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242. Do you remember what date that was ?—Some time early in June, or at the end of May. It was before I left for Auckland. 243. Were you consulted at all, or did you know what arrangements were going to be made with regard to the contract for rations ?—No; that was a matter of detail which I would leave to the officers. I presume one of the instructions would be that the details should be carried out by the officers. 244. When did the complaints first reach you about the condition of the camp or the condition of the men ? —There were no complaints made to me. Incidentally I heard of men having thrown some of their food into the harbour. 245. We have it in evidence that Captain Dunk communicated with you ?—lt is in respect to that more than anything else that I came here to give evidence to-day. But, following up that question of food, I would like to say that when at Government House I heard a noise from the streets. On making inquiries as to what had been going on, I was told that some men in uniform had been parading the streets with some of the rations exhibited, and that they did so as a protest against the conduct of the camp at Newtown Park. It was only hearsay, however, and I know nothing further of my own knowledge on that matter. I wish to tell the Commission what occurred on the day of the presentation of the medals at the Parliamentary Buildings. That was on the Wednesday. Colonel Sommerville came up to the Commandant and reported that the condition of the ground at Newtown Park was bad, and that the men and horses were very wet and uncomfortable. He advised that the camp should be struck, and that other provision should be made for the men and horses. I heard the Commandant give him instructions to have it done at once. 246. That was to have the camp struck and other arrangements made for the provision of the men and horses?— Yes. The Commandant said, " See to it at once." 247. Was that after the presentation of the medals? —Yes; immediately after. In the afternoon I was rung up by Captain Dunk; and he prefaced his remarks through the telephone by explaining to me that he was going beyond the ordinary routine by coming to me, but the case was such that he thought I ought to know that the tents were under water, and the horses were shivering on the lines, and that it was advisable the camp should be struck and other provision made for the men and the horses immediately. I then expressed to him my astonishment at the position of affairs, seeing that I had heard the Commandant give instructions to Colonel Sommerville immediately after the presentation of the medals to have that done. I then said, " You have my instructions to do it, and at once." 248. Was anything reported to you by any one in reference to the rations at the camp?— Immediately after what I had heard I ordered a report to be furnished in respect to this matter, in order to find out why the camp had not been struck, and gave instructions to the Commandant to obtain for me a report upon the whole condition of affairs. I received the report from Colonel Sommerville in due course, which I presume you have. 249. What did you expect would be done with the men and horses when the camp was struck ? —I thought the men would be taken to the drill-shed or the skating-rink, or some other place where they could be put under shelter, and that the best that could be done would be done for the horses. Captain Dunk, I think, said something about taking the men and horses to higher ground at the Hutt. 250. Colonel Davies.] Can you tell us at what time you heard Colonel Penton give the instructions to Colonel Sommerville ? —About half-past 12. It was immediately after the medals had been presented at the Parliamentary Buildings. 251. The Chairman.] And at what time did you get the communication from Captain Dunk ? —About 3 o'clock—from 3to half-past. I asked some one afterwards why Colonel Sommerville had not carried out the instructions, and it was then reported to me that he rang up the orderly, and that Major Watt was the officer in charge at the time the order was given by Colonel Sommerville. I cannot remember who it was I asked for the information, but it was after I had the communication from Captain Dunk. That was the explanation given then—that Captain Watt was in charge, that the orderly was rung up, and that Captain Sommerville had given the instructions after he had got them from the Commandant. Beyond that I never got. I received Colonel Sommerville's written explanation. But there is a hiatus, as Colonel Sommerville got his instructions from the Commandant about 12 o'clock, and Captain Dunk rang me up about 3 o'clock, so that three hours had elapsed and nothing had been done. 252. Are you aware that the men were left there until the Thursday ?—I am not. My instructions were definite to Captain Dunk. I said he was to take that as an instruction, and get it done at once. 253. Is there any other matter about which you wish to tell us ? —No. The same instructions were given here as at Christchurch, and I was very anxious that proper provision should be made. There was no limit put to the expense; it was simply a question of giving orders and expecting to have them carried out. 254. You are aware that the men as a whole are well satisfied with the arrangements at Christchurch ? —Yes. 255. And the evidence before us is that, with the exception of one complaint, they were quite satisfied with the other billets in Wellington ?—I may say that I heard nothing about it at the time. I was mixing with the officers, and several of the men too, at the time they were here in Wellington, and heard nothing. There was a relative of my own also—a trooper—at the X shed, and he said they were all right.

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