H.—6c.

48

[TROOPER J. E. NICHOLSON.

1032. You say you made a complaint to him and he paid no attention to it ?—Yes. 1033. Any other officer? —No. He was the only one I knew. He was in the Tenth, and was the only one I knew. 1034. Officers were coming in and going about on duty, and you mean to say you never asked your mates who they were?—l used just to tell them about the complaints, and that is all. 1035. You say you had measles, and you complained to the doctor, and you could not get into the hospital? —Yes. 1036. Why?— There was no room in the hospital. 1037. How did your measles get on? —I got medicine from the hospital, and some of the fellows got me a hammock, and I slept in that on the deck till I got here. Then I went to some friends and stopped with them. 1038. Did the Health Officer pass you ?—Yes. 1039. Did you parade before him with the measles still on you ?—Yes. 1040. Were there any others ?—There were three or four with the measles who passed him. 1041. And the doctor on board would not allow you into the hospital because there was no room ?—Yes. 1042. You got the medicine you wanted ?—Yes. 1043. You stated that the.rice was in a filthy condition?— Yes. 1044. Was there a complaint made to the officer then ?—Yes. 1045. Do you know the officer? —I do not know him. 1046. Was it the officer of the day ?—I do not think he came at that meal; sometimes they did not come. 1047. In regard to this particular case of the apples and rice, I ask you what the officer did when the complaint was made to him ? —I do not know. 1048. Were you present ? —No. They told him at our table, and that was all we heard of it. 1049. Were you North Island men? —We were quartered with the South Island men, but I belonged to the North Island 10th regiment. 1050. Then, you complained to an officer whose name you do not know : do you know what he said? —He said he would do his best to stop it. 1051. What was done with the apples and rice?—We had to put them overboard. They were not fit for consumption. 1052. Have you any idea of the date? Was it before you arrived at Albany?—l could not say. 1053. Mr. Millar.] Could anybody walk through these 'tween decks without seeing the men lying on the deck or on the tables?—No, not very well. 1054. Were you ever told to get off the deck and go into a hung hammock ?—No. 1055. You were not interfered with?—No; only our own men grumbled. 1056. Was there any officer or non-commissioned officer who went through at night ? —I never saw one go through. 1057. You were never told to get a hammock hung up?— No. 1058. Was it very hot there ?—Yes. 1059. Did you ever get up at night and go on deck?— No. 1060. Did you ever see any one go?— They used to be rousing me up and asking me to go on deck. 1061. Did you see them go up?— Yes. 1062. Do you think there would have been sufficient ventilation if the men went up on deck? No ; there was only a small gangway leading down to the deck. 1063. What doctor was it you saw when you failed to get into the hospital ?—I forget his name ; he was a very small man. 1064. Colonel Davies.] Was it Dr. Pearless ?—No. 1065. Was it Dr. Eogers ?—Yes. 1066. Mr. Millar.] What reason did he give?— That he had no accommodation. 1067. Did he see you for measles ?—Yes. 1068. Where did he tell you to go ?—He said I had better get into a hammock, and he gave me medicine. 1069. Your hammock was hung in the same place ?—I never had a hammock until after I was on the promenade deck. 1070. Was your hammock amongst the men when you had the measles ?—Yes. 1071. Did the doctor visit you ?—No. 1072. How long was that before you arrived at Wellington ?—Three days. 1073. Where does Lieutenant Duigan live ?—At Wanganui. 1074. On the occasion of the apples and rice were they very full of maggots?— Yes. 1075. Did you see it yourself? —Yes. 1076. Was it thrown overboard ?—Yes. 1077. If we had it in evidence that it was thrown at the cook's head it would not be correct? j t was from our table that it was thrown overboard. It was from a different table that it was thrown at the cook. 1078. How often had you rice?— About three times a week. 1079. How often apples and rice? —Only three or four times on the voyage. 1080. Were they ever maggoty before?— No. 1081. Mr. McNab.] What is your age?— Nearly twenty. 1082. What was your occupation before you enlisted? —Labourer. 1083. Where were you working?—At New Plymouth. 1084. Colonel Davies.] You say men had to sleep on the wet Moor : how often was it wot V Occasionally. There was no ventilation to dry it.