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troughs, and, of course, the horses w r ould not drink soapy water, and I complained about that. I had to have some one there to stop the men from doing it. 70. Major Hawkins.] You are aware that it is the duty of the quartermaster to lay down the camp, and see that all the proper arrangements are made if he is on the ground at the time ?—I was well aware of that, but there was no chance to do it. The utensils for the men's tents did not come there until the Monday. I complained to Colonel Sommerville that the arrangements were not satisfactory in that way. 71. As quartermaster, did you complain of the contractor with regard to the rations, and suggest that he should make better arrangements ?—I never saw Mr. McParland. On two or three occasions I requested that he should bo sent to me if he arrived on the ground. 72. With regard to the removal of horses, how did you come to know that the horses were to be removed ?—I think Captain Dunk got instructions one afternoon to shift his horses wherever he liked. 73. Do you consider that, as a brigade quartermaster, it would be your duty to know when there was to be any change in the camp ? —I should have known that. I ought to have known the number of horses there, and everything else. 74. Shortly, you think the arrangements, so far as you were concerned, were quite inadequate in a camp of that size ?—Yes. The weather, of course, was to blame for a lot of it. 75. I understand you to say that even further north you make arrangements at your weekly trainings to have your cooks covered in ?—Yes, and I thought the colonel would have made arrangements for that here. 76. There were no orders for ration parties ?—No. 77. Had you a roll to check off the number of men entitled to draw rations?—l have seen that done in other camps. 78. That is the correct system?— Yes. This was the first time I had acted as quartermaster, and that is why I should have liked things to have been a little plainer for me, and I explained that to Colonel Sommerville; but he said I was so old at it that I should do. 79. Was there any scrambling at the issue of rations ?—Yes, as they came up they took their turns, but one lot would get ahead of the others. 80. Do you not think it would have been better if one or two officers had been told off to attend to that, instead of having so many officers from each company ?—Yes. 81. Do you remember an order being issued about the use of dirty buckets for carrying tea, and so on ?—There were dirty buckets given to the men, and the hot water ran short and prevented them washing them. 82. Were washing-basins served out to the companies ?—Very few : two to a company, and three to two companies, and so on. The utensils were very short. They were a little better the last day. 83. Do you approve of the system of allowing a contractor to do the cooking for the whole of the men ?—No, Ido not. If each company has its cwn cook it gets on very much better. I have seen it answer a long way better at the Easter camps. 84. Did you get any written orders at all ? —No. 85. Did you get any verbal orders from day to day ? —Not more than twice the whole time. I used to go and talk to the colonel. Lieutenant Fitzherbert came to me twice, I think. 86. What orders did he give you ? —After the second day I was to attend each meal and see that the men got their rations ; and another order was to see to the officers' camp. Those orders were verbal. 87. The Chairman.] Is there anything you would like to tell us that we have not asked you about in connection with the camp?— Yes; there is one little matter which occurred on the morning when Colonel Penton came to the camp. I was there and the men fell-in. Of course, the colonel had instructions beforehand to find out certain things, and when it was reported to Colonel Penton he spoke to the men a little severely. He asked the four men if they would step to the front. He gave them a little time to do so, and they did not, and then he used a few words, but I did not think much of them at the time. 88. Did he refer to the procession?— Yes. I feel confident that they were used to the four men. I did not think much of it, and lam sure the officers used words just as severe at times. 89. Did you see anything of that procession ?—No, I did not. 90. Do you know anything about it ?—No, I do not. There was one thing I saw from the camp, and that was a iong string from one tree to another, with a tin and a piece of bread on it. I wondered why that was not stopped. 91. Who was the officer of the day that day?—l do not know. 92. Did you not know any of the officers of the day ?—Only by seeing them going about. 93. Was that on the day of the procession ?—lt was either on the Monday or Tuesday, a day before the other procession happened. 94. Did you do anything about it yourself ? —No; I did not think it was my place when I saw the captain of the company there. He was half a chain ahead of me, when I heard some one shout, " Eyes right," and then I looked round and saw it. 95. You did not see the captain check the men at all for that ? —No. 96. Do you know what corps that was? —Yes, but I would not like to answer the question. 97. Do you think if that had been checked the other matter would not have occurred?— Yes. 98. Then, Colonel Penton was not far wrong when he said that the officers were to blame for not keeping their men better in hand ?—Yes. 99. You think if this exhibition had been cheeked, the other procession would not have taken place ?—I feel confident it would not. 100. Colonel Davies.] Who gave the contractor for the forage the number of horses for which he was to be paid?— When the colonel appointed me quartermaster I asked him what was to be