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2181. Was it not necessary to make another drawing?— Not that lam aware of. 2182. Could you lay off the building from that plan?— Yes. 2183. Without any further plan than that ?—Yes. 2184. Footings and everything else ?—Footings and everything else. I never was asked for any other to do it by anyhow. 2185. Would you mind showing me the letter of the sth July. 1881, to Mr. Brindley? [Letter produced.] "Bo good enough to carefully make up same at earliest convenience, and also make no further deviation from contract at any point without obtaining my written authority." That is your instruction given to Mr. Brindley in July, 1881?— Yes. 2186. But on the Bth December, 1881, you practically leave the whole matter of the footings in his hands. You say, " This is a matter which must be left to your own discretion, with above general directions." You then leave the whole matter to his discretion? —Yes, certainly; because I was not on the spot: I could not see the foundations put in. 2187. This is a very important building to have erected—an enormously important building; I should like to know how often you were there ?—I could not tell. As often as I was required. 2188. Were you on the ground once a month on the average ?—More than that. 2189. If I have evidence to show that you were not there nine times in one year, what will you say ? —I should say that was simply absiird, unless the works had been standing still in that year, or something of that sort, so that there was nothing doing. My letters and the general tone of them will show anyone that I was attentive to the work. There would very soon have been some words of it if I had not been. 2190. In the matter of these foundations is it usual to give such large discretionary powers to the Inspector ?—lt is most necessary when he is on the spot and the architect is absent. 2191. Is it not the practice in architecture, as well as in engineering, that in the matter of putting in foundations the highest authority available is always consulted? —Yes, certainly. I expected Mr. Brindley, if he was in any doubt, to consult me. 2192. Were you consulted about these foundations to be put in ?—Not that I am specially aware of. 2193. Was your attention not directed by letter ?—lf it was it will appear. Give me the date of the letter, and I will soon see. 2194. This is the letter of the 13th December, 1881. Did Mr. Brindley not direct your attention to the foundations of the north wing not being right?— Yes. "Seeing that there is a question of the foundations of the north wing not being right, would it not be as well that some arrangement be made to do away with the packing altogether?" 2195. Eead the rest of it.—Beplied to same day. 2196. He says, " Mr. Gore wants the stone put in about 3in. apart, which is simply ridiculous, and that too with 2in. metal?"'—Yes. 2197. He directed your attention to that foundation?—l read the reply, I think. 2198. Yes, you read that reply. You replied to this letter the same day, but you gave no specific answer with reference to this question about the foundations being bad?— That part of the letter you mean ? 2199. Yes ?—No; it does not seem to have attracted my notice here. 2200. Then Mr. Brindley wrote directing your attention to this bad foundation, and you did not take any notice ? —No, he did not say bad foundation; he said simply the question of the foundation not being right. 2201. He directed your attention to it ? —Yes. I may have taken notice of it, but I have not anything in writing about it, so far as I know in this letter. 2202. Although you answered it the same day?— Yes. I may have spoken to himself about it personally; evidently I did not refer to it in the letter. I cannot tell you whether I did or not. I am unable to say. But Ido not look upon the packing not being properly put in as a source of weakness at all. 2203. In this letter you allow the packing to be a third of the whole walling ? —Yes. 2204. Do you consider that sufficient?—l think that is a fair average. 2205. A third in thin walls ?—That is speaking of the walls we were dealing with. 2206. You think that sufficient ?—lt is a fair average. 2207. Do you think it sufficient in a place where the Inspector directed your attention to the foundations being bad ? —Yes. 2208. Quite sufficient where the foundations were bad?—A fair average. 2209. As you relied on the Inspector's judgment in the matter of the foundations, why did not you accept his suggestion to do away with the packing ?—Because I had a judgment as well as ho had. 2210. And you thought in this case his judgment was at fault ?—I did not say that. Every man has a right to his own opinion. 2211. But you did not accept his opinion ?—Not in that case. I will not say, for Ido not know whether I answered it or not. You asked me whether I answered it, and I say I evidently did not do so in writing the same day. 2212. Now, with reference to this question of scamping, you were rather severe upon me in saying that I was guilty of a dereliction of duty in not bringing the matter of scamping before the public and before you when it was first discovered in 1885 : will you point to the part of my statement which alludes to the scamping at that date ?—You say you first became aware of the defection in the foundations at date ; that is what I mean. 2213. But did I say anything a.bout scamping at that date?—lt followed immediately on that. 2214. Did I make any reference to scamping at all except in connection with the foundations under the front windows ?—lt was the foundations I meant; that is what I referred to. 2215. You say I concealed this thing—carried it about in my bosom for three years. Did Mr.