L—7a

26

5. For each size?— For each size. 6. Look at those hanks on the table ; they are No. 8 and No. 10, I think? —Yes. 7. Mr. Menteath.] Will you say what the weight of No. 8 Silver-lake sash-line would be ?— Approximately, 2-Jlb. weight. 8. What would be the weight of No. 10 P—3pb. to 3flb. 9. If you saw No. 8 or No. 10 Silver-lake sash-cord listed at 7-Jlb. weight per hank, you would recognise that that weight was excessive ? —I should imagine so ; I have never seen them that weight. 10. I suppose you know something about corrugated iron? —A little. 11. How many sheets of corrugated iron should there be in a case, 26 gauge, of 7ft. lengths?— There are usually forty-one sheets. 12. Is that in a half ton or quarter ton case ?—That is a quarter ton case. Of course, the quantities vary ; it must not be taken at that exactly. 13. This entry refers to the State Farm: "32 sheets, 26 gauge"; there are three items altogether; how many sheets would there be in a case, 26 gauge, Bft. lengths?— Approximately, thirty-six. 14. And in a case, 26 gauge, of 9ft. lengths? —Approximately, thirty-two. 15. Do you know the process of calling back? —Yes. 16. Have you ever gone through that process ?—I have. 17. Supposing you were calling back, and you saw thirty-two sheets of Bft. lengths put at ocwt. 2qr. 71b., would it strike you that anything was wrong?—l would question the weight and have it tested. 18. Would you form a rough calculation of what the weight would be, of thirty-two sheets of Bft. lengths, of 26 gauge corrugated iron ? —You ask me what I would imagine it to be ? I should say 4cwt. 2qr. 19. That would be according to the customary weight?— About the usual weight. 20. If you saw, in calling back, thirty-two sheets of 9ft. lengths, 26 gauge, called at 6cwt. and 31b.; would it strike you that that was excessive?— Yes. 21. What would it work out, according to your customary process?— About scwt. lqr. Of course, I must say, that these weights would be tested ; I am giving you these answers off-hand, and my estimates are only approximate. 22. But you are following out a rule of calculation which works out approximately correct ?— Yes. 23. Suppose you saw twenty sheets of 7ft. lengths entered at 3cwt. and 211b. ; would it strike you that that was excessive ? —Yes. 24. What would be the weight according to customary calculation? —2cwt. 2qr. 25. Is there a usual weight in the trade for a case of corrugated iron ?—No, not a standard weight; there is only an approximate weight. 26. There is an approximate weight?— Approximately scwt.; but there are cases of other weights ; as, for instance, there are lOcwt. cases ; the usual cases imported are scwt. 27. If you saw a case considerable over scwt. for 6ft. or 7ft. lengths that would strike you to be excessive?— Yes. 28. A few pounds weight here or there would not matter; that might occur in working out the weights ?—lt might. 29. Is there any standard weight for blacklead per tablet ? What is commonly known at " penny " size is approximately loz. There are other weights, I believe, but what they are I do not know. 30. If in calling back you saw twelve tablets of blacklead treated as weighing 21b. would you undertake to say that that was correct ?—I would think the weight excessive. 31. What should it be ?—Approximately, I should say about fib. weight. 32. Do you know something about sheet zinc?— Yes, I could give you an approximate idea of the weights. 33. Twenty sheets of No. 10 zinc—what should be the approximate weight ?—About 3cwt. and 71b.; that is, for sheets 7ft. by 3ft. 34. What would be the weight of twelve sheets of No. 11 zinc?—A little over 2cwt., or lib. or 21b. over the 2cwt. 35. Engineer's bolts, 2in. by T %ths: what would be the weight of twelve such bolts?— They are usually sold not by weight but by the gross. 36. Can you give us some approximate idea of the weight ?—lt would be only approximate. 1. could not tell you for certain ; I could give you an approximate idea. 37. What do you think would be an approximate idea?— About I^-lb. 38. Then, if you saw them charged at 71b ?—I would at once challenge the weight. 39. Can you give us an idea of the market price of plain galvanised iron ?—lt depends entirely on the brand and quality. 40. The iron is charged at £1 12s. Mr. Skerrett objected to the question being put, as there had been no suggestion that any weight had been charged other than was specified in the contract. Mr. Menteath : This is a non-contract line. The Chairman: The market price would be the ruling price, if nothing were said in the contract. Mr. Menteath : This is not one of the things with a price set opposite to it: it is not one of the items that are scheduled. 41. Mr. Skerrett.] What is your answer ?—lt depends on gauge and quality. ■; ■_ ; -„-, i% Mr. Mente_ath.] If you saw, in calling back, twenty sheets of plain iron charged at £1 125.,