B. A. DORSET

257

H.—l9b

13. What happened when the tent was blown down on the Saturday night?—lt started to blow in about 8 o'clock at night. We sent out for the orderlies, and they came in and fixed it up. There was an orderly there then. 14. Was more than one orderly fixing up the tent?— Yes. 15. Did the patients help to fix up the tent?—l think one went outside to help fix it up, but I do not think any of the others did; they assisted inside. 16. It has been said that when the tent was blown in on the Saturday night there was no orderly there : is that correct ?—No. 17. One witness said that the men in the tent had to go outside and get wet in the endeavour to set up the tent again :is that, correct?—No, not, to my knowledge. Tt was only one end of the tent that blew down, 18. Which end was that?—lt would be the left-hand end, nearest the railway-line. In the middle of the night all the flaps of the tent were open, and we had a little rain come underneath. 19. It is suggested that during the night the patients got a very bad wetting?—l do not think it is true. 20. Did the tent blow down again on the Sunday morning?— The wind got up a bit and very nearly upset the tent; but before it went they told us to get up, and they shifted the convalescent patients and put them into another marquee, and we got the help of the orderlies' to shift our stuff along. 21. What was then done?— That was really all that was done. They then gave us our breakfast. 22. Which side of the tent came down? —The same side as before. 23. One witness said that when the tent came down they were about an hour calling out before any assistance came to put the tent right to get, them out of it,: what, do you say about, that?—l think it is untrue. 24. Can you tell me whether there was a trench round the marquee?—l do not, think there was. 25. Mr. Gray] It, was blowing hard both on the Saturday night and Sunday morning?— Yes. 26. Did you suffer and inconvenience that might have been avoided?— No. I think it was just, act of Providence that it did come in that way : I do not think it was any fault of the orderlies. 27. You did not think it was necessary to make any complaint and do not complain now? —No. 28. Mr. Skerrett] Did you go to the hospital?— Yes. 29. Were voir treated all right?— Yes; treated splendidly at, Kaiwarra. Francis Davidson sworn and examined. (No. 73.) I. Mr. Skerrett] What are you?—A private in B Company of the Sixth Reinforcements. -. What was your occupation before enlisting?—l was learning dairy-farming. 3. When did you join at Trentham? —On the 20th April. 4. You have heard the evidence of the last two witnesses as to the circumstances attending their reporting at the camp and getting their equipment?— Yes. 5. Is their evidence substantially correct?— Yes. 6. You do not wish to add anything on that point? —No. 7. I understand you got ill?— Yes, on the 11th June, with measles. I went on sick-parade on the evening of the 11th June. The doctor examined me and took my temperature, which was 99. He told me I would have to go into the marquee the same as the last witness. On the Saturday evening it was very wet and windy, and the end of the tent blew in, and some of us got a bit wet. 8. How did you fix it? —The orderlies fixed it up. 9. Was there an orderly sleeping in the tent or in attendance at, once? —I could not say. 10. There was no undue delay on the part of the orderly?— No. Tt did not take long to fix it up. 11. Tt was suggested that some patients had to go outside and help fix up the tent: was that so?—No, I do not think so; I did not see any. 12. Was there more than one orderly fixing up the tent? —Yes, three or four. 13. You did not suffer any inconvenience by getting the beds wet?— No. My bed happened to be by the side blown in, and I moved it. 14. Tt was still sufficiently dry to use?— Yes. The following morning the orderly told us to collect our gear and go into another marquee. 15. The Chairman] When it blew down how did you get rescued ?—Tho end of it came down. 16. Were you calling mrt for assistance? —The orderlies were there in a very few minutes after the blowing-down occurred. Within five minutes T should say we were ordered to move out. 17. Mr. Skerrett] One witness said the tent was down for an hour before the call for assistance was answered?—T was at the end it blew down, and from the time it blew down till I was in the other marquee was not more than five minutes. 18. Mr. Ferguson] Did the other men in that marquee have mattresses? —Yes. 19. None sleeping on loose straw?—No; there were mattresses to spare in the marquee. 20. Mr. Skerrett] Was there a trench cut round the marquee?— No. 21. Is there any matter of interest to your camp-mates that you think the Commission ought to hear?—T do not think so. 22. The Chairman] You yourself have nothing to complain of?--Nothing to complain of at all. 23. Can you tell us of any grievances that you consider others are suffering from? —No, sir,

33— H. 19b.