee, £5 ss.