TBOOPEE J. E. NICHOLSON. I

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1085. It was not wetted every morning V—No, only occasionally. 1086. You mean it was only wet on the days it was washed ?—Yes. 1087. On other days it was dry?— Yes. Sometimes the water came through the portholes. 1088. Surgeon-Major Fearless.} You are No. 8993, and you were in the hospital for measles ?—No. I was in the hospital in the earlier part of the voyage for a sprained ankle.

Thursday, 21st August, 1902. Trooper Silbey sworn and examined. (No. 14.) 1. The Chairman.] State your name, please ?—Henry George Silbey. 2. What contingent did you belong to ?—Eighth. 3. What rank did you hold ?—Trooper. 4. You have sent your name down as anxious to give evidence before the Commission : will you make any statement?— Yes, sir. As regards the fish aft of the vegetable-locker: There is a vegetable-locker each side of the ship, one for potatoes and one for vegetables. Eight aft of the ship there were fifteen or twenty sacks of fish lying on the deck. There were about eight or nine dogs on the ship, and they were allowed to walk over them and do what they liked on them. The latrine was right close alongside of it. The latrine would get full up at times, and when the ship would be rolling the water would slouch right over it, and the latrine-water would run right over as well. That fish was served out to the troops. The potatoes also were lying outside on the deck along with the fish. There were about twenty or thirty cases thrown overboard by the troops which had been used by the dogs running on them and the latrines running over them. As regards the soup, it was very fair, but the vegetables in it were not half-cooked. And the coffee was very fair—it would have been better if they had cleaned the coppers out before putting in the coffee at night for the morning. It used to be made overnight, and boiled up again in the morning. The tea was similar ;it was very much worse than the coffee. They used to make the stew in the same pan at night, and then wipe it out with a dirty cloth instead of washing it. The meat was similar. It was blue when it was brought up to be cooked. When it was cooked it would have to be sent back again half-raw. When complaints were made about it there was no notice taken whatever until later on. 5. No notice taken at first, but later on ?—Yes. The only time when the complaints were made and notice taken was when they rushed the upper deck and demanded more tucker. There was not sufficient tucker to keep them alive. You got so-many potatoes to last sixteen at a messtable, and there would be about two small potatoes a man. Sometimes you would get rice for your dinner. The stewed apples would be cooked for you, and while they would be stewing there would be maggots in them. We were told by the cook, if they did not have sufficient we could go to the devil. On one occasion the soup was brought up and thrown at the cooks inside the galley. The apples were also done the same. The blankets that were given to us on board the boat when we left Durban were full of vermin. I got my blankets about 7at night. I particularly looked at the blankets before I slept in them. If you wanted to sleep down below you would have to make a rush after tea to get your hook, or else you would get none at all. Men would have to sleep down below or on the deck. There were only seven hooks, and sixteen to a mess-table. If you wanted to sling your hammock there would be a row about it. You would have to swing your hammock first or else lose it, and go on the upper deck and sleep. When we got about a week and a half out from Durban there were thirteen or fourteen sacks of turnips and carrots rotten-, and they were thrown overboard. I myself helped to throw them over with the vegetable-cook. This could have been prevented if they had a little more management, and they could have been stewed up for the troops. I know nothing about the hospital. I had always plenty of water. I was working in cho saloon galley helping the vegetable-cook. The troops were allowed only a certain amount of water to last so-many men. Ido not know anything about the water ; I could not say how much they were allowed. I started work when I first went on the boat—the first day out from Durban until we landed in Wellington. I had always plenty of everything myself. I noticed particularly at night about the coffee. They would make it in the troopers' galley, and sell it at night to the troopers. They made tea in the afternoon, and you could buy a cup of tea. You could buy a decent feed at the saloon galley also for Is. Some of the troopers paid £2 and £3 for the trip from Durban to Wellington. Orders were given one day—l could not say which day or date—by the colonel, I believe, for any troops to rush anything that was sold on the deck; that was as regards the coffee or sandwiches. 6. Anything about the latrines ?—The latrines were always full up of a night-time. If you went to the latrine, of course you got wet-footed. Ido not think I have anything else to say. 7. What was your occupation before you went with the contingent? —Waiter; and I have been travelling with theatricals often during the last few years as a contortionist a,nd singer. 8. Whose dogs were they that ran about the ship?— The troopers'. 9. Was there any endeavour to control them ?—No, they were allowed to run about the decks ; but after complaints were made I believe they were ordered to put them away somewhere. 10. This fish you say that was messed by the dogs : were the men compelled to eat it?— Well, they were not compelled to eat it, but they had to leave it. The troopers saw it with their own eyes. When it was cooked they would not eat it. 11. Did they make official complaint about it? —I believe they did ; I am not certain. I believe two Australians took it up to the colonel. 12. Did you not tell us about the decks being rushed? —Yes, the upper deck, but not in connection with the fish ; that was for more provisions to be served out to the troops. They wanted bully beef.

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