H.—6c.

72

[captain heckler.

41. There was a different man every day? —Yes, sir. 42. When you were on duty was it ever reported to you that the latrines were filthy ?—No, sir, except this one occasion, and that was when just on a casual visit. 43. What was the matter then ? —He had been easing himself in the latrine. 44.. Did you ever find a quantity of water sluicing about in the latrines?—No, sir. 45. Do you think that could have been a matter of common occurrence without your knowing it ?—No, sir. 46. How often did you use to be on duty ?—On about six or seven days. 47. Did you ever upon any occasion see 3 in. or 4 in. of water in the latrine?—No, sir, I never did. 48. Do you think if there had been 3 in. or 4 in. it would have been reported to you ?—Yes, sir. 49. Then, you, I suppose, will say there was never a foot of water sluicing round in the latrines ?—Oh, never ; no, sir. 50. Do you think it possible for a foot of water to be in them ?—Just for a moment —there might have been a heavy sea. 51. I am speaking of an overflow ?—■Nβ, there was not. 52. If we have evidence given that there was a foot of water overflowing, would you say it was untrue?—l would say it was untrue, sir. 53. When did you report to Captain Lewin the shortness of clothing for the men ?—Shortly after we left Durban. 54. And what did Captain Lewin say : did he report to Colonel Davies ?—Yes, sir. 55. And did the men get any clothing?— Not until we got to Albany. 56. Why was that ?—There was not sufficient on board. 57. Do you think Captain Lewin was anxious to help you?— Yes, he was anxious to help me. 58. Well, you think if the men were not given clothes he was not responsible for that ?—No, he was not responsible at all. 59. Now, you told us about one leg of mutton being badly cooked ?—Yes, sir; that was the only time my men complained. 60. Could any men have eaten it ?—Yes; some who were fond of underdone meat could. It was not very raw. , 61. It was not what you consider unfit for food?—I think it was quite fit. 62. You would not say it was unfit ? —No, sir. 63. Could you have eaten it yourself ?—Yes, sir. 64. How often did they complain ?—Only once, sir. 65 Do you think it happened oftener? —No, I do not, because I went down for complaints every day. 66. Did you take the trouble to look at the food ?—Yes, sir. I always tasted the soup to see whether it was hot or cold, and tasted the tea, and inspected the potatoes and everything. On one occasion I complained to the cook about the potatoes not being washed properly. He said, "It is your own men, sir." There was a fatigue party whose duty it was to wash the potatoes and assist the cook, and they did not do it properly. I said, "If it is our own men it is not your fault." 67. What sort of quality were the potatoes ? —They were very good ; they were very much better than we got in the saloon. 68. Than in the saloon ?—Yes, sir. We got little things about the size of the top of our fingers in the saloon, and they got big ones. 69. Were they similar in size to that ink-bottle [about 2 in. square] ?—Similar and larger. 70. Were they what could have been called pig potatoes ?—No, sir ; they were not. They were fair potatoes. 71. You say the sleeping-accommodation was the same as the " Drayton Grange " ?—Yes, just about the same. 72. Were there hooks to hang every hammock ?—Yes, sir. 73. Are you sure of that ?—ln my quarters there were. 74. If any man slept on the tables or on the floor it was that he did not choose to hang his hammock? —That is so, sir. 75. How many hooks did it take to hang a hammock ?—Two, sir. 76. How many hooks did it take to hang two hammocks ?—I could not say that, sir ; I could not really state. 77. Did they hang two hammocks on three hooks ? —Yes, sir; some did. If I remember right, one man's feet was at the other man's head ; I am not quite sure of it. 78. What I want to arrive at is, was there space wasted or not ? —-I do not think so. 79. Then, if we have evidence (as we have) that there was not hanging-room for more than three-quarters of the hammocks, as far as your troop is concerned that is a mistake ?—Yes, as far as my troop is concerned. They never complained to me about not having hammock accommodation. 80. Were you ever in the lower deck after the men had gone to bed? —No, I was not. 81. Was the ventilation on board the "Britannic" as good as that on the " Draytou Grange " ?—Not on the lower deck where my men were. Ido not think it was as good. 82. Was any attempt made to make it better?— Well, I think windsajls were put down. The weather was bad, certainly ; and when the weather was dirty the boat was wet occasionally. 83. Was any attempt made to put down more windsails?—l do not think so, sir. 84. Then, you believe that the ventilation could not have been improved?—l do not think so, sir. ■ . ■-.-..