IX—The condition of the bridge now is much the same as at date of completion, except that the asphalte has entirely broken up. The usual clause for deductions has not been inserted in either contract No 1 or No 2, and as Mr Bray signed plan No 2 on behalf of the General Government, it may be presumed that he aught to have seen that the specifications were properly drawn out, and that deductions were provided for ; he denies, however, that he had anything what ever to do with the specifications. The whole conduct of the district engineers in connection with the Rakaia bridge has been of the loosest description. Mr Tancred re tires from office without taking care to leave data as to the intention of the General Go vernment regarding deviations sanctioned. His successor, Mr O’Connor, takes office, and is not aware on what plan the bridge is to be constructed. He consents to alterations and eventually passes the bridge (on a memo randum from Mr George Phipps Williams) without having before him any authorised plan whatever. Mr O’Connor is partly re sponsible for the waste of money paid for shifting timbers, for tarring, and chiefly re sponsible for the failure of the asphalte. If he had examined the flooring he was about to lay the asphalte on, he ought not to have done it, but the engineer to whom blame attaches all through is the Provincial En gineer. He was connected with the work from the commencement to the end, the inspectors were his direct subordinates, and the contract itself points to him as the chief officer who had power to interfere in the construction of the bridge, subject to the consent of the General Government. It is clearly shown by the evidence that it is a great mistake to con struct a bridge or any other important work under the divided authority of two sets of engineers belonging to different Govern ments, unless their respective positions are most clearly laid before them and insisted on. We attach, as per appendix, co{Jles of the plans, evidence, and documents referred to in this report. (Signed) John Inglis. (Signed) Josiah Birch, (Signed) Andrew Duncan,

THE GLOBE, FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1875.
