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199. You were a bugler?— Yes. 200. Would you sound for orders ? —No, there were two senior to me who used to do that. 201. What orders did they sound ? —The usual camp orders. 202. At the Brigade Office was there any call for orders?—l am not certain. That was the first time I had a bugle, and I was not well up in the calls. 203. Colonel Davies.] You say you used to wash in the troughs until you bought a tin?— Yes. 204. Did you buy that yourselves, or was it bought by the corps?— Our tent bought it. 205. There were no buckets or dishes given to you ? —There were buckets, I think, but they were for the tea, and we could not use them for washing. 206. How about the dishes and utensils for carrying the meat and vegetables to the tent; did you have any issued to you when you got there ? —No. 207. How did you manage at the beginning?—We got in early in the morning, and there was one large dish put down for us. 208. For each tent ?—I have heard men say it was for the lot. But we did not touch any of that food—it was very bad. It was about half-past 2in the morning. 209. What was it ?—lt looked like boiled meat, and as though it had stood for a long time and was dirty. 210. Was there any tea ?—Yes, but we did not touch it. 211. When had you had your last meal?— Most of us bought sandwiches and tea at Kaitoke, coming down in the train. We also had a box of sandwiches, which our captain supplied. 212. Do you know anything about the procession that took place in the streets ?—No. 213. Were you present on parade when Colonel Penton had the troops mustered ?—Yes. 214. Did you hear what he said?— Yes. 215. You heard him refer to certain individuals as cowardly curs, or something of that sort ?— Yes. 216. Who did he mean?—l heard that perfectly, and thought he only referred to the men who would not step out. 217. Do you think your men took it that way?— Yes ; but some took it the other way. 218. You are perfectly sure you did not ?—What he said was, " Those who are in it I cannot go round and pick out, and therefore your companies will get into trouble through you infernal curs," or " Your companies will have to suffer." 219. You did not feel in the least aggrieved about it, because you did not consider you were one of the men he referred to ?—No. 220. Major Hawkins.] Have you got any camp equipment in your corps ?—No. 221. How do you manage when you go into camp? —This is the first time I have been in camp. 222. I suppose, on an occasion like that at Newtown Park, you would not be too particular about the rations : you would not expect them to put down white tablecloths and so on ?—No. 223. Is it a fact that the cooked rations were so bad that you and your comrades attempted to get rations for yourselves ? Was that the sole reason ? —Yes. 224. The Chairman.] Had you overcoats ?—I think the majority had not. 225. Had you waterproof sheets ? —Yes. 226. Belonging to the corps?— Yes, they belonged to the men. 227. Do you happen to have a copy of the notice from your captain ordering you into camp? —No. 228. Was an order issued ?—No, only on parade verbally. 229. Is it not the rule to issue an order that men must come equipped with certain things, such as horse-rugs, and so on ? —The order was given on parade. 230. The Chairman.] Have you anything else to tell us that we have not asked you about ?— I think not. As far as X shed is concerned, where we went the night before we went to Christchurch, it was better than most of us expected. 231. You were afterwards billeted at the X shed?— Yes. 232. What were your rations like there ? —They were very good. All the men turned out and cheered the cooks. 233. Was the meat properly cooked there ? —Yes, and there was plenty of it. And in Christchurch the rations were first-class. 234. How were they cooked in Christchurch?—Just the same as in a boarding-house. 235. Did a contractor supply them ?—Yes. They found the dishes, while we had to supply our own here. 236. Did you hear of a subscription being got up for the cooks here ?—No. I fancy there was something of the sort down at the X shed—put a shilling a head in there for them, but I know nothing of what occurred at Newtown Park. Ido not think the men would give anything there. 237. How many meals had you at the X shed?—l could not tell you exactly. We had a good few. We stayed there after coming back from Christchurch. 238. And you were all right there always? —Yes. 239. And had no ground of complaint ? —None whatever. The Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, Premier and Defence Minister, examined. (No. 32.) 240. The Chairman.] I understand you desire to give evidence on some point in connection with the camp at Newtown Park during the Royal visit? —Yes. Instructions were given by me to have everything complete, and due provision made for the officers and men at the camp. 241. Who were those instructions given to?—To the officers here at the time—to Major Owen and others.