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20. Mr. Gray.] When you were operated on it was on the right side? —Yes, sir. 21. What did you do when you were discharged—what did you do in Ihe country? — Nothing at all. 22. No riding about? —No. 23. Who was the doctor who attended you in the AVellington Hospital? —Dr. Hislop. The Chairman: I do not quite see how this matter comes within the scope of our Commission. If there is blame, it is in regard to the discharge of this man 100 soon from the Wellington Hospital. The other claim appears (o be one for pay on discharge. Of course, in civil life there would be one month's pay due in lieu of notice. 24. Dr. Mart'ln.]' Are you going to get your rupture fixed up and join the Army again?— 1 cannot afford it. 25. But it cannot cost you anything at all if you go to the public hospital?— But it would be six months before I would be accepted. 26. The Chairman.] What were you before? —A carpenter by trade; there is a lot of heavy lifting in that. The Chairman: 1 am afraid we have no means of doing anything practical for you, but now that your case has been brought before the public some provision may be made for you. Charles Smith sworn and examined. (No. 56.) 1. Mr, Skerrett.] You reside in Christchurch? —Yes, sir. 2. And you are a mail-room..clerk, employed in the post-office in Christchurch?—Yes. 3. You desire to bring under the notice of the Commission a, complaint concerning your brother, Ernest Smith? —Yes. 4. When did your brother go into camp at Trentham ! —On the 12th June. 5. With what reinforcements? —The Seventh. 6. Was he quite well up Io the 17th June, so far as you know? —As far as I know, sir, yes. 7. 1 think he wrote home to say he was all right on that day? —Yes, the 17th June. 8. When did you next hear from him? —He wrote to me on the 20th June, and said he had a slight cold, which, however, he reckoned would be easily settled. 9. When did you next hear of him or from him? —We did not heat anything from him at all. only through a friend of his who came down. fO. What, was his name? —Brunton. 1.1. He came to Christchurch on Saturday, ihe 3rd July? —Yes. 12. He called at your mother's residence in Linwood? —Yes. 13. What information did he give your mother? —He said that her son was in the Wellington Hospital suffering from influenza, and looked rather bad. 14. And when did you yourself hear that news?—On the Sunday evening, the -Ith, when I called at my mother's place; and on the Monday morning, the sth, about 11.30, 1 wired to the Wellington Hospital asking for full particulars of my brother's illness. I sent a reply-paid wire, and in the afternoon, about 3 o'clock or 3.30, 1 received a wire from Dr. Barclay saying. " Left hospital yesterday." 15. You received that on Monday, the sth July?— Yes. 16. Did Dr. Barclay's telegram convey to your mind that your brother had been discharged cured?— Yes, that is what we thought. 17. Have you a copy 7 of your telegram and Dr. Barclay's reply?—l have not my own, bul I have Dr. Barclay's wire. [Telegram put in.] 18. Then, on Wednesday, the 7th July, you received from the Camp Commandant at Trentham a telegram saying, " T736, Private C. Smith, dangerously ill Trentham Racecourse Hospital, sudden attack. —Camp Commandant"? —Yes. 19. Did your mother, your three sisters, and yourself come up on Wednesday night's boat?— Yes. 20. Arriving at Trentham at about 10.45 on the following morning?— Yes, sir. 21. Your brother died at 12.45 the same day 7 , Thursday?— Yes. 22. Did you see your brother?— Yes, I saw him. 23. At tlie hospital?— Yes. 24. What was his condition? —He was unconscious. 25. When you arrived?— Yes. 26. Did he regain consciousness?—l think only for a moment, when he heard his mother speaking to him. 27. AVhile you were at Trentham did telegrams arrive at your mother's house in Christchurch? —Yes, sir. 28. Relating to your brother? —Yes. 29. There were two of them—on the Bth?—Yes. The first one read, " T744, Private C. Smith, in Racecourse Hospital, Trentham, condition serious ; advise relative come at once.— Camp Commandant"; anil the second, "Private C. Smith's condition very much worse; advise come immediately.—Captain Crawford." 30. At what time were they despatched?— One was handed in at 9 o'clock and the other at 9.15 on the morning of the Bth. | Telegrams put in.] 31. Can you give the Commission any information as to whether your brother was in the Wellington Hospital, or what happened to him afterwards? —That is what 1 have been trying to find out; I have not had a chance yet.