28

[q.m. w. clouston.

H.—6c.

] 93. Did you or did you not do your duty in the matter of drunkenness ? I would like a distinct answer to this'?— Well, I did my duty. Ido not think they were drunk enough to put in the guardroom. 194. You saw the men were drunk ?—Well, they were hardly drunk ; they were merry. If they were very drunk they ought to have been put in the guard-room. But I do not think I should have taken any notice of that kind of drunkenness—they were not drunk enough. 195. In the matter of ventilation, did you ever apply for any windsails ?—We did not apply for them. We had no need for them, as we had a big hatchway open. 196. You did not apply for windsails, and you did not want them ?—No. 197. There was no effort on the part of the men to get more ventilation than they had got?— No, sir. 198. Colonel Davies.] What squadron were you acting quartermaster-sergeant to > —E. 199. When were you appointed quartermaster-sergeant? —On the way to Klerksdorp. 200. Klerksdorp or Vryberg ?—Vryberg, I think, sir. 201. Do you know of any complaint with regard to bad food that was made formally through the proper channel to officers that was not seen into and remedied ?—Well, I know that when complaints were made there was no change made. 202. Did you ever see any meat that was not eatable, and represented to an orderly officer, and no steps taken ?—No, sir. 203. Did you see them get an issue of preserved meat when the fresh was condemned I— Ygs sir ' 204. You state that you do not think that any result came from the authorities to remedy the cooking: do you mean the military officers or the officers of the ship?—l do not mean the military officers; I mean the ship's. , , 205. You never heard of any complaint being made properly, and no notice taken of it ! —No, sir. 206. Is it your opinion that your officers and senior non-commissioned officers always took notice of complaints made to them ?—Yes ;itis my opinion they did. 207. And did their best to put them right ?—Yes. 208. There were about twenty basins, you said? —Yes, about that, sir. 209. You mean for the whole regiment?— Yes, but there may have been more. 210. But there was about that number? —Yes. 211. There were two lavatories? —Four, sir. 212. Yes, but two for your regiment ?—Four for our regiment —two on each side of the ship. 213. With regard to the space on deck in the afternoons : is it not a fact that there was plenty of deck-space, only that during most of the voyage it was cold and wet, and you could not be on deck except under shelter? —There was not enough deck-space in my estimation. 214. There was the forecastle? —It was too cold up there, sir. 215. There was the main deck on both sides from the forecastle right back to the poop on both sides of the ship ?—Yes, sir. 216. There was the after part of the ship, close to the stern, where the boats were ! —lhere were two little strips, I think. 217. As a non-commissioned officer you had part of the after deck —more than is usually allowed to non-commissioned officers ? —Yes. 218. If it had been warm weather and the men could have got about all over the decks on both sides for instance, and on these other decks, they would have had very much more room ?— Ido not think so. I think they were crowded, wet and fine. 219. It was too cold on the forecastle ?—lt would hold very few, and it was too cold. 220. Captain Lewin.] Was there a sergeants' mess on board ?—Yes, there was. 221. Did you belong to it? —Yes. 222. And had extras supplied at meals ?—Yes; but very little. The extras were a pudding every day, I think. 223. Were you in charge of the issue of beer to your squadron ?—Yes, sir. 224. Did any of the men get more than the pint ?—Not that I know of. 225. And in your opinion they got drunk on one pint? —I do not know. They might have got drunk on somebody else's pint. 226. The Chairman.] Do you imagine that they were able to purchase spirits on board ?—I cannot say. 227. What do you think? —I think it was possible to get it from the ships steward, sir, by paying through the nose for it. 228. Do you know of one circumstance where they got it from the ship's stores ?—I do not, sir. 229. All the same, you think they could get it ? —Well, money can do anything. 230. I want you to be a little exact. You say they were drunk—they only got one pint of k eer i want to know whether you can trace the drunkenness to any cause ?—I suppose some of them did not draw the beer and others used to take it. The beer was very thick, and some did not like it. 231. You think the beer itself was good ?—Yes, it was; it was a good make, but very thick. Trooper Debbnham sworn and examined. (No. 7.) 232. The Chairman.] You are Trooper Debenham ?—Yes, sir. 233. What is your name? —Frederick Debenham. 234. What is your rank ? —Trooper. 235. What contingent?— Eighth.