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park, at the root of which tap the main was struck and pipes conveyed along the base of the escarpment or terrace surrounding the basin, and they were in a kind of shallow ditch which partially protected them from being trodden on or injured. 7. Do you know the diameter of the pipes : were they inch or half-inch pipes ?—I should say an inch at least, but would not like to be positive about it. All I can say is that it was sufficient for our purpose when we had a large number of men in camp there for the contingents. 8. What was the size of the pipe up to the horse-trough ? —The same size. 9. We have been told that a half-inch pipe was inserted in the inch pipe ? —That may have been so, and would probably be sufficient for all purposes. 10. Was that what it was before ?—I would not like to say that. 11. However, you gave instructions for the water to be laid on ? —Yes, as on the previous occasion. I said, " You know where the horse-troughs and kitchens were." 12. How many horse-troughs were there for the contingents before? —I believe there were four, two on each side of the ground. One is apt to forget these things. I think they were made for Major Craddock's contingent. There may have been only three. One of the original horsetroughs may have become buckled and useless for the occasion, and they may have made three do. I think the horses were watered at the lake. In my report I said that the bank of the lake was evidently trodden down by the horses. 13. When you went up to the camp did you inspect the arrangements for the water?—l cannot say that I made any formal inspection at all. I looked upon the officer commanding that camp as a man of considerable experience and energetic, because he is admitted to be an energetic man ; and it appeared to me from the first that if I exercised a kind of control or management over him I should not be paying him much of a compliment. I looked upon him as a very efficient man, more especially as the men there belonged to his arm of the service. 14. When were you there ?—I rode up on the Sunday morning. 15. It was not an official visit? —No; I conducted nothing of the kind. 16. Was that the only time you were out at the camp ?—The only time. I was so kept going at the office and at my house with telegrams that I had no time to do anything else. The telephone was going in my house up to midnight in connection with departmental matters. 17. Were you aware from previous knowledge that there is frequently a weakness in the water-pressure at Newtown Park?—No, I cannot say that I was. I should say that the elevated nature of the plateau would at once favour the impression that the pressure at Newtown Park would be at a lower level. I have no recollection of the water giving way at the time of Major Craddock's contingent, or my own contingent, the Fifth. Whether it was all-sufficient for the troops I could not say, but I have no recollection of any complaints. I know that at the high levels in Wellington the water does fail, but I do not know that Newtown Park can be considered a high level. All the information I got about the water being short was in a telephone message from Colonel Sommerville, when he said he was getting it fixed. He said the pipe had been broken and he was getting it fixed. If the horses stampeded or were galloping up the hill, the pipes, if not lying on an even surface, would be liable to fracture by the fall of the horses' hoofs. Private Wilfred Grimsdale examined. (No. 30.) 18. The Chairman.] You are a private in what corps ? —The Hurumoa Mounted Rifles. 19. Where are their quarters?—ln Hawke's Bay. 20. Were you with your corps at the camp in Newtown Park in June last ? —Yes. 21. Who is your captain ? —Captain Milne Thompson. 22. How long has your corps been in existence ?—Twelve months as a foot corps, and last May it was made a mounted corps. 23. How many man went to the camp at Newtown Park ?—Thirty-nine rank and file and three officers. 24. How many tents had the rank and file ?—Four, and one for the officers. 25. Had you plenty of straw in your tent ?—We did not have very much. 26. Had you enough ?—Not for the first two days, but we got a little bit extra afterwards. 27. Then, you had enough?—We had to get some manuka. 28. Where were your tents pitched?—On the flat. 29. Were they moved ? —Yes ; two days before we left they were moved on to the hills. 30. Were you dry there ?—Yes. 31. Had you plenty of straw on the hill ?—We did not get any, but we took up what we had. 32. What were your rations like?—' They were rather insufficient in quantity. 33. Was the meat properly cooked ?—On some occasions, but on others it was very bad. It was hardly warmed through sometimes. 34. How often did that happen?— The first three days it was worse, but after that it got gradually better. 35. At any time was it properly cooked ?—Yes ; we had one very good meal, but only one that was really well cooked. 36. You say it was insufficient in quantity ? —Yes. 37. Do you mean insufficient according to the scale of rations?— Sometimes some of us got none at all. 38. How did that happen ?—There was not enough to cut up between the number of men in the tents. 39. Did that arise through the tent orderly being late at the cookhouse ?—No. 40. What was the bread like ?—lt was good bread, but was generally stale. 41. And the butter? —That was all right. 42. And the vegetables?—We did not vegetables. We had potatoes.