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2419. You stated that you were very dissatisfied with the settling up in connection with the extras. Would you pleaso read that letter you wrote to Mr. Usslier on the subject. The letter is in evidence, and is dated 3rd June, 1884? —"To E. E. Ussher, Esq., District Engineer: Herewith I forward accounts of extras, &c, for final certificates of Contracts Nos. 1 and 2, Scacliff Asylum. The small sheet showing the deductions from the contract sums is allowed by Mr. Gore—namely, £1,214, and the other figures of same is in accordance with the offer made by Mr. Lawson to Mr. Gore a few days back; when going over accounts with a view to settlement of the same (such, however, is, in my opinion, more than should be given, and I hereby enter my protest against it) the deductions allowed by Mr. Gore are only about half what they should be [see summary sheet attached]; in fact, above offer is about equal to taking Gore's figures for extras and deductions, for there is no doubt in my mind that about £1,366 [as per sheet attached] was taken on Mr. Gore's original account; such amount or even more was put on to cover any deductions that might be made. As a fact, after seeing a rough draft of deductions that I had forwarded to Mr. Lawson, Mr. Gore's account made a jump from £5,976 to £8,480. I therefore forward accounts to you for perusal, and await instructions before signing and forwarding to Mr. Lawson for his signature." 2420. Do you think that Mr. Gore was too liberally dealt with?—l do with regard to that. 2421. Mr. Laivson.] Do I understand you to mean that after such a certificate was passed you objected to it. Is that what you mean? —Yes ; I objected to the final certificate. 2422. The Chairman.] I should like to ask you whether you had anything to do with the ranging out of the line of the building—with the setting out of the work?— No. I was given the line pegs, the block plan being set out. We started the building from the centre-line here [indicating on plan] and these were given to me. With regard to setting out this end of the block, I also had the line given me so as to measure from it, so that when we started the building we had these points given to us. 2423. Who gave them to you ?—Mr. Hay set them out and Mr. Cameron and Mr. Marshbanks, and some one from the Public Works Office gave me the others. 2424. Now with reference to the Northern Block 2—the northern end of it—and the alignment of that part in relation to the rest of the building : Do you think that it was built straight ? —Yes, it was built straight, and I will tell you why. When the concrete-wall was built in to the end of Block I—these blocks went up at different times —we stuck up a " dead man," so that we should always have a straight line to continue by. 2425. Was that done with the other blocks ?—Yes; so that when the cross-walls were put through we got another straight line to go by. 2426. What I mean is that in taking out the foundations, for instance, you saw all was clear? —We had this front line to measure from. 2427. We have had it stated in evidence that Mr. Walter Gora used to range through the doors? —You could not have got a measure there. If I remember right the south block was 3in. off the straight line. 2428. I ask you this question for this particular reason: I should like to know if you think that this portion of the building was built in line with that portion [indicating on plan] ? —Yes; the concrete wall went up at the one time. 2429. Will you be surprised to know that it is out of line?— Well, all I have to say is that it was not built so. 2430. Were you ever up on the roof when it was being built: when the slating was going on ? —Yes. 2431. Suppose it has been stated that this portion of the building is 16Jin. out of a line, would you have noticed it ?—Yes. 2432. And you never did notice it?— No. 2433. Could it have occurred ?—I do not think it could have been more than Jin. off the line. 2434. You are perfectly satisfied then that you took precautions to have that part of the building built in line ?—Yes, I am perfectly satisfied of that. 2435. If that part was not in line you could not have helped noticing it ? —Most decidedly not. One of the precautions we took was that it should be in line. 2436. Where did you put these " dead men ? " —Just by the staircase. That wall does not show it. You will see it better on the next plan. This concrete-wall [indicating on plan] just by the staircase, at the northern end of ambulatory No. 2. We built that back-wall right through at the top of the concrete-wall. 2437. Anywhere else ? —That was simply a straight line. When the cross-walls were put in you could not get a sight right through. 2438. There is an error in setting out the work in the middle wing of No. 1 Block ?—lt is lft. short there. 2439. Did you on any occasion range a line across the front of the building ? Had you any line or pegs to go by ? —Yes ; we had lines given to us. 2440. Supposing that the front of the building was 16Jin. out of line with the rest of the building, would you have noticed it?—l never checked it. 2441. We have it in evidence that it was out of line l&Jin. ?—I cannot use the theodolite, but I can use the level. There was a straight line given us, from which I aways worked. There was one special line. It was checked from the centre, so that I could set these out by it. This lino [indicating on plan] was given to me by Mr. Marchbank, the other by Mr. Cameron. 2442. I have one more question. You know the airing-court at the back of the ground floor? —Yes. 2443. There is a string-course just above the level of the window sill?— Yes; there is a string-course. 2444. Is that built level ?—Yes, it is. It might perhaps vary half an inch in level round the building. 17— H. 7.