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Q-I want to know if Mr. TooKER is of opinion that it is a better material or not?
A-It is the same quality of stone as I used in England where it made good roads. I thought we were putting on a better stone than we had had before until I found it was too hard for the work.
Q--Mr. ORMSBY told me himself that it did work and that it was a great improve-
ment ?
A-Take Queen's Road West for instance, where we had absolutely to cover this hard stone with soft stone.
Q--Did Mr. ORMSBY admit that it was not good stone before he left?
A-It did not show before he left.
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Q-How long had that road been laid before he left?
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A-Only very shortly before he left.
Q-Had he had experience of it before?
A--Not in this Colony.
Q-In Ceylon he had experience. Have you seen it in other parts of the world?
A-I have seen it in other parts of the world over and over again making excellent roads, but I think it would be more satisfactory to lay down hard wood pavement. It is the best.
Q--Next to that, would blue stone be best?
A--With a good foundation, that would be second best.
By the Chairman.-Even with this traffic?
A--Even with this traffic, the second best would be a good foundation and this blue stone on top.
By Mr. SHEWAN.--So that you are using the third best ?
A-Yes. We are using the soft material which wears away so rapidly that we are continually piling on stone to try and keep the roads up to the proper level.
Q-Why don't the authorities take the second best and use blue stone with foundation?
A-Because to put in foundation over all the roads here would be an enormous thing, and I think myself it would pay better to put in timber paving on the lower levels. Now, we are paying about 15 cents per square yard per annum for maintenance, and the paving would probably not cost more than a cent per square yard per annum for maintenance.
By Mr. THURBURN.-And is it a lasting thing?
A-Before it would require to be taken up and re-laid it would probably have lasted from fifteen to twenty years.
By Colonel BROWN.-You mean only the wood, not the concrete ?
A--Only the wood. In London the macadam in Regent Street used to cost about two shillings and sixpence a square yard per annum, and I believe timber paving has been substituted.
By Mr. MASTER. With reference to this blue stone, I understand the road opposite Murray Barracks was laid with it, while, at the present time, you are maintaining Queen's Road near Arsenal Street with decomposed granite?
A--No, with common granite.
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