45

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W. tt. MORTON; j

soak-pits were too near the positions which were to be occupied by 7 the buildings, so it was decided that all polluted water should be taken away from the camp by these drains. It was suggested that the same method of disposal which had been adopted inside the camp could be adopted at the outlet of these drains. 28. That is, by means of a pit?— Yes. It, was found that there was sufficient fall in the ground to give a fall to the drain of about lin 140. I. considered that that was necessary under the circumstances. But when the ground was opened 1 saw that it would be necessary to materially increase the filtration area, I advised Mr. Seddon, of the Public Works Department, that some difficulty might occur in that respect, and that it would be advisable, some distance up the drain, to put in two junctions in order that branch drains be taken away from there and so obtain a very much greater area for filtration. 29. So that there would be no difficulty in tacking on any future drainage?— Yes; my particular object was to remove all the polluted water from the vicinity of the camp as far as I possibly could. 30. Was that based upon any particular number of men, or the number of men who would possibly occupy these huts under the scheme shown on the plans ?—I take it that the huts would not extend beyond a certain line—that is, towards the parade-ground—and that if they were to be extended they would be extended more westerly towards the main Hutt Road, so as not to encroach upon the parade-ground, because the military authorities were very anxious to preserve as much as possible for their military operations. 31. Would the drainage provision made be sufficient for not only 3,500 men but for 7,000 men?—lt is somewhat difficult to say what the consumption of water would amount to, and consequently the amount of drainage required for polluted water; that is the only workable calculation. I consulted military books, and found that they make an allowance of 5 gallons per head per day. The drain provided was worked out on that basis, and w r as more than ample for the requirements we were considering. 32. You were considering provision for about four thousand .men . —Yes; but if the camp had been extended very much farther in the direction of the main Hutt Road it would undoubtedly become necessary to put in another drain parallel to that existing, because the branch drains could not have been laid with sufficient fall to cope with the water from further ablution-places and cookhouses which would have been found necessary 7. 33. Was this provision which you made in any way connected with the occupation of the tents?—No, except the ablution-places which were immediately adjacent to the tents. We were informed that it was intended to take away the whole of the tents, as they encroached upon the rifle range, and that all the drainage would be from where the tents began, in a westerly direction, and that consequently there would be no drainage beyond that given point. 34. Beyond the huts and drainage, you were consulted with regard to the roads, I think? —I was merely asked a question on the telephone, sir. 35. As to what? —Colonel Potter rang me up one day from the camp and told me that in view of the mud about the place a great number of suggestions had been made to him, and he asked me about some of them. One was the question of tarring the surface. I told him it was absolutely 7 futile to do such a thing at. that time, and I recommended him, from what I had seen of tlie place, to have the roads properly formed, graded, and gravelled. 36. Did you see them afterwards? —Yes, I have seen them since that, 37. And has anything been done in the direction of your suggestion?—l did not take very much notice. I know that something was done at the time, but as to the extent I would not venture an opinion. 38. AYe have seen what has been done, and we thought you might be able to say whether that was the proper thing?—No; I went, out there privately _and did not take very much notice. 39. That deals with the hutments, the drains, and the roads: were you consulted about anything else I—No. 40. Were you a member of tlie Board which considered the hospital building?— Yes. 41. Had you any 7 special knowledge of the construction of hospitals?—My only knowledge is as to the building; I do not claim to be an authority on the fitting-up of the building. 42. You have no knowledge as to the equipment of a building for hospital work?—No, other than in the nature of the construction of the building and the disposal of the drainage. 43. And what is the part y 7 ou were to take as a, member of the Board: from the engineering point of view?— Yes, along with Dr. Frengley and Mr. Campbell we were to decide the nature of the materials to be used, and certain things with regard to the arrangement, which I discussed w 7 ith them. 44. Was any indication given to you as to the purpose of this hospital?— The information I obtained came through Dr. Frengley. Tt was he who had the opportunities of discussing the purpose for which the hospital would be required, and the accommodation it, would be necessary to provide. 45. Dr. Martin.] What was discussed at the meetings of the Board as to the nature of the building and the number of patients it was to accommodate?—My recollection is that there were eighteen patients to be provided for. Of course, the possible necessity for extending the building was also considered. 46. What was the idea of the hospital—to treat emergency cases from the camp?—-Yes, emergency cases. 47. Accidents that occurred in the camp?— Not accidents requiring serious operations. 48. For instance, a man getting his skull smashed by a kick from a horse : would he be taken there for treatment?—l can only tell you that if was put to us that the hospital was to be used for merely 7 minor operations.