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395. How long were the divers engaged?—Eor several days. 396. Has that information been sent to Sir John Coode ?—Not since I have come from Home. 397 But this is information he has asked for ? —The business between Sir John Coode and the Board has ceased. We do not consider him in the matter at all. Ido not consider there is any relationship between us. 398. Then, in point of fact, the New Plymouth Harbour Board have set aside Sir John Coode's advice, but at the same time are carrying out his designs ? —The Board did not comply with his request. 399. The Board have not given him the information he required ?—No, not to my knowledge. 400. I suppose when the blocks are in the water they form a wall of obstruction to the waves ?— Tes; so also do the bags. 401. The cost of levelling the blocks by divers is included in your margin of 7s. 7d. per yard ?—Tes. 402. If it was found necessary to remove the sand from the foundation to a greater depth, that would add an additional cost of the work ?—Tes ; but it is one of contingency 403. Tou are not prepared to say what this additional expense is likely to be ?—No. 404. Does the quantity of 95,000 yards, which you gave the Committee on your first examination, comprise everything ? —I think so. 405. Have you added up the figures in Sir John Coode's estimates ? —I should say I had, but not lately [Document put in."] Slß,— Wellington, 29th July, 1881. I enclose herewith statement showing details of how I arrive at my estimate of 225. per cubic yard of concrete, but to fully comprehend these items it is necessary that the plans showing the method of working should be referred to. I may add that the cost of mining and breaking the Btone to suitable sizes is based upon the cost of similar work at Holyhead Breakwater and the quarries of Portoonschan (Duke of Argyle's properly, Inverary), the former costing 9d. per cubic yard and the latter Bd— I have, &c, J B. Rbes, M.I.C.E. E. Wright, Esq., Chairman, New Plymouth Harbour Board Committee. Daily Charge. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Concrete Mixing-house, — 1 driverf ... ... ... 010 0 3 stone-breakers and 3 concrete 1 locomotive driver ... ... 0 5 0 mixers* .. ... ... .. 1 stoker ... ... ... 0 4 0 1 man attending in-coming trucks 0 6 0 5 cwt. coal, at 2s. ... ... 010 0 1 man feeding stone-breaker ... 0 G 0 2 7 0 3 men mixing cement and sand ... 018 0 Setting Blocks with Titan— 1 man attending mixer... ... 0 6 0 1 driver ... 010 0 1 man attending skips ... ... 0 6 0 1 stoker .. ... ... 0 8 0 1 man running out trucks ... 0 6 0 7 cwt. coal, at 2s. ... ... 014 0 Oil, &c. ... .. ... 0 6 0 3 gangs as above at ... 280 740 2 divers (required only for that Engine-house, — portion of blocks under water), 1 driver .. ... ... Oil 0 say half-day ... ... 10 0 1 stoker ... ... ...080 4 men attending on divers ... 012 0 i ton coal, at 40s. ... .. 110 0 310 0 Oil, &c. ... ... ... 0 6 0 Supervision ... ... 5 5 0 2 15 0 Moulding Blocks, — Cost to provide 120 cubic yards daily £24 6 0 1 man and horse running skips ... 012 0 —■ 1 driver of steam-traveller ... 0 10 0 £ s. d. 3 men in moulds .. ... 018 0 Or say, per cubic yard ... .. ..040 2 men erecting moulds ... ... 012 0 Sand and gravel, per cubic yards of concrete ... 0 1 2 Coal, 5 cwt., at 2s. ... ... 0100 Mining, blasting, and loading ... ... 024 Oil, &o. ... ... .. 0 3 0 Haulage of stone to breakers ... ... 0 0 6 3 5 0 3 cubic feet of cement ... ... ... 013 7 Loading blocks on trucks with hydraulic Goliath, and running Total cost of concrete per cubic yard ... £1 1 7 same to Titan—3 men, at 6s. ... 018 0 —.- Examination of John Goodall. 406. The Chairman.] Tou are engineer of the Timaru Harbour Works ? —I am. 407 What has been the total amount of money spent on those works?—We have spent on our works about £72,000, exclusive of secretary's salary and supervision, and cement on hand about one thousand tons, value £4,650. The supervision would amount to £3,000. The secretary for a very long time had other duties, and fulfilled the secretaryship for the works for £50 per annum. 408. What plant do you possess?— The only plant of any value is the steam-crane, which cost us £3,200, and a Priestman's dredger, which cost £1,565, and sundry other items £600. 409. Eor what object did you get the dredge?—We procured the Priestman's dredge to remove sand from front of our works. Now we have it it will be useful for a variety of things: it is very useful for loading ships. 410. Have you none of the plant used in mixing the concrete ?—No ; it all belongs to the contractors ; all but two special appliances. 411. Can you state approximately what is the value of the plant in the hands of the contractors ? —I should say £1,000. I know one contractor bought it from another for £750, so that Ido not think it is worth more than the sum I have mentioned. Of course horses are not included in that sum.

* Stone-breakers and mixers are so arranged that the stone goes direct into the mixers and thence to skips, without handling. f Locomotive engaged part of day only ; rest of day running stone. Note. —Concrete in bags costs about 3s. per cubic yard extra, as shown by the returns of the Aberdeen and the Fraserborough Harbour Works.

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