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1566. How long before it was used in the machine? —About a fortnight. Some of it was in the winter time, when the men could not work, and they were soaking it all the time. 1567. The number of bricks which were made, you state, was 4,500,000, and 200,000 were brought from Dunedin. Were they all burnt or simply moulded?— They were all moulded. As I have already explained, a lot —about 160,000 —were wheeled over the tiphead before they were burnt. 1568. Is it not a very common thing to lose a great many batches without burning? —Of course; but that is a rather large percentage to lose. As a matter of fact, we have no bats with Craven's machine. 1569. Because they are so hard ?—Yes. 1570. Can you point out in what portion of the building these pressed bricks were used ? — Yes. 1571. In which part?—ln Block 1 (south), in Block 2 (south), in Block 2 (north) —in fact, in nearly the whole building with the exception of the centre portion ; and even in the back portion, behind the kitchen, it was all pressed bricks. 1572. That includes the north-ambulatory wing? —-Yes. 1573. Mr. Blair.} You stated that these bricks were thrown out because the clay contained lime? —I did not say so. I stated that we wheeled them over the tiphead. 1574. Then they were condemned by yourself?— Yes. 1575. Because the clay contained lime ? —Or some deleterious property. 1576. Did you use that same clay again for making bricks? —No; we carefully avoided it. 1577. How could you avoid it ? —We could avoid the stuff aftei making a rough analysis of it. 1578. How did you analyse it ?—Mr. Gore brought some of the stuff to town, and had it analysed by a chemist. 1579. Can you produce the analysis ?—I do not know whether I can; but perhaps Mr. Gore, sen., will be better able to speak as to that. 1580. Was this limey clay in any one particular locality ? —Yes; so far as I know of it it is. 1581. It was confined to one particular locality ?—There was one streak in one particular place. 1582. Did you avoid that ?—We did as much as possible. 1583. You say that you avoided that locality ?—Yes. 1584. Can you point out on this plan where the place is that you avoided?— The ground has been so altered since that I would not like to swear to it. It was got in this direction : from right behind Block 2 (north), extending to the south-west, behind Block 1 (north). 1585. Did you not make any more bricks out of that clay?—No ; and for a very simple reason —if we had done so the bricks would have burst. 1586. As a matter of fact, then, you made no more bricks there after you found lime in the clay ?—Not from that portion of it. 1587. You state that common clay was used; again, that it was all tempered with water from a hose ? —For the bricks it was. 1588. When you got that new machine was the clay sent direct into it ?—With the Craven's machine, yes. 1589. That is the second machine, I understand. Was the clay not sent straight into the disintegrator, without puddling, or any weathering at all ?—That is the stuff that had fallen from the face. 1590. But it was wheeled straight into the disintegrator, was it not ? —Yes. 1591. Mr. Lawson.] You have seen Mr. Blair's statement as published? —I heard it read, and I have read part of it as published. Mr. Lawson: I suppose Mr. Blair will allow it to be taken as correct as published. Mr. Blair : Certainly not. 1592. Mr. Laivson.] You have heard that Mr. Blair states there that I was a partial architect ? —Yes. 1593. Now, during the whole course of the time that you were at that building can you remember any instance in which there was a dispute between yourself and the Inspector that I sided with the Contractor ? Can you recollect any instances of the kind ? —I have not the slightest recollection. 1594. Of any one occasion in which there was a dispute between yourself and the Inspector, in which I sided with you ? —No ; I have no recollection whatever of that. 1595. I want you to be very careful in your answer. Do you know of any instance of a dispute of the kind in which I sided with the Contractor ? —No, I do not know of any. 1596. Is that your answer-?— Yes. 1597. Is that your deliberate answer? —Yes, it is. 1598. The instances to which I draw your attention now are those mentioned by Mr. Blair in his statement. First of all we will take the concrete. When there was a dispute arose between you and the Inspector as to what distance apart the stones were to be placed in the packing, did I side with you or with the Inspector ?—So far as my recollection goes, Mr. Brindley showed me a letter he had received from you. 1599. What did it say, to the best of your recollection ? —I cannot say from memory. I know it instructed him to use his own discretion about the foundations. I think it said something about the distances, but I cannot say now what it was. 1600. Do you remember whether it said it was to be 18in. or 16in. apart?—No, I cannot remember. 1601. If I can produce you that letter showing.that it was to be from 16in. to 18in., would that refresh your memory on the matter ?—I dare say it would. 1602. As a matter of fact, Mr. Brindley found very serious fault about a portion of the concrete ? —Not with myself: that was with Mr. Gore, sen.