H.— 19b.

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[M. ELLISON

37. Then he said that on three occasions during his dwelling in the tents they were removed to another site and carelessly put up ?—Yes, with a guide-rope—just, enough to hold them. 38. The floor of the tent being cleaned and aired, and then in the evening the tent was replaced?— Yes. That was done three times, but it may have been done more. 39. What is your impression?—T think it may have been done three times, but I do not remember any more. 40. Could you tell me whether that was the general routine in other lines of the camp?— I think so : that is what they did. ' The other companies did their own and then came and helped us. We were shooting on the range, and the companies we were marking for came and helped us with our tents. 41. Mr. Gray] Was this lifting of the flaps of the tents sufficient to air them?—We rolled up the curtains as well. 42. Would the tent be thoroughly aired and ventilated?— Yes, absolutely. 43. There has been a good deal of wind and rain at the camp?— Yes. 44. You could not have shifted the tents during wet weather?—No; we had no floor in ours. 45. Was the ground in your tent always dry?— Yes, until the heavy rain came. Tt got a bit wet then. We dug a hole and stopped the water where it was coming in. 46. And was the floor all right after that?—Yes'. 47. Mr. Ferguson] How are the blankets aired by the men in the huts?—l hang mine outside the window in the sun; others hang theirs on the door and eaves of the huts. 48. So that the blankets in the huts do not get as well aired as the blankets in the tents? —Not, so well as in dry weather. 49. Mr. Gray] You could sling them over the eaves in the huts? —I have not seen them slung over the eaves' to dry; it is very high up. Frederick William Owens sworn and examined. (No. 71.) 1. The Chairman] When did you come into camp?—On the 20th April. 2. What were you before you come?—A telegraph linesman. 3. Did you get all your kit? —Yes, all my first issue. 4. Were you delayed with the second?—We got the second issue of underclothing a week afterwards, and the boots ten weeks afterwards. 5. Did you live in tents like the last man?— Yes. 6. Have you lived in huts?— Since Tuesday week. 7. Do you prefer the tents? —Yes; they are warmer, not, so draughty, and more sociable. 8. Have you been fortunate enough to have good health?—l only had the usual colds. I have not had to go into the hospital. 9. Is there anything that has struck you as being a grievance affecting other members of the camp that you think we ought to hear? —The only thing I have had to complain about is waiting so long in the wet for the mess orders. 10. That is when you go to get your food? —Yes. They keep you lined up waiting for half an hour or twenty minutes till they serve it out, no matter whether it is raining or not. 11. How could that be obviated? —They could serve it out quicker. 12. You have to attend at a particular hour? —Yes. They blame, you if you are two or three minutes late. They keep you waiting nine times out of ten. 13. Mr. Ferguson] It is better to have the food well cooked than partly cooked ?—Well, it is not necessary to have us lined up so early. David Allan Dorset sworn and examined. (No. 72.) 1. Mr. Skerrett] What are you?—A private in B Company, Sixth Reinforcements. 2. What was your--civil occupation before you joined?—l was working as a sawmill hand and labourer. I came into camp on the 20th April. 3. You have heard the evidence of the other men with, reference to the receipt of their equipment on their arrival: was your experience-substantially the same as theirs?— Yes. We got all our gear excepting the extra pair of boots, and we got those about eight or nine weeks' afterwards. 4. When did you get il! ?—On the 10th June. 5. Where were you then? —In a tent. 6. Did you report on sick-parade?— Yes. I went across to the doctor and he told me to go to the hospital, and I went to a tent. 7. What doctor was it you saw?—l do not know. 8. Do you know what your temperature was?—No, but it was taken. 9. What did the doctor tell you you were going to the hospital for? —For measles. 10. You went to a marquee?— Yes; to the marquee there was some trouble about being blown down. There were four men in it when I went in, and next morning a lot, more came and made the number up to about twenty. 11. You were there for four days before the tent was blown down : it was blown down on the Saturday night?— Yes; I think it was the 11th I went in, and the marquee was blown down on the 12th.' 12. Do you remember whether any orderly slept in the tent at night?—No, I could not,say.