H.—6c.

76

HECKLER.

prevent men living in a vitiated atmosphere ?—Oh, I think something should be done in those cases, of course. The troop-decks may have been a little stuffy through the muggy, dirty weather. 200. How many windsails were there in the ship?—l could not say, sir. 201. Did you have any drill of any description on the trip home? —No, sir; any amount of sports, and that sort of thing. 202. But no regular drill parade of any description ?—No. The officers subscribed and got up sports for the men—tugs-of-war, potato races, and all sorts of races. 203. The Chairman.] Was there any parade of the men to see to their cleanliness?—l do not think so, sir. 204. Was it customary on the " Drayton Grange " to parade men on the return trip?—No, we never had any parade. A corporal was told off to collect the sick and parade them, and if they were too sick to parade the doctors went to them. 205. About the hammocks once more : how far did the tables extend from the side of the ship—the men's tables ?—My men's tables ran right into the side of the ship. 206. And how far towards the centre? —There was a space about 6ft. or Bft. between the tables. The others were somewhat similar. There would be just sitting-acconmodation between the tables. 207. Were the hammocks hung across that 6ft. alley during the night?— They were hung across the alley in the case of my men. 208. They were slung over the tables and across the alley ?—Yes ; across the alley, too. Ido not know if they were in the others or not. 209. On board the ship they would be slung from side to side without an alley?—ln this particular corner they were. Ido not know about the others ; Ido not think they were. 210. Colonel Davies.] About the issue of kits to your men : you ieft your kits at Pietermaritzburg?—Yes, sir. 211. You did not belong to the Eighth Contingent ?—No, sir. 212. My quartermaster had no opportunity of knowing that your men had not got clothing until after we sailed?—No, he did not, sir. 213. When you reported it to him he told you he would report it to me ?—Yes, sir. 214. And then you were aware that I gave him an order to a merchant in Albany, signed by myself, to supply these things to your men ? —Yes ; I signed a requisition to you for them. 215. I signed an order on a merchant in Albany?— Yes, sir. 216. To supply your men with the necessary clothing?— Yes, sir. 217. I consulted with the quartermaster as to what we were likely to get, and he said, " We will get them jerseys, a pair of socks, and a pair of pants." I signed the requisition that you applied for ?—Yes, sir. 218. And bought them in Albany for you?— Yes, sir. 219. That was the first opportunity that my officers had of attending to your wants ?—Yes, sir. I spoke to Colonel Chaytor about it coming down on the train, and he told me he would see what he could do. We were told off so hurriedly that we had no time to get our kits ; we were rushed on the ship. 220. You think the ventilation was rather better on the " Drayton Grange " ?—Yes, sir. 221. You were going the opposite way on the " Drayton Grange," and the wind was generally ahead ? —I do not know. 222. The prevailing wind is from west to east, therefore it was generally a head wind or astern in the " Britannic " ? —Yes, sir. 223. Do you remember, on the occasion when I was inspecting your quarters, that you mentioned, when a man said in answer to my inquiry if any one had any complaint to make, a man stepped out and said, " I have not had enough to eat " ? —Yes. He said, " I had not enough to eat." 224. And I turned round and said to you, " Has this been reported to you " ?—You did, sir ; and I said " No." 225. Do you remember my saying then, in answer to the man, " There is no limit to quantity " ?—Yes; you told him that. 226. And do you remember my turning to the purser and asking him if that was correct ?— Yes, sir. 227. And he said, "If they ask for more, they can get it" ?—Yes, that is right. ' 228. Now, you did not belong to the brigade under my command : you were in command of a small detachment that was put on board with practically a complete brigade, and attached to it?— Yes, that is so. 229. Do you think that in any way whatever you, your junior officers, or any of your men suffered in any way in the want of attention on the part of my staff?—No, sir, none whatever. 230. You do not think you were treated differently to the brigade by the officers or any of the men under me ?—We had similar treatment, sir. 231. You were perfectly satisfied?— Perfectly satisfied. 232. Mr. McNab.] How many men was it you brought on board? —I told off eighty-six. 233. Have any of your men died ?—No, sir. 234. The Chairman.] Were any of them taken sick on the voyage ?—Yes; some of them are on the island now. 235. Mr. McNab.] They are all recovering?— Yes ; none of them died. 236. Mr. Millar.] Did you see much drunkenness on board the ship ?—I saw no drunkenness whatever. If a man had a cold, or anything like that, I sent him a little brandy, but not m any quantity. 237. If a statement was made that there was a lot of drunkenness ou board the ship, you state that, as far as you saw, you never saw drunkenness ?—I would say it was untrue.