H.—6c.

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[teoopee mcgoverin.

785. But, apart from that, were the men compelled to sleep upon the deck because they could not hang a hammock ?—I could not say. I always had a hammock; but whenever you got out of your hammock you were sure to step upon some man who was sleeping on the deck below. 786. Was there not room to hang the hammocks if the men chose ?—I could not say. 787. With regard to the lice, did the blankets seem clean to you when they were issued to you at Durban ?—They seemed clean. I could not say they were clean, because when I got on board it was dark. 788. How soon did the lice appear after leaving?— They got to me on the first night. 789. Do you think you brought them down with you from the veldt ?—No ; I never found one on me on the veldt. 790. What steps did you take to clean the blankets ? —We had not much time for that. 791. What were you doing?—lt was not that, but when we got up we had to put the blankets down below. 792. Did you report to the officer that your blankets were lousy and you wanted to clean them ?—No. 793. Mr. McNab.] How many men were there at each mess? —There were eleven, or twelve, or thirteen. 794. And you were told off to the tables ?—Yes. 795. How many were there at your table ?—Twelve. 796. Can you give me the names of the twelve at your table?— Budge, Finlay, P. Kavanagh, Pocock, two Mansons, Rose, Cuthbert. I cannot think of any more. 797. Are any of these outside now ?—No. Mellor is there, but he was at the next table to me, not the same table. 798. Do I understand you to say that you got your meals from the cook at 2 a.m. and 7 p.m. ? —Between 12 at night and 2 in the morning I got a meal. 799. What meals between 2 a.m. and 7 p.m. ?—A cup of tea and a sandwich. 800. What did you pay for that ?—ls. each time. 800 a. How much in all did you pay to the cook ?—I could not say exactly, but it was from £2 Bs. to £2 10s. I allowed myself two bob a day. 801. Mr. Millar.] I think you said you found the heat very great down below at night-time? —Yes. 802. You said you used then to go up on deck? —We used to go up and get cool. 803. To your knowledge, were there many men who did the same thing?—l do not know. 804. Did you see others go up ?—Yes, others went up. 805. Is it not very possible and probable that during the time they were on deck coming out of the heated atmosphere they got cold ?—Yes ; I got my cold from going on deck. 806. A man coming from the hold and going up on deck would be very liable to get a chill when he got into the cold weather? —I dare say he would. 807. Do you know if there are any of those who caught cold on board ship in this way who are over on Somes Island now ?—I cannot say from my own knowledge. 808. Do you think that sufficient attention was paid to the ventilation down below ?—Well, 1 should think there ought to have been another windsail put down into our deck. It would have been much cooler if that was done. 809. Do you suppose that any of the officers who were supposed to be in charge down below could have ascertained the state of the atmosphere there ?—I think they could have put a windsail down. 810. When you got up did you ever see any officer go through the 'tween decks—l mean when you got up at night to get your meal ?—I never saw one then. When I was on duty I used to see them. 811. At what hour ?—On the night I was on duty I saw Captain Fookes. He went round about 8 o'clock. 812. When did the men turn in ?—About half-past 6 o'clock. 813. The majority would be in their bunks at 8 o'clock?— Yes. 814. Did any officer go round at midnight?— No. 815. You yourself were often up at midnight ?—Yes, nearly every night. 816. Colonel Davies.] Did you go in the " Cornwall " ?—Yes. 817. What squadron were you attached to? —E squadron. 818. Who commanded it ?—Captain Fookes. 819. You said you heard complaints :do you mean ordinary growls ?—No ; complaints to officers. I made complaints myself. 820. To whom ?—To Captain Fookes. 821. Can you tell me any occasion on which you made a complaint and no remedy was given ?—No, I cannot. 822. Was it when he came round that you made the complaint ?—Yes. 823. Were you ever there when I went round the decks below ?—No, I never saw you down there. 824. Where were you mess orderly? Was it between Durban and Albany?—l was mess orderly when we were going into Albany. I was mess orderly for six days, and I started just before we got in. 825. Did you make any complaint to any officer whom you can name who took no notice of your complaints at the time they were made?— No. 826. Did you make a complaint to any particular officer that was not remedied ?—I cannot say, sir. I made a complaint, and he took me up to the cook-house and made them change the meat that I had complained of.