15

I.—9a

Mr. Graham : That does not interfere with my question at all. Mr. Holland: There is no brickwork there. Mr. McLean (the petitioner): The brickwork was there to carry the ends of the bars. Mr. Graham : My question was put because Mr. Blow inferred that these were being put too high because of the brickwork, and they should have been put lower. The man here says it was quite wrong. 196. Mr. Lawry (to witness).] I suppose it was necessary for the timbers to remain longer because of the nature of the ground?—Yos. 197. Mr. Groivther.] What is meant by the brickwork not being keyed in—l mean what place was left without being finished? Was it two or three bricks, or what was it?—He would not allow the arch to be done at all. The sill was to be taken out before it was keyed and before the arch was put in. 198. By the plan the arch would be a considerable one ?—Yes. 199. And the arch, I suppose, we may fairly assume would be a considerable stay to the perpendicular wall?— Yes. 200. The sills had to be taken out, thus leaving the perpendicular wall more work to do ?—lt is the brickwork at the back. 201. Is the arch then what you call the " key " ? —No ; the key is the finishing of the last of the arch. 202. Mr. Morrison.] You state in your evidence that you have had four years and a half previous tunnelling, is that so ?—Yes. 203. What particular experience is embraced in that period? —I had from driving the first head to completing the tunnel. 204. Had you any experience in tunnelling in soft material before you took charge of this Makarau contract ?—Yes ; each end of the tunnel in the King-country was comprised of soft ground. 205. What size was that tunnel in the King-country? —I think it was about 57 chains long. 206. And how far did the soft material at each end run into it ?—On the south side, about 5 chains ; and on, the other side, I think, about S or 6 chains. 207. So that your only experience in tunnelling in soft material was that of piercing a tunnel in the King-country, where you had about 5 chains of soft material at the two ends?— Yes. 208. You state, also, that Mr. Witheridge never attempted to interfere with the method of working in this Makarau Tunnel in any shape or form until you got into the soft ground?— Yes. 209. How did he interfere then?—■Hβ had everything taken out. All the timbers were taken out before the brickwork was put in. 210. And he objected to that ?—Oh, no. 211. Please describe your method of carrying on operations after passing the soft ground ?— We drive a bore-head in at first; then, we put in the ground-bar. We have something like a little box on the top at first, and then we work it down with slabs; take out a small piece, and put a slab in. It had to be kept close-timbered right to the foot. 212. Did Mr. Witheridge object to that method of working?— No. 213. In what respect then did Mr. Witheridge unduly interfere with the contract ?—ln taking the sills out. 214. As regards your method of keeping the cutting boarded up, he did not object to that ?— No. 215. What was his objection to the class of bricks you were going to build with that he stopped them ? Were they soft ? —I do not know ;he let them go into the tunnel afterwards. 216. He let them go afterwards, and he stopped the work on account of those bricks?— Yes. 217. For how long was the work stopped on account of those bricks?— From Saturday morning till Monday, 10 o'clock, I think. 218. Then the difficulty over the bricks was removed. During the stoppage of the work then, were there any other fresh slips took place or any falls that were the cause of the stoppage?—No; not at that time. 219. Then, as a result of the stoppage, there was no damage done to the tunnel?—No; not on that occasion. 220. Mr. McLean.] Broadly speaking, if the contractors had been left alone, do you think they would have carried out the work satisfactorily without the interference of Mr. Witheridge ?—Yes. 221. You think so?— Yes. 222. You think it was his interference that led to the disaster?— Yes ; the brickwork at the back was not sufficient to carry the ends of the bars. 223. The Chairman.] In excavating this tunnel, did you work from both ends, or from one end ?—One end. 224. Was the tunnel on a level, or had it a slope ? —A slope upwards. 225. How far did you go before you reached the soft ground?— About 8 chains. 226. And was all the rest this soft material you have described?— Yes. 227. Mr. Morrison.] There was a bit of rock at the other end. Mr. McLean : There was no rock at the other end. 228. The Chairman (to witness).] With regard to the holidays taken at Christmas time, when you left the work did you leave it properly built up and firm ?—Yes. 229. When you got back, was there any alteration ?—No. 230. How long after you started work again was it that the crash came ? Mr. McLean: Mr. Clemow was not with us then. 231. The Chairman (to witness).] In the tunnel in the King-country were the sills taken out there ?—No. 232. Mr. Duncan.] What was the effect of taking the sills out ?—To let down the brickwork.