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Q. Hon. A. LISTER.--Then your attention was not called to this payment in copper while you were in the department?
A.-No; only this week.
Q.-Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-Your letter is so very much to the point, Mr. FLEMING, that really it leaves very little to be said. You have told us what you believe to be the weak points of the Public Works Department, in answer to Mr. LISTER. Do the cases you have mentioned with regard to the Overseers comprise all the weak points you know of with regard to the department?
A.-You would have to enter into a great deal of detail to answer that properly, and I don't know the regulations.
Q.-I mean cases of corruption rather than the working of the department. You have pointed out that there is opportunity for corruption in the measuring of the work. I wanted to ask you whether, from what you know of the department; there are other weak points where corruption might creep in, in the way of bribery?
A.-No; as far as I know myself I don't see there possibly could be. The only way would be by alteration in bills after the signature of the Surveyor General or Chief Officer, I don't suppose such things are done; it would be easy of detection, but such things do happen. Once it happened in the Engineers to the extent of £20,000. After the Commanding Engineer had signed the bills a man went and interlined them and inserted other amounts, and that went on for a number of years before it was found out.
Q.-Where do you advertise for tenders?
A.-In the newspapers.
Q.-In the Government Gazette?
A.-No; it would be no use putting it in that; they don't read it.
Q.-In all the newspapers?
A. Yes. We get the Government Gazette, but I don't think anyone in the office ever looks at it. I am sure I don't.
Q.-You mean you advertise in all the newspapers?
A. Yes, including the Chinese papers, but I must tell you it is simply useless. I have found that out, and we only do it because it is a rule of the service, it is simply wasting money. No one ever yet has taken out a tender in our office because they read an advertisement in the newspapers. It is simply that I meet the men, and send for them and say, "Will you tender for this?" and they say, "yes." I don't think we have ever had one man who came because he saw it in the newspaper.
Q. Are the contracts open to all tenderers?
A. Yes, any one who chooses to tender.
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