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Barracks, which had the effect of narrowing the road at that place to a considerable extent. Traffic was much congested as a result on one side, and that side wore very rapidly. I noticed, between Garden Road and the road leading up to Headquarter House, that that part of the road suffered considerably. The remainder of Queen's Read from the road leading to Headquarter House to Wellington Barracks was more or less widened by the Naval authorities during the past twelve months, and we had it re-macadamised. A good deal of it was widened lately, and one side of the road was macadamised while the other was not. It required a good two or three coats of stone before we could get an even surface..
Q-Have you given that road a foundation or not?
A-We have given the portion that is widened a foundation-that is the extra portion that has been taken into the road.
Q-But there has been an extension of this road from the City Hall ?
A-We have put in a foundation, but the old portion has to remain without a foundation.
Q-Why should you give one side a foundation and not the other?
A Because the one side was new and the other we could not excavate without incurring much expense.
Q-Why did you, on one road, have one part with foundation and the other with- out foundation? Is that not almost certain to result disastrously?
A-No, because the opportunity will arise some day to have foundation put in all over.
We only put about four inches of macadam on the old part, whereas we would have to cut through nine inches of macadam and another nine inches below that before we could get a foundation for the old road. We will never get satisfactory roads until we have foundations for them.
Q-Do you not think it is a waste of time and money to go on as we have been doing?
A-Yes, I have often thought so.
Q-Have you ever made any representations on the matter?
A-Yes, I have told Mr. ORMSBY that the roads would never be satisfactory un- less we got foundations put in.
Q-Do you make these reports in writing?
A-I did not report to Mr. ORMSBY in writing, but I reported to Mr. CHATHAM the other day in writing. I reported that we should take the opportunity of putting in this hand-pitching wherever roads have been opened for gas and water purposes. Hand-pitching is formed by putting in large stones about 9 inches deep set on edge so as to form a rough arch.
Q-With regard to the stone you are putting on the top of these roads, it has been mentioned to me that it is hand-packed in Singapore. Have you ever heard of such a system?
A-No.
Q-And it has also been mentioned to me that the stone you put on now has no blinding. Is that so?
ably.
A—Indeed, I thought there was too much blinding. I am reducing it consider-
Q-What do you put on?
A-Decomposed granite.
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