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195. When did you first hear that they were to be shifted ?—I heard it on Wednesday morning. 196. When did you first hear that permission had been given to shift them?— The order came to saddle-up about 3 o'clock. 197. Have you been in any mounted camps before ?—Yes, I was at Tayforth camp at Easter, 1900. 198. What is your opinion as to the suitability of Newtown Park for a mounted camp ?—I should say it was totally unsuited. 199. Why?—lt is too wet. The lay of the country, I should say, would suggest it as unsuitable. 200. Are you aware that the flat part is made ground ? —Yes. I know that years ago it was always accounted a dirty spot in wet weather for football matches. Even a football match is likely to cut the place up and make it filthy. 201. Do you know Sergeant Rankin of your corps? —Yes. 202. He resigned some time ago?— Yes. 203. How long ago ?—I can hardly say from memory. It would be about the end of the year. 204. Did he send in his uniform ?—Yes. 205. To whom ?—To me. 206. You are quite sure you have got it ? —Certain. 207. Did you see him in uniform in Wellington during the camp?—-No. I saw him in Christchurch, but not in Wellington. I knew that he had come down to Wellington. 208. Did you know in what capacity he had come down ?—I understood in charge of Major Hall's horse. 209. It was his own horse?— Yes. 210. You say you saw Rankin in uniform at Christchurch ?—Yes. 211. Was that the uniform returned to you ?—No. 212. What did you do with Rankin's uniform ?—I have it in the store. 213. And it has never been again issued ?—No. 214. Do you know where he got the uniform from that he had on in Christchurch ?— I could not say. He had been in the corps a number of years, and the uniform has been changed. It is just possible he may have had an old tunic by him. That is the only way I can account for it. 215. Can you account for all the other sergeants' uniforms ?—Yes, as far as I know. They have been provided during the last few months with a drill uniform. 216. Can you say, of your own knowledge, whether any sergeant in the corps could have lent him a uniform?— That I cannot say. 217. Did you see the procession ? —No. 218. Do you know anything about it ?—Nothing. 219. Do you know the names of any of the men who took part in it ? —No ; I only heard of the procession having taken place through the newspaper, and when we paraded the next morning. 220. You were on parade on the Thursday morning and heard Colonel Penton make some reference to the procession ?—Yes. 221. Did he ask those who had taken part in it to step out ? —Yes. 222. What did he say about them ?—He opened his speech by saying there were some infernal curs amongst them who would not come out. He said hitherto the mounted men had borne a good name, and if these men would step forward it would clear the names of the mounted men; and, if they did not, the whole of the mounted men would have a stigma cast upon them. 223. Whom did you understand him to refer to as cowardly ? —The men who had inaugurated the procession. 224. And who had not owned up to it ? —Yes; he was referring to those men not showing themselves. 225. Colonel Davies.] Did you see Rankin yourself in uniform in Christchurch? —Yes. 226. In the uniform of the Manawatu Mounted Rifles? —That I could not say. I was just in the canteen and did not examine him close enough. I saw that he was in uniform. 227. Your old uniform was much lighter than the present one, and had cartridge-pockets across the breast ?—Yes. I was not close enough to Rankin to take much notice of him. 228. Is there any reason why he should not have one of those old uniforms?— No. 229. You have no record of him having handed it in ?—No. 230. Major Haivkins.] If Rankin stated that he did not return his uniform to you when he resigned, would that be correct ? —No. It is incorrect if he says he did not return it —that is, the uniform he was supposed to return. 231. Who was the brigade quartermaster at the camp at Newtown Park ? —Lieutenant Thurston. 232. Did you assist him in carrying out the duties of quartermaster? — I was appointed quartermaster for the No. 3 Battalion. 233. Will you tell us what were the conditions in the way of issuing rations? — I had very little to do with them. My principal duty was to issue the forage. The sergeant generally went up with the orderlies to draw the rations. I went on one occasion. 234. How long have you been performing the duty of quartermaster-sergeant in your company ? —I was promoted to the position about two months after I joined. I joined, I think, in March, before the Easter camp of 1900. 235. You cannot speak of your own knowledge as to the issue of rations ?—I have a good idea