J. T. M. HOBNSBY. j

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the lad remembers until he returned to consciousness in the Wellington Hospital (not the Kaiwarra Hospital, as stated by me in the House). He had been conveyed to the Wellington Hospital strapped in a motor-car. As soon as he was fit to be removed he was taken to the Kaiwarra Hospital. " 1 prefer to make these facts known to you in the first place, but I should have preferred that the lad should have given his evidence to the Commission. This, however, he is unwilling —or, shall I say, afraid —to do. So far as lam personally concerned, the incident is now closed, but I am still much perturbed about what has happened in the case of this lad, because, as a matter of fact, had death occurred his parents would never have known until they had been asked to take away his dead body.—Yours faithfully, "J. T. M. Hobnsby." Now, sir, the one thing which presents itself to my mind, in order to put myself right with the Commission in this matter, is that I must say that in reply to this letter the Hon. Mr. Rhodes wrote to me that he was going to investigate this matter, and only yesterday, six days after the date of this letter, I find a witness giving evidence on this one point. It looks as though I had. made a misrepresentation in the House, but, I had put the matter right six day-s before by writing to -the Minister. 3. The witness had seen the statement in the public print, and he thought it necessary to protect himself by giving us his version of the matter : that, of course, he was perfectly justified in doing?—l am not blaming the officer, but lam blaming the authorities. 4. But, of course, this Commission is not inquiring into what the Hon. Mr. Rhodes ought to have done in consequence of your letter?— Only this: (hat I do not want it to go forth to the public that I had not stated what was correct, 5. I do not, think any misrepresentation was made by the witness who spoke yesterday? —No. 6. I summed up his evidence, and he replied "Yes." It, was not a comment by me, but rather a question summing up his evidence?— Well, that is what I wanted to clear up, because it almost appeared that I had made a statement in the House without foundation. The Chairman: The only point we are concerned about is as to the truthfulness of the evidence given yesterday, and that is not threatened. Mr. Salmond: I suggest that the doctor in charge of the kiosk hospital at the time should be asked specifically as to these details in regard to this patient. Witness: My suggestion is that the boy be summoned before this Commission. The Chairman: We shall issue a subpoena to him. Witness: He is on sick-leave at present, at Carterton. 7. Mr. Salmond.] AVill you say whether this man made any complaint to you about his treatment?— The only complaint was in regard to the non-communication of the facts to his people. 8. About his parents not being notified? —Yes; they could not find any trace of him, 9. How do you know that he was unconscious for three days?— The doctor told him so, or the nurse. 10. The boy told you that ho had been told that, he had been unconscious for three days? — Well, as a matter of fact he was unconscious, because he knows nothing about what happened from the time he was at Trentham until he found himself in the Wellington Hospital. 11. Dr. Martin.] Can you tell me when he was admitted to the Wellington Hospital—about, the month?—l suppose it would be about a month ago —in the early part of this month or the latter part of June. Dr. Martin : Yes ; there is (he record in our return from the Wellington Hospital : it says that he was admitted on the 28th June and discharged on the 4th July. His case was diagnosed as measles—not serious. Dr. 11. L. H. Steele further examined. (No. 37.) Witness: On second thoughts I went out to the Berhampore Hospital, as you thought my impression when giving evidence was rather harsh. I have just returned from there, and I must, say I am not. very much impressed with the hospital or the arrangements there. I went into the hospital. The part I went into was the main building, which consists of two rooms, with a division between the two, and two sinks. There is a passage-way, which is partly given over to a bath. Ido not think those are elaborate arrangements. 1. Dr. Martin.] Where was the sink? —At the extremity of each of the wards. 2. The Chairman.] But according to the plan the sink is in the porch, and not in the ward? —It, is outside the ward. 3. I think we can do very much better from this plan and what other witnesses say : we can judge for ourselves?— Very well, but you reprimanded me yesterday for calling it a whare. 4. You called it a "shack "?—I still maintain it is a whare or shack now that I have seen it, in the da}dight, The Chairman: You spoke without a due sense of your responsibility, and we want no further discussion on the subject, Dr. Steele. William Charles Pollard sworn and examined. (No. 38.) 1. Mr. Salmond,.] You are a plasterer, residing in Christchurch I—Yes,1 —Yes, sir. 2. Your brother, John Henry Pollard, jointed the Trentham Regiment?— That is so. 3. And left Christchurch on the 28th May?— That is so. 4. Did you recently get a letter from him stating his experiences?— Yes, I have a letter which he wrote a couple of days after he got into camp.