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399. Did it never strike you as being possible that the whole of the strata you have been speaking about might be on the move ?—lt did not strike me. It is as sound as anything?you can get there. 400. lam speaking of the whole of the strata above the rock ?—I saw no indications of it moving. 401. Did you not see a slip there?—l have mentioned about that in the drive at the back of the airing-court. 402. That is an indication?—lt is an indication of a local slip. 403. Is it not an indication of a slip towards the building?—Oh, yes ! it slips towards it. 404. Was it not a fact that while you were constructing the drive you had a man jammed by a slip in the strata ?—Yes ;we had a man who was frightened by some stuff falling in on him. He was not much " jammed;" he proceeded with his work, and did not lose an hour. 405. That man had to be dug out, had he not ?—No : the man was struck by some stuff which held him by the legs until he was got out. 406. Was it from the upper or lower side of the drive that the material fell in — which side ?—I cannot say. I think it was likely to fall from either side ;it was in the open cut. 407. As a matter of fact, did it not fall from the upper side—that furthest away from the building ?—I do not know. 408. You do not know though you were inspector at the time ? —I do not. 409. The Chairman.] In continuation of what Mr. Lawson has asked you, you might make it clear why these two drains were put in. Was it before or after the building cracked?— The building was showing signs of cracking; hence the reason for the No. 1 drive being put in. It showed signs of further cracking; hence the reason of No. 2 drive being put in : and it has shown signs of cracking since then. 410. Since the drives were put in ?—Yes. 411. Serious cracks?— Yes, they are serious ; just as much as before. I might say the cracks are enlarging and extending, though not so fast now. 412. It appears, then, that there has been a general slipping, and that the ground has been gradually going ?—Well, I should say that the cracks have been gradually opening; but Ido not say anything about slipping. 413. Mr. Blair.] You have been asked about indications of a certain slip in the drain. Is the one you have described between pegs 2 and 3 ?—Yes. 414. What was the length of that ?—I cannot say, speaking from memory. 415. W rould it be 20ft. long ?—Yes, about that. 416. Did you find any indications anywhere else ?—No. 417. None whatever ? —No. The reason of that exploring-shaft was to test the extent of the slip, if any. 418. Mr. Lawson.] You say that you did not find any other indication whatever of movement? —No. 419. Was there no indication of movement in the airing-court at the north-east angle ?—lt has moved there. 420. The Chairman.] Mr. Lawson is now referring, I understand, to the openings in the foundations of the wooden building?—l understand him to be referring to the north-west corner. Mr. Lawson : That is right. 421. The Chairman.] Have you formed any opinion as to the direction that these foundations have moved in?— The cracks in the 12in. by 12in. concrete base at the north-west corner seem to indicate a movement in a south-easterly direction; but, as the concrete is on the surface and near the surface-toe of the old slip, it may only be a surface-movement in no particular direction for any distance. Of course, the main building is straining generally towards the east and north, although there is local indication at places as if it moved in other directions ; which I cannot account for, except by supposing that when the building subsides and strains towards the east and north certain thrusts and cross-strains on cross-walls, &c, cau.se the minor parts to strain in other and sometimes in seemingly opposite directions. 422. Have you taken any measurements, then?—l have taken no measurements to prove these things. 423. Do you know if any bench-marks were found after Mr. Brindley left ?—None. The main lines of building were always set off by the surveyors. The only thing done after I came on the ground in the way of bench-marks was taken by myself, independently of anybody else. Ido not think that any other bench-marks are in existence, because they would in all probability have been cut down by the asylum people. 424. Mr. Skinner.] There have been certain excavations made round the foundations : who was it who gave the orders for these openings ?—Mr. Hay was the party who gave me instructions in a general way, although he did not say in every case " Sink here "or " Sink there." In some cases the ganger sunk them, and in other cases I did. I believe I gave orders for perhaps most of them, Mr. Hay for some, and sometimes men on the staff were told to sink them. So that, though the place was not actually marked, they were generally told within a few feet perhaps. 425. Mr. Gore.] You say that you found a gap in the centre : I presume you mean the centre of this recess [indicating on plan] ?—lt is a notch in that wall I allude to. 426. You say you found a gap in the centre of that wall ?—Yes. 427. You said it appeared to have been the contractor's drain, and that the gap had apparently been filled up with rubbish. Tell me why you came to the conclusion that that was done before the concrete was put in?— The drain was filled with bricks laid open and hollow, and protected by a board on top. I concluded it was in when the concrete was laid, from the exact manner the concrete fitted into every irregularity in the contour of the sides of the drain, and also from its interstices being nearly full of fine silt, showing that muddy water had flowed through them for a considerable time.