RETURNED TROOPERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2528, 27 August 1902, Page 25

RETURNED TROOPERS.

THE TRANSPORT COMMISSION

WELLINGTON, August 20,

The. Commission of Inquiry into the allegotions concerning the condition of the troopships Britannic and Orient have examined several of the officers in charge of the troop?. Over 50 witnesses have offered to give evidence. The report of the troopers' sick list today shows that Nicholson (Canterbury) has made no improvement, and that Newscbamp (Martinborough) and Jl. Bourk (Canterbury) are not so welL All the others are nicking satisfactory progress. , The doctors on Somes Island report tonight that Newschamp and Nicholson are in a serious condition

August 21

The Transport Commission continued its sitting!* to-day. A large number of witnesses were examined yesterday, and many more are waiting to give ovidence. AUCKLAND, August 20.

The Auckland troopers ex Britannic complain that though many of them offered to give evidence before the Royal Commission n ) roply has been received. They htate that of 14 deaths after the Britannic arrived in New Zealand 11 occurred among those on the No. 3 and No. 4 lower troop deck?, occupied by the Auckland squadrons. They consider it important to have their statements taken.

CHRISTCHURCH, August 22.

Several troopers who have been in Wellington giving evidence before the Transport Commission, and who returned couth m the Mokoia to-day, complain that the evidence they gave is necessarily qualified, as they appear before the commission singly and have to face not only the three commissioners, but also Colonel Davies, Sur-geon-captain Peerless, Captain Lewin, Major-general Babington. and other dignitaries of the Defence Department. Their opinion is that, in justice to themfcelveb, the witnesses should be represented by counsel, v;ho would not only watch their interests, but also laad them in any statement they wich to make.

Captain Rich, R.N., of H.M.S. Ringarooina, is watching: the prwjedlnfcs at the Transport Commio«ion inquiry on b-.-half of the Admiraltj

THA^NfES. August 20

Several of tho Thames troopers who returned by tho Cr>nt sUte {hat much ex-p-src*erated accounts ha\c been published as to the state of affairs on board the boat, llipv state that beyond the fact that the food was not of the best (though it could not bo called bad), and the slreping accommodation lieir.s; scarcely sitfficifut, there was nothing to < r.v II at. If ilie boat ra« dirty m places, (he principal fault was the ne-clfft of the trooper* to do their duty and keen the ship clf<xn.

THREE iIORE BRTTA\*NIC TROOPERS

WELLINGTON, August 21

Two more of the Britannic's men arc dead — viz., Nicholson (of Canterbury) and Neuschamp (of Martinborough). Tae medical report to-day uays : — Hooper and Atkins will be up to day ; Lucad and M. Bourke are improving; Tannor, Kitchen, Rowlings, and Compton aro convalescent. All the invalids at Somes Island were out of bed to-day for a few hours. It is almcs-t tertam that tho=e who aro alne now Mill recover.

Augu-t 22

Troopf-r E. P. Snutl) lAucklaud) died thk morning of pneumonia. Tho rest of the Butannic in\alid= are pro oiL'^anig0 iL'^anig -.tti=factorily.

DISCHARGED FROM QUARANTINE. CHRISTCHURCH, August 21. The- remaining troopers by the Orient were di«charged from the camp at Bottle Lake to-day.

NEWS OF THE SICK

WELLINGTON, August 23. To-day's report states that the trooper© on the sick list from the Britannic and the smallpox patient from the Orient are all doing well. Two more eases of sickness Sere reported yesterday. Farrier Rosa ia

I down with scarlet fever, and Fan:I«: "Jfelsot with enteric. Both belonged to the Eighth,

NEW PLYMOUTH, August 23. -

j The local troopers of the Seventh Contingent ivho returned at the end of June complain that they have not received th« pay that is due to them.

ILLNESS OF A KAITANGATA TROOPER.

i Dr de Lautour received the following tele ( gram from Surgeon-eaptftin Fitzgerald yes j lerday: " Return etl Trooper John Parker, ex , Britannic, seriously ill, Stirling, with pneumonia and enteric Advise department send j nurse 4-.2Q train." In resDOnse to the mes-

sag© Dr de Lautour despatched M 'Donald by the 4.20 train.

A handsome memorial tablet was on view in Mr Andrew Lees's window on Saturday. I was designed by Messrs J. Swan and Sons to the order of the Dunback residents, who desire to commemorate three ex-pupils of the Dunback «chool w-ho fell in the South African war. The tablet is of bra6s, on an oaken shield, and bears the followinginscription: — "This tablet is placed here in honour of Thomas M'Lew, George Sim, and Robert M. Robertson, e\-pupils of the Dunback school, who lost their lives while defending the British flatr during the Soutb African campaign, 1899-02. Dulco et decorum est pro patria mori."