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Metal. —The whole of the pitching to be covered with metal broken to a gauge of 2\ inches from approved hard stone, spread broad-cast with a shovel to a depth of 6 inches over the entire surface. Blinding. —The whole of the metal shall be blinded with approved loam free from all vegetable matter, to a depth of 2 inches. Materials. Timber. —The piles to be of totara, matai, black birch, hinau, or puriri. The ground plates to be of totara. The remainder of the framing and boarding may be rimu, matai, or kauri. All the timber used shall be straight and sound, free from shakes, large or loose knots, and other imperfections; and each side of any scantling shall show nowhere less than f-heart. Galvanized corrugated iron to be of the best 88. quality sheet iron of approved brand, and free from all faults.

SPECIFICATION FOR WATER TANKS, LAMP-HOUSE, ETC. 1. Materials. —Timber : The foundation blocks, ground plates, studs, and joists for carrying the tanks, shall be of totara; the remainder of the structure may be of matai, kauri, or totara; and to hold the full dimensions specified. The timber to be free from all imperfections, and each side of any scantling shall show nowhere less than f-heart- Iron : The wrought iron shall be of 88. or other equal quality, soundly forged, and well and properly fitted. The cast iron shall be true and square in shape, free from honey-comb, blow-holes, or other imperfections. 2. Excavation. —Make all necessary excavations for the site and foundation blocks, and remove all surplus materials and rubbish during the construction and after the completion of the "works where directed. 3. Carpenter. —All the woodwork shall be sawn square, strongly-framed, fitted, and fixed truly square and out of winding. The inside of the stand, from the top of ground-plate to the underside of door-sill, shall be lined all round with 1| inch boards, well nailed to studs. The outside of the framing shall be encased on all sides with wrought weatherboards, 8 in. x 1 in., properly nailed, with a 2-inch lap. A strongly-made ledged and boarded door, secured with hasp and padlock, shall be properly hung as shown. A wooden ladder 10^ feet in length, strongly made, shall be provided. Provide and fix window and door in position shown. The roof of house shall be covered with 4-lb. lead. 4. Tanks. —The tanks shall be of wrought iron, of the best make imported, free from rust, bruises, or other injury, and shall be perfectly watertight. They shall be thoroughly painted inside with Portland cement in two coats. Provide and fix a proper 2-inch brass ball-tap, also sufficient 2-inch galvanized iron piping to reach to the bottom of the frame, or as directed, and with a bend at bottom end. In this pipe shall be fixed one brass 2-inch stop-cock, and one T with 2-inch brass cock with union joint to receive a hose-pipe. 5. Delivery Valve. —The delivery valve and tank connections shall be attached to the tank by the Contractor. The valve shall be opened by means of a wrought-iron rod hooked into the shank of the valve, and at top attached to a lever fixed to tank, and the outer end of lever to have a light chain fastened to it of sufficient length to reach the end of the hose when hanging. This rod, lever, and other fittings shall be supplied by the Contractor, but the delivery valve and tank connections will be supplied to the Contractor by the Government at the site. 6. Hose. —The outlet pipe of valve shall have a strongly made bull-leather copper-i'ivetted hose, lashed to it with strong copper wire. The inside of hose to be not less than 6 inches in diameter. The hose to be well soaked in tallow. A totara board shall be hung loosely to the stand at back of hose and strapped to it at bottom end; the use of this board is to support the hose and to keep it in proper position when in use. 7. Painting. —-All joints, abutments, shoulders, mortises, tenons, scarfs, and other joinings of two surfaces of wood, or of wood and iron, shall be worked perfectly true and fit accurately, and shall be covered with thick red-lead paint before being put together; and the whole of the timber (and the ironwork and tanks before erection) shall be painted outside in three coats of linseed oil and white lead, to finish white, or other approved colour. 8. Connections. —The tanks shall be connected together as shown with cast-iron flanged connections, bolted to the sides of tanks with four -|-inch bolts each, and vulcanized india-rubber washers, -J-inch thick, to make joints watertight.