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1182. It could not possibly do the building any good?—No, it would do no good to go within 12ft. 1183. Would it have a tendency to make it settle ?—Taking away support would always have that. 1184. Mr. Blair.] Supposing the building moved away from the drain ?—Then, that is worse and worse. 1185. Would it have a tendency to make it go back ? —lt could not go back. 1186. You said this buttress, or counterpart, or whatever it is called, would go down here ?— No, I do not say that. 1187. Do you say it did not ?—lt would not take the vertical pressure. 1188. But would it not if toothed in this fashion, with rails in the middle of the walls ?—The weight would then go upon the foundation. 1189. Suppose there was no question of any slips here at all, and you went and found one block of the building lft. downhill and another lft. uphill, what would you say ? —I could not account for it. 1190. Would you say it was built that way ?—I could not say it was built that way. 1191. Supposing you had no information whatever about the building, and you go out and find it one block uphill and another downhill, and you have no information how it was set out, no centre-line, no base-line, what would be the conclusion ? —The conclusion that there was something wrong. 1192. But supposing there were no cracks there ?—Then, if there were no cracks there it would have been built that way. Geoegb Ceonk sworn and examined. 1193. Mr. Gore.] What are you ? —A labourer. 1194. Did you work at Seacliff Asylum ? —Yes. 1195. How long were you employed there ? —I should say about fifteen or sixteen months. 1196. Did you assist to put the concrete into the trenches ?—I put in a portion of it. 1197. Will you state how it was put in—but first of all tell the Commissioners how it was mixed ? —lt was mixed with metal and cement. It was mixed in a concrete-board erected for the purpose. 1198. Was it measured at all ?—Yes, in a box ; but in what proportions I cannot thoroughly say. By the size of the box, if my memory serves me, it would be-5 or 6to I—according to the size of the box. 1199. It was measured in boxes, you say—the stone and cement were both measured ?—Yes, the stone was measured. Of course the cement was put out of a cask. 1200. How was it placed in the trenches ? —lt was wheeled in barrows, shot out of the barrows, and levelled by the men in the trench. 1201. Did you notice how the stone packing was put in ? —The stone packing I did myself. I suppose that the spaces were 7in., Bin., or 9in. apart, and it was kept well away from the edges. 1202. Was the concrete rammed with rammers ? —I think it was. 1203. How do you mean, you think it was ?—At the portion I saw it was. 1204. Have you had much to do with concrete-work ? —Yes. I think in the building I am at present working at there are some thousands of yards of it. 1205. What building is that ? —The Australian Mutual Provident Society's new building. 1206. That is in Princes Street ?—Yes. I have worked with Mr. Small for a good long time. He has had a lot of concreting to do. 1207. From what you know of concrete do you consider that the concrete which was put into the asylum at Seacliff was good or bad concrete ? —I should consider that it was good. 1208. Do you consider it was good concrete ? —I do. 1209. The Chairman.] Will you describe to us what was the size of the stones that were put in the packing ?—Some might be lOin. and some 12in. square. They were boulders broken up— got out of the ground—good, clean, hard bluestone ; and the metal was of the same quality. 1210. What size were the stones generally? —About lOin. or 12in. square ; but some might be a little larger. 1211. Mr. Skinner.] Were any very large ? —Not to my knowledge. I do not recollect seeing any very large ones put in. 1212. Mr. Mountfort.] You mean to say that you mixed the cement with the stones or broken metal ? —After the metal was measured. 1213. After measuring it what did you do ? —We mixed it once dry with the metal, then wetted it, turned it twice, then put it into barrows, and then into the trenches. 1214. Was there no sand ? —I did not see any sand there. 1215. You saw no sand used ?—I did not see any used. Mr. Gore : I would call your attention, gentlemen, to the fact that it is five years since this witness was employed on the work, and his memory may have failed him since that time. Geoege Watkins sworn and examined. 1216. Mr. Gore.] What are you ? —A labourer. 1217. Did you work at Seacliff Asylum ?—Yes. 1218. Did you assist to put in the concrete there ? —Yes. 1219. Will you describe how it was put in — but first of all will you describe how it was mixed? Was it measured?— Yes, it was measured in boxes that the Inspector had made. It was put into these boxes and turned out from that. 1220. And after it was mixed ? —lt was put into the trench. Then boulders were put in, as nearly Bin. apart as possible, and rammed,