147

H.—7

is where wo went down, I think 9ft., and got on to the usual clay here. We went down till we got on to the same quality of material as here. The direction of it seemed to be from the centre of the northern ambulatory towards the front of the central block. The same sort of formation showed at the back. 2923. Was there any dry stone put behind this wall?—No dry stone was put behind. 2924. There has been a lot said with reference to these plans. You said Mr. Lawson gave you no plans except the two or three we produced yesterday. Is that so? —What we have there are what I have had ; but there may have been one or two others that are not there. One I know, for certain, is not there, that is the one with reference to those turrets. 2925. Did Mr. Lawson know you had provided these plans ? —I suppose he did. He must have known, because he saw them. 2926. Were these plans necessary for the carrying out of the works ?—I considered they were necessary. 2927. Are they such plans as are usually given? —Not in Dunedin they are not. 2928. But are the details required in carrying out a big work of this kind?— Yes. 2929. Then, if you had not provided these details, would they have been provided at all as the matter stood : that is, were duplicates provided ? Did Mr. Lawson also provide plans ?—No; there was nothing else provided. 2930. Mr Lawson.']— I would ask you, Mr. Brindley, did Mr. Gore consult these plans you refer to ?—I believe he did. 2931. You believe he did—did he, " Yes "or" No " ?—Yes, ho did. 2932. If Mr Gore says he never saw them, would you swear he did?—l should say he was saying an untruth. 2933. Do you mean to say, as a matter of fact, that these plans were consulted by Mr. Gore ? —Either by Mr. Gore or his foreman for the time being. 2934. Do you mean to say the plans were not provided for your own satisfaction ? —lt was for the satisfaction of carrying the work out. 2935. Not your own satisfaction, Mr. Brindley ?—No. 2936. Not for the Contractor, not required for the building, but made for your own satisfaction ? —That is what I have answered. They were provided for the satisfaction of carrying out the building properly. 2937. No ; they were provided for your own satisfaction ; they were never seen by anybody but yourself. You had them as pictures for your house yourself; you had them hung up on the walls to look at them ? —They were always available for whoever wanted them. There is a proof of it in the fact that Mr. Dick asked for a copy. 2938. That was the foundation-plan you told us that you gave Mr. Dick—that was a special plan. But these beautiful pictures, with all the colours and beautiful shading, is that the usual thing ? —That part of it was done in my own time afterwards ; but the main things, the record plans, were done in the other time. 2939. That is all I want—for your own satisfaction. 2940. Mr. Blair.] Was the colouring and touching up given in your own time ?—Yes; as I say the parts that are coloured were done in my own time, and when I first went up there. For about nine months there was little to do. 2941. The rest of the work was done in Government time?—l take it it would be done in the Government time. David Eeid sworn and examined. 2942. Mr. Blair.] What are you ?—A carpenter. 2943. Carpenter at the Seacliff Asylum ?—Yes. 2944. How long have you been there ?—About sixteen years, from first to last. I mean in the asylum service. 2945. Did you go out to the asylum at Seacliff so soon as the patients took possession of it?— The new building you mean ? 2946. Yes?— Not exactly, but shortly after. I went out in October, 1883, for good. Previous to that, I went between Dunedin and Seacliff as required. 2947. Do you remember when the settlement began in this north wing?— Yes, it commenced shortly after we went there. In fact, I believe it was a little settled before we took possession of it, until at last the crack began to show slightly. 2948. What appearance did the movement have ? You have been watching this from time to time, have you not ?—Well, I have had to watch it because I had the doors to keep in order, and they told the tale quick. 2949. What was the nature of the settlement in this north ambulatory ? Was it a crushing inwards, or outwards, or collapsing?—lt seemed to be crushing inward and outward. 2950. Did it crush in towards the door openings ?—Yes, here it did, below in the large opening; down below it was crushed in. "The reason I observed that was this : there was a stringer put across to keep up the concrete underneath the portico, and it bent up-hill in the centre. Inside the collars was not cemented, and outside the porch underneath was cemented, and this was, I understand, to keep it from falling back—to form a kerbing to the concrete floor. 2951. Till the strengthening was put in, how did the damage extend?— Well, it was most confined to the central portion of the colonnade, and forward on to the pillars. 2952. Before the strengthening was put in, was the damage confined between the first cell of south central projection, and the second of the north central projection—was the damage confined between those points?—l believe it extended further towards the north, if anything. 2953. But not further towards the south? —It certainly came more out here (towards the sea), and at first all the pillars were pretty plumb both ways, I should say. They might not have been