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ambulatory wall would be sufficient to cause the movement ? —No ; I only assumed it has been sufficient. 984. Very well—assume it. In that case would you not suppose that the masonry of this back wall would be pushed close up to the other two if the pressure is in that direction?— Not necessarily : it depends upon where the pressure is. 985. Supposing there was a crack in this partition-wall—say 2in.—how would you account for that?—lf there was a crack in this partition-wall, 2in., this moving bodily forward 16in. would account for that. 986. Would you not in that case expect a crack to exist in the back wall as well as upon this one ?—I was only talking of the extreme north wall. 987. You also stated in your evidence that when you were measuring the concrete you only saw the top of it, above ground? —Yes; and there was a part here, on the south wing, I got down to, and, I think, a part ac the extreme south, still upon the south wing—the lavatories, I think— and, I think, a part of the north wing, in front. 988. Near the bay-window? —Yes. 989. Then you think you saw sufficient of the nature of the concrete to be able to state whether it was of good quality or bad ? —Yes. As far as I could see, I could see, no fault with the concrete. 990. I wanted to ascertain how far you did see ? —What I did see ! I saw most of the foundation. 991. I understand, the top; not beneath the surface ?—Yes ; except only at these points. 992. Mr. Gore.] Ask him if he did not take measurements at several places, especially at the dip of the ground, where he must have seen the concrete?—l have stated so —at these points. I saw all those walls when they were all exposed—the centre longitudinal walls, both north and south, and the cellar-walls. 993. Mr. Shinner.} When you went out to take the quantities, were the whole of the foundations open and exposed ? —Yes. 994. So that you could measure them ?—No ; only on the top. 995. How did you ascertain the depth of the foundations? —From the plans and from Mr. Brindley. 996. Then you did not have any pits sunk to find out for yourself the depths?— No. 997. Then you took the quantities from Mr. Brindley? —Yes; Mr. Brindley checked all the quantities. He went over with me, and I took Mr. Brindley's quantities as my quantities. 998. How many pits did you sink ?—No pits. 999. There were no pits sunk ? —No. 1000. Then I cannot understand how you managed to get the quantities of the foundations unless you had them exposed ? —I got Mr. Brindley to go over the quantities with me. Mr. Brindley went over the whole of the foundations with me. 1001. And gave you the measurements?— Yes. 1002. Was it a matter simply of accounts that you went through with Mr. Brindley?—No ; I simply went up to take the quantity of concrete used" in the foundations, and I got them along with Mr. Brindley. I assumed no quantities by myself, but took Mr. Brindley along with me, and he likewise initialled all the quantities. 1003. Who were you acting for? —Mr. Gore. I may say there are no quantities in this assumed by myself. They were taken along with the Inspector, Mr. Brindley. 1004. Then you are not in a position to swear as to the correct measurement ?—I am not in a position to swear to the depth of the foundations in the building. 1005. You arc only prepared to swear to the width ? —I am prepared to swear that Mr. Brindley went over with me and checked all these quantities as the quantities in the building. 1006. Mr. Blair.'] With reference to these measurements, do I understand that you cannot swear that in this north-ambulatory foundation, in the colonnade, that the foundations are 3ft. by 3ft. ?—No. 1007. You cannot swear that? —No. 1008. You do not know of your own knowledge ?—No. 1009. Can you tell me whether you included the back wall in this measurement of the building from end to end—that is, the concrete back wall, shown on the plan and shown on this crosssection. Did you include that back wall ?—That wall there is a brick wall. [After consulting plans :] This wall is not measured at all—that is, the back concrete wall behind the cellars. 1010. Are the cross-walls in the cellars measured?— No. 1011. Why did you not measure these walls?— Because the walls were not in. 1012. They are in now, as a matter of fact ? —There were only two walls, the north wall and the central wall. I could not see that wall. 1013. What was the other portion of the building resting on if not on that wall ? —This is a section, there is the ground-plan, there the basement, with the line J J on it, and the dotted walls behind. In all the other plans that dotted line appears fully. Mr. Gore : I submit it is hardly fair to ask Mr. Forrest what actually occurred in taking the measurements. I can only say, if the wall has not been measured I have been robbed of £2,000. The Chairman : The witness is quite at liberty to say he cannot answer. He is not bound to give an answer. Mr. Blair : lam only asking you to state what you know. I wish to be quite fair. Mr. Lawson : He is misunderstanding the question. The Chairman : Let Mr. Forrest say so. If he does not understand the question it is of no use attempting to answer it. Witness : Foundation of retaining-wall, 214 ft. 6in. by 2ft. 6in. It is included here.