25

H.—l9a

29. With regard to the horses, how were they off for forage? —There was any amount of forage. To a great extent it was " Go as you please, and take what you like." 30. Was it good ?—Yes. The only thing about the forage was this : I do not know who was in fault, but the contractors brought the hay, chaff, and oats, and dumped them down at the foot of the hills. I understood there were two large tents erected to put this stuff in, but on very few occasions were they used. The stuff was dumped down in the wet, and the horses would not eat the wet oats and chaff although it was good. 31. You say those tents were not used?—On one or two occasions I think they were used, but not always. 32. What was the state of the camp with regard to mud?—l do not think it could possibly be worse. I have seen many stock- and cattle-yards, but never saw anything like that. 33. How many picket-lines were there for the horses ?—Four, I think. The lines that were really the worst were those on the main entrance side of the Park, No. 1 Battalion, Captain Loveday's. That was the worst line, and ours was the next. 34. Was yours shifted at all ?—No. 35. Were any of the mounted rifles in camp shifted?— Yes; all the Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay men were shifted. That is to say, an application was made to the colonel, and he gave them permission to go at their own risk. He called the officers together and gave those instructions. 36. What day was that?—l think that was on the Monday. I am not quite certain as to the day. 37. It was after the Sunday ?—I think so. 38. What is your opinion as to the propriety of that place as a camp for mounted men ? —I should think it was about the worst place to put that quantity of men with horses in the wintertime. It is known to be a bad place in wet weather even for football. I had experience of it at the time of the Fifth Contingent, and knew it well. 39. Is that the place you would have selected for a camp ?—lt is just about the last place I should have put mounted men in in the winter-time. 40. You were in charge of a battalion ?—Yes. 41. What staff had you?—l had no officers under me. I did make Sergeant Pringle temporary adjutant. 42. That is all you appointed ?—I had to appoint my own battalion sergeant-major, and also my own quartermaster for the battalion 43. Who was quartermaster? —Palmer. 44. What brigade staff was appointed?— Captain McDermott was acting, I think. There was no staff, so far as I know. 45. What did you understand Captain McDermott was ?—He seemed to be filling a number of posts. 46. Was any staff ever appointed in brigade orders ?—I have no recollection of it. 47. Did you get any orders ? —Yes ; there were certain orders issued, but only as regards meals and parades, and that sort of thing. 48. Were there no other orders than those ?—I do not remember any. 49. That would be when you first went into camp ? —Yes. 50. Were no daily orders issued ? —The orders issued stood for the remainder of the camp, to the best of my knowledge. 51. Who was the quartermaster of the camp ? —Lieutenant Thurston. 52. Did you see any of your officers make any complaints to him at all?— Yes; he was often being rounded up and complained to about the wet forage, rations, and all kinds of things connected with his department. 53. Colonel Davies.] Did all the officers sleep in camp ?—No. 54. Were they allowed to sleep where they liked ?—I suppose so. 55. You have not any order-book ?—No. 56. You had nineteen corps altogether in the camp ?—Yes. 57. There were nineteen corps which were supposed to be put into four battalions : were there any orders issued as to who was to command the battalions, or what they were to be formed of, or what the staff was to consist of ? —I do not know. If there were they have quite slipped my memory. 58. There were no brigade orders issued to say that Captain Dunk, for instance, is in command of such-and-such a battalion ?—No. 59. And no brigade orders detailing the staff?— No. 60. You say there was Captain McDermott ?—He was adjutant, I think. He was so in Christchurch, and I think he was right through the piece. 61. At any rate, there was no one else ? —No. 62. What was Captain Winter?—He was in charge of the officers' mess, so far as I know. 63. There were no orders with regard to brigade or battalion ? —I will not say there were not, but I have no recollection of seeing them. 64. With regard to the forage, you say it was dumped down on the ground and left ?—That was the system, and, although there were tents for it, the men simply helped themselves; and, as I said, the forage was spoiled very much by the wet. 65. There were no orders issued as to leave for the officers to sleep outside camp?— Not that I know of. 66. Do you know anything about the disturbance that took place in the street?—No; I was away at the time. That was the day I obtained leave from the Defence Minister to remove the horses, and we left camp about 3 o'clock on our way to the Hutt with the battalion horses, so that we were absolutely clear of that affair, 4—H. 19a,