ABSTRACT
Legally,nothingcameoutoftheInquiry.Charges werenotprovedandHicksonandhisofficerswere exonerated.TothisextenttheInquiryfollowed traditionandhadbeenlargely"awasteoftimeand money".ButwhatdidcomefromtheInquiryisa pricelessrecordofthebeginningsofreinforced concrete,specificallytheMonierSystem,inNew SouthWales.Reportedfullyandcontemporaneously, itisinformationthatmightnototherwisehavebeen recorded,becausesubsequenttechnicalpapersconcentratedonthetheoryanduseofreinforcedconcreteandonlybrieflymentioneditsorigins.
