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1014. Mr. Blair.] Then you have included it ? —Yes. 1015. And have you included the cross-walls?— Yes, the cross-walls. They are all in. 1016. Can you tell me the quantities in these footings according to the original plans ? The Chairman : The witness stated that he got all these dimensions from Mr. Brindley, and of his own knowledge he knows nothing. Mr. Blair : I wanted to know whether he knew the quantity of concrete as shown by the contract-plans. The Chairman; You are asking him now for measurements included in the papers put in as the result. 1017. Mr. Blair.] He told us he took the measurements from the plans, and from information given by Mr. Brindley also, and I want to know whether he can give us the quantity of concrete according to the drawings? —I should require to go through it. I could not do it in a few minutes. Mr. Lawson : Do you mean of the whole building ? Mr. Blair : The whole building. Mr. Lawson: I hope you recognise, step by step, the importance of having Mr. Brindley present. Witness : The central block—the total quantity of concrete put down before the Ist May, 1882, was 309 yd. Bft. lOin. —that is, the central block ; north wing, 387 yd. 16ft. lin. ; south wing, 142 yd. 22ft. That was 840 yd. 19ft. in boxes. In trenches—sosyd. 15ft., central block; north wing, 416 yd. 26ft.; south wing, 61yd. 24ft. Total of concrete, 1,825 yd. sft. 1018. Mr. Blair.] Then the total of these boxes and trenches is 1,825 yd. Is that the total of concrete as constructed?— That is the total of concrete as constructed up to the Ist May, 1882. 1019. Was there anything more after that ?—Yes, 3rd June, 1883. 1020. How much was that?—l37yd. 2ft. above ground, and 624 yd. 20ft. 1021. And the total of that is?—76lyd. 1022. Is that all ? —Then there was the brickwork. 1023. Is that all the concrete that was put in?— All that I took quantities of. There may have been more, but I did not measure it. 1024. Was the building finished when you were there ?—No. 1025. That comes to 2,586 yd.? —Yes; but I could not say whether that is all the concrete. That is all I measured up to the 30th June, 1883. 1026. Now, can you tell us how much the original contract shows?—l could not say how much the original contract shows. Mr. Gore: I have just found—if you will allow me, and it is pertinent to the question just asked—this statement given to the foreman, whom I intend to call as a witness. I will put this in as an exhibit. I notice it is signed by Mr. Brindley. It shows the quantity of concrete in the foundations and the quantity as per plan : the one is deducted from the other—that is to say, the quantity on the plan is deducted from the quantity actually put in, and it leaves a balance. I think that is what Mr. Blair is trying to arrive at. If I put this in now it will facilitate matters. These were given to Mr. Forrest to assist him in taking the measurement with Mr. Brindley. Of course this is not put in as a complete statement of the measurement, but for what it is worth, as far as it goes. The Chairman : This is dated the 13th June, 1882 ? Mr. Gore: Yes. 1027. Mr. Blair.] What is the foreman's name? —John Dick. The Chairman : These are not final measurements ? Mr. Gore : No. The measurements are taken by the foreman, and initialled by Mr. Brindley as being correct. I put that in to show the measurements as per plan, and as actually carried out, and the difference is added or deducted, as the case might be. [Document put in, and marked "15."] 1028. Mr. Blair.] Do I understand, Mr. Forrest, then, that you simply checked these measurements with Mr. Brindley ? You did not take them for yourself?— No. 1029. In these particular measurements that you gave us, you gave us concrete in trenches and concrete in boxes. Can you, from the specifications, define what each was ?—All the foundations seem to have been of concrete, and the centre wall abutting on the earthwork concrete. 1030. Can you tell from the specifications what portion of the concrete was to be in boxes and w That portion was to be in trenches, as you have put them in your measurements ? —Of course it is necessary to have boxes for that above the ground. You cannot put concrete in without. 1031. Can you from that tell ua what was intended to be put in boxes, and what was to be put intrenches? —There could be no intention. Whatever was underground could be put in trenches, and what was above must be put in boxes. 1032. Is it shown on the specifications that what was underground could be put in the trenches without boxes ?—Certainly all parts that could not be put in without boxes would require boxing. The specification says, "The whole to be carefully mixed together, and when placed in position to be strongly boxed or cased, packed solid, and finished level, to receive the superstructure of brickwork." If you dig a trench you can fill the trench. 1033. The Chairman.] Is there anything in the specifications implying that ?—lt says so here : " The whole to be carefully mixed together, &c." [See preceding answer.] 1034. Was it not boxed in the trenches?— You do not require to box your trench. 1035. Is that stated so in that specification?— You have to assume that. 1036. Mr. Blair.] Is there anything in the specification to lead you to infer that casing was to be omitted in the trenches ? 1037. The, Chairman.] Does the specification distinctly state that concrete, can be placed in the