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Printing Office. With the exception of 100 ft. length (which in some way has been cut) the hose is in good order. If it were coupled to the stand-pipe, and placed in cradles, a great saving of time would be effected in case of fire. Supreme Court. ' Hose very bad ; should be replaced at once. I have, &c, W. H. Hennah. The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. No. 5. Mr. W. H. Hennah to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Sib,— Wellington, Ist July, 1894. A statement appeared in last night's Post which, if true, would appear that I was wanting in common-sense. The facts are as follows :— On receipt of instructions from the Under-Secretary to examine the hose in the Government buildings, I did so at once, and sent you my report. Moulton, the plumber from the Government workshops, was with me during the examination. On overhauling the hose at the Supreme Court I discovered a hole through which I could put my finger, and on doing so it tore like a piece of old linen. I reported the hose was bad, and the Besident Engineer went with me to the Supreme Court to see it. No knife has ever been used by me to examine the hose. When the hose has been new I have been satisfied, and when not by water test. The Besident Engineer and Moulton can substantiate the above facts. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. W. H. Hennah. Mr. Wilson, —Will you please remark hereon—viz., as to correctness of statements made by Captain Hennah. Also get Moulton to remark similarly, please.—H. J. H. 810w.—2/7/94. No. 6. Mr. D. Moulton to the Besident Engineer, Public Works, Wellington. District Office, Public Works Department, Wellington, 2nd July, 1894. Memorandum for the Besident Engineer. I was with Captain Hennah when he examined the hose at Supreme Court. It was quite rotten. We could tear it off with our fingers. We used no knife in our examination. D. Moulton. No. 7. Mr. J. A. Wilson, Besident Engineer, to the Undeb-Seceetaey for Public Woeks. Public Works Department, District Office, Wellington, 2nd July, 1894. The Under-Secretary, Public Works. Be Hose at Supreme Court. I went with Captain Hennah to examine the hose at the Supreme Court, which w r as reported by him as defective. It was quite perished, and could be torn by the hand, as we found by testing it in that manner. What Captain Hennah says as to no knife having been used is, of course, quite correct. A new hose has been provided and fixed to-day. Attached is a statement on the subject by Moulton, the Government plumber. J. A. Wilson, Besident Engineer. No. 8. The Undeb-Seceetaey, Public Wobks, to the Hon. the Ministeb for Public Woeks. Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Will you please see memorandum from Captain Hennah in reference to a paragraph which appeared in last Saturday's Evening Post in reference to the cutting of hose at the Supreme Court building. I have inquired into Captain Hennah's statements, that he was accompanied on the occasion referred to by our plumber, and that he also reported the tearing of the hose to the Besident Engineer, and took him across to see it, and find that the same are correct, and I attach memoranda from Messrs. Wilson and Moulton supporting the same. 3rd July, 1894.

H. J. H. Blow.