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By Mr. MASTER.-In regard to your overseer, you say he brings in the measure- ments of the work done by the contractor every month ?
A-He does.
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Q--Do you check these measurements yourself?
A-No.
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Q-You are entirely dependent on the overseer?
A-Entirely dependent on him.
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Q-And whether he measures right or wrong, there is none but himself to know ?
A-No one but himself.
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By the Chairman.-Have you at any time ever checked the measurements ?
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A-I have.
Q-And have you always found them to be satisfactory?
A-Yes.
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By Mr. SHEWAN.-Is the overseer a European ?
A-Yes, a European.
Q-Where did you get him?
A-From the Royal Engineers.
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Q-Is he a man with small wages?
A-I think he gets $150 a month now.
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Q-It would be to his interest to take a bribe ?
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A-I don't think he would. He was a Sergeant in the Royal Engineers, and he had a very good character when he came to us.
Q-Is it not possible for him to take a bribe ?
A-It might be possible.
Q-Do
you pay surprise visits, and go and measure off work now and then in such a way that overseers never know when you are coming and never know when it is safe to send in a wrong statement? Supposing they did?
A-Supposing they did, they are liable to be caught any moment.
Q-You don't as a practice take their measurements as being correct without now and then checking them to see that it is correct ?
A-I do that frequently.
By the Chairman.-Have you ever had any reason to suspect anything of that sort in connection with that work?
A-No, not in connection with the present overseers.
By Mr. SHEWAN.-What would you do if a man was caught giving incorrect measurements?
A-I would report him to the Director of Public Works.
Q-Would he be dismissed?
A-I don't know that he would be dismissed; he would be proceeded against by law, of course.
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