DRAYTON GRANGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 505, 19 August 1902, Page 2

DRAYTON GRANGE.

SHOCKING DISCLOSURES,

DIRTY HABITS, DRINKING, AND GAMBLING ALLEGED.

THE SHIP’S OFFICERS’ VERSION

By Telegraph-Press Association—Copyright

Sydney, Aug. 18,

At the Drayton Grange enquiry Captain Bennett, master, was exumiued. He said he did not know the exact number aboard. Approximately they were paid for 19-40 and -41 oificors. He believed there were a number of stowaways. lie considered rhere was ample sleeping, latrine, and lavatory accommodation, and ventilation. The men insisted on closing tho ports at night, against the rules. He attributed a large amount of the sickness to the uncleanly habits of some of the men. They maliciously destroyed shower baths and electric lights. The troops were half the time in a state of semi-mutiny, and most of the time in insubordination. The officers and everybody else had the utmost difficulty in handling them. Ho believes that had the officers gone to the extreme and arrested some, there would have been open mutiny. The remarks applied to the great majority. There was a lot of drinking aboard. Sorno of the officers were guilty of excess in this direction. He mentioned that the New Zealand troops taken to the Cape in the vessel had tho same hammock space and messing provisions as on the present voyage. The second officer, Mr Blay, deposed that there was a large amount of drunkenness and gambling. The latter was openly permitted. Ho gave evidence similar to the captain's in reference to the ship not being overcrowded, and the dirty habits and insubordination of numbers of the men.

FURTHER EVIDENCE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received 1.10 a.m., Aug. 19.) Sydney, Aug. 18. The second officer said he considered that if tho officers had exercised rnoro authority early in tho voyage things would have gone in a much more orderly way, and there would not have been half so much trouble. Tho sickness was just one of those epidemics which will break out among a large body of men. Tho third officer said that he had sailed in vessels carrying New Zealand troops. They had not more room in proportion, but there was discipline, and consequently no trouble. Ho asserted that there was much laxity on the part of the military officers, and there was a lot of drunkenness amongst tho men.