HOW A NEW ZEALAND TROOPER DIED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2430, 10 October 1900, Page 24

HOW A NEW ZEALAND TROOPER DIED.

SHOCKING CHARGE OF NEGLECT.

In a letter from Marandellas, dated July 24, a special correspondent of the New Zealand Times makes serious charges as to the treatment of Trooper Saxon, of Palmerstoii North, who died in South Africa. lie states that after the squadron to which Saxon belonged had entrained for Marandellas be went to the hospital, an old building whielt had been re-erected at the end of the paddock a day or two previously, to see some New Zealanders. "My feelings on entering the building," he writes, "may be more easily imagined than described when to my surprise I found one solitary occupant, the emaciated Trooper G. -F. Saxon, once a. fine, strong, young fellow, whose acquaintance I had made during the voyage. There, on the dir-ty floor, in the midst of swarms of flies, fragments of some decomposed food, and dirty utensils, the poor fellow lay as helpless &s a child, with nothing but this filthy chaos and the dirty, dismal walls o£ the building jind complete solitude to cheer his rapidly expiring spirits. A second glance was not necessary to convince me that my appearance had intensified the cause of tha poor man's grief, for his eyes were still full of tears, and no wonder. I never in my lifa saw such a scandalous state of things. If the poor man had been a common criminal ho could not havo been treated in a more brutal manner. In reply to my inquiries as to hi& condition he said : ' I am well enough, only I feel dreadfully weak. I have been, starved. 1 have had nothing to eat sincei evening, that was at 4- p.m. yesterday, wheis I had a bit of biscuit and a drop of tea. I am supposed to get beeftea and cornflour, but I have only had it once or twice. When I complained to the man who is supposed to attend tt> us he told me to get up and attend to myself or go "without. I have not been able to walk for some time ; I havo been too> weak. No one seoms to takt any interest in us or care whether we live or die. Nona of the officers have been near .is.' Contradicting- himself, he said : ' Well, yes, Lieu-

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At the half-yearly District meeting of the M.U.1.0.0.F., at Mosgiel, September 26, 1900. Feont Row, from left (Seated): V.G. Bro. Johnston, G.M. Bro. Broadfoot, P.P.S.C. Bro. Black, Hand and Heart; P.G-. Bro. Rosenbrock, P P.G M. Bro Davie, Albion; P.P.G.M. (also acting D.P.G.M.). Bro. Sligo, Cromwell; P.C. Sec. Bro. Hopcraft; P.G.M., Bro. Briggs; P.P.G.M., Bro. Allan; P. Treas. Bro. Robin; P.G. Bro. Hagan, Per. Sec. Bro. Jeffrey, P. G. Bro. Wright. Middle Row, standing: P.G. Bro. Alexander, Outram ; P.G. Bro. Munro, Hand and Heart; P.G. Bro. Gow; Per. Sec, Bro. M'Donald, Palmerston ; P.G. Bio. Wilson, Caversham; xsro. Barclay, P.G. Bro. Muirhead, Loyal Mosgiel Lodge; P.G. Bro. Garrow, Dunedin; N.G. Bro. Midd'emass, Pride of Kaitangata ; NG. Bro. Crosbie, Dunedin; P.G. Bro. Andrews, Outram; V.G. Bro. Trewern, Duaedin; N.G. Bro. Beeson, Caversham ; V.G. Bro. Jones, Alb on ; N.G. Bro Harraway, Mosgiel. Back Row: Bro. Broadley, N.G. Bro. Craig, N.G. Bro. Cameron, Per. Sec. Bro. Weir, Loyal Mosgiel Lodge; Bro. Gillies, P.G. Bro. Fullarton, Prince of Wales; Bro. Brownlie, P.G. Bro. Taylor, P.G. Bro. Paul, Milton; N.G. Bro. Foot, Dalton; P.G. Jackson, Prince of Wales; E. Sec. Bro. Turnbull, Mosgiel; N.G. Bro. Willis, Hand and Heart; P.G. Bro. Grater, Naseby; P.P.G.M. Bro. Hamel, Hand and Heart; P.G. Bro. Hill, Caversham; P.G. Bro. Wise, Loyal Prince Alfred.

Officer commanding the Southland Sub-District, Invercargili, commenced his military career in the Invercargill Artillery Cadets m April, 1877, and early in the year 1879 transferred to the Invercargill Rifle Volunteer Company. Was promoted to Sergeant in 1881, and elected Lieutenant in 1884, and Cap tain in 1887. In 1895 the formation of a Mounted Rifle Corps was mooted, and Captain Hawkins took the matter in hand, and very soon had a first-rate corps, 70 strong. On the promotion of Major, now Lieutenant-Colonel, Robin, to the permanent staff, Captain Hawkins assumed command of the Otago Mounted Rifle Batallion, which is composed of the following Corps, viz., Otago Hussars, North Otago Mounted Rifles, Southland Mounted Rifles, Balclutha Mounted Rifles, Mataura Mounted Rifles, Tuapeka Mounted Rifles, Mamototo Mounted Rifles. It will be seen from the above that Major Hawkins has served m the Volunteer Force continuously for 23J years, and holds the New Zealand and Imperial Volunteer Long-Ser-vice Medals. — Campbell, photo, Invercargil.