W. F. SOLOMON.]

169

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171. Have you ever stood and watched the sick-parade going on? —No; they did not give you much time to stand up and watch those things. I just saw it. the last Saturday I was there. T was on fatigue work and passed down. 1.72. Mr. Gray.] AVhen you got to the camp you were one of a large number of new recruits? —Yes. 173. About 2,200 in all?— About 2,500. 174. Did they all come in the same day?—No, Ido not think so. We went in on the 29th, and I think some came in on the Saturday and Monday. 175. And a great many went in on the Saturday you arrived?— Yes. 176. It would necessarily be a matter of considerable time for each man to get his outfit?— Yes. 177. You were all supplied with the same kind of outfit?— Yes, we are all supplied, but did not get the same quantity. 178. But each man had to get a uniform, boots, socks, blankets, hat, and the other things you mentioned?— They issued them up to a certain time. 179. Each man had to be fitted with his coat and trousers?— Yes. They chucked it at you; there was not much fitting. They did not give you much time to fit. 180. Mr. Ferguson.] They asked you what size of boots you wore?— Yes. 181. You did not try them on there? —-Some tried them on, but they kept worrying you to look sharp. 182. Mr. Gray.] Had your friend Pollard a large foot? —No, size B's; there should not be any difficulty about fitting. 183. AVere you surprised at you and your mates being kept so long that night to get your outfit? —Yes, I was more than surprised. I would not have been there had I known they would be so long. I was surprised at the system. 184. Seeing the crow 7 d of you there, do you suggest it was an unreasonable thing for you to be kept waiting that time? —Yes, very unreasonable. 185. How could it have been avoided? —By taking the men in smaller numbers. 186. AA r ould that have helped?—Y'es. If they had let the men out for a couple of hours instead of keeping them standing in the mud for all that time it would have been better. 187. You suffered no ill effects?— No. 188. You have enjoyed good health all the time you have been in camp?— Yes. 189. In spite of the wetting you did not catch cold? —I got a bit, of a cold, 190. But not enough to send you to the hospital?— No. 191. You told the Commissioners that when you went to Trentham there were seventy in a hut : are you including those who were on sick-leave? —Yes. 192. When any men went away on sick-leave, were their places filled up? —Those men sleeping between the tables and door would take their places. 193. No additional men were put into the hut ! -No. The sickness did not break out for the first fortnight. 194. You say the draughts in the hut seemed to come up from the floor? —Yes. 195. Was there any man amongst you who was able to say where the draught came from? —1 should say it was coming up and under us. 196. You do not suggest between the flooring-boards? —'that is where I should say it came from. 197. There were no complaints, were there, of men not getting blankets to sleep in? —They all got their blankets. Some had no palliasses that night,: they had to sleep on the floor. 198. AVhen your friend Pollard became ill and went to the hospital you saw him?— Yes, on the Sunday. 199. And on that occasion he made no complaint about want of treatment?—No, no complaint in regard to treatment. 200. Then subsequently you were informed he had been shifted to Kaiwarra? —Yes. 201. You did not tell his relatives that, did you? —No, not then. I wrote a letter afterwards, hut the wire I sent to say he was in Berhampore Mr. Pollard received before he received my letter. 202. And after you had been told he was at Kaiwarra you were informed that he had been sent from Kaiwarra to the Berhampore Hospital?— Yes. 203. You did not see him again? —No. 204. Now, with respect to the camp, who ordered the men to fold their mattresses, blankets, and overcoats away? —Sergeant Blackman, the platoon sergeant. Those were the orders he said lie. got. 205. Whom did you complain to?—AVe complained to the same sergeant again, and he reported to some one, and we got orders after two or three days. AYe did it two or three days before we made the complaint to the sergeant. 206. When you went and made the complaint the matter was remedied? —Yes. 207. AVas there any difficulty in making the complaint, ?—-No difficulty—just reporting to the sergeant. What became of it after that Ido not know. 208. When there was a scarcity of water, was anything being done to the waterworks? —They were always working about them. 209. Do y 7 ou know that the water-supply was being extended throughout the camp when your regiment went in? —It may have been, but there was not enough water. ' 210. But the supply was being extended and pipes being laid? —Yes; they were being laid al) the time. 211. There was some interference with the water-supply?— Yes.

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