83

H.—7

1712. Will you describe it on this plan ?—lt was in the central block. 1713. You say that you put concrete in a portion of the central block : will you point out which portion ? —There was the back wall, there was this cross-wall, and part of the kitchenfoundations, which is not on this plan. 1714. You put in most of the concrete in the centre block ? —Yes, at the back. 1715. What sort of concrete was it ? First, tell me how it was mixed ? —1 forget the gauge now. 1716. Was it measured?—lt was all gauged. 1717. All measured in boxes ?—Yes. 1718. Do you consider that the concrete you put in was of good quality ?—lt was all of good quality. 1719. Were you discharged, or did you leave of your own accord?—l left of my own accord. 1720. What was the reason of your leaving ? —I did not get on very well with the Inspector, for one thing. I felt miserable there, and I thought it would be bettor to leave. 1721. Then you did not get on very well with the Inspector? —No, I did not. 1722. What was the cause—what was the grievance between you? —I had no grievance with him. 1723. Then what grievance had ho with you ? —Ho was always finding fault with me; yet he had all his own way. 1724. Did he interfere with the men at all ? —Yes. That was one of the things I did not care about him for. 1725. You felt that your position was so unfair to me and so miserable for yourself that you thought you would leave. Would that express what you meant? —Yes, and I told you so in these words. 1726. Did Mr. Brindley want you to leave ?—He did not say so, but it appeared to be so from the way that he was going on. 1727. Then you left on your own accord?—l did. 1728. Can you speak of the work generally—of the manner in which it was constructed, whether it was good or bad ? What class of work was it while you were there as foreman ? —All the work I saw done was of first-class workmanship. So long as I was there, and as far as I could see, it was so. 1729. lam only asking you to speak from your own knowledge. Have you had a good deal of experience in building?— Yes, a good deal. 1730. Are you satisfied that the work was carried out according to the intention and meaning of the plans and specifications ?—Oh, yes ! Of course I kept an account of all the differences between the plans and what was clone. I gave you the record of that. 1731. Have you seen these figures [handing document to witness] before?— Yes. 1732. Whose figures are they? —They are mine. 1733. Did you take the measurements? —I measured them as the work went on. 1734. What do these figures purport to be ?—Well, it show's the extra work that was done. It shows the difference between what is shown on the plan and what was really done. 1735. Between the concrete as it was carried out and as shown on the plan ?—That is it. 1736. Will you please look at the bottom of that paper. It is certified by Mr. Brindley as being correct, is it not?— That is the extra, in excess of the plan. 1737. That is the concrete done —all by measurement ? —Certainly. 1738. During the time that this concrete was being done did you see any packing tipped in by the barrowful and allowed to remain so ?— No; and I was there all the time. 1739. Were you likely to have seen it if it had occurred ? —Yes. 1740. Was Mr. Brindley about the foundations when the packing was being put in ? —He was always there. Both of us were there all the time. He was there, and saw every bit of concrete that I put in. Mr. Gore : I may explain that this was the exhibit which was handed to Mr. Forrest to assist him in making up his quantities along with Mr. Briudley. 1741. The Chairman.] I would like to know if these figures are the witness's?— Yes, sir; these are my own figures, just as I put them down. 1742. At the bottom I notice that they have been examined by Mr. Brindley—initialled by him, I think—and there is the date?—l do not know anything about that. 1743. It says, "Examined, A. T. 8., 13/6/82." Do you knowforwhat purpose these measurements were made? —Yes : for the sake of seeing what amount of concrete was put in. 1744. How often were thoy measured?— Continually ; every wall as we went on. 1745. The extra size you measured ?—Yes. 1746. I suppose that monthly progress-payments were made. There must be some measurements in order to arrive at what work was done ? —Mr. Brindley attended to that. 1747. Then this was simply kept as a record of tho amount of work done during a month?— I kept it as a record for Mr. Gore's guidance. The Chairman ; I would like that put a little more definitely. May it not be inferred that the measurements were simply for monthly payments ? What I want to get at is, whether these measurements were in any way proof that the work was done by measurement ? Mr. Gore : These figures would extend over two or three months ; therefore they could not be progress-payments. Witness : Mr. Brindley kept an account himself, and I kept an account myself. These figures show the amount of extra work done, over and above what is shown on the plan. The Chairman: But he docs not say that it is correct. Air. Gore : Mr. Brindley examined them all ; and tho witness has already said that the measurements were taken with Mr. Brindley for the purpose of making payment—final payment and not progress-payment,