TROOPSHIP SCANDALS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 509, 23 August 1902, Page 2

TROOPSHIP SCANDALS.

KNOCK TO COLONEL LYSTER. CAPTAIN INXES VOLUNTEERS EVIDENCE. By Telegraph -Press Association—Copyright Sydney, Aug. 22. At the inquiry several of the Company's and other officers were examined. All agreed that the Drayton Grange was overcrowded. They generally contradicted the alleged insubordination, and claimed that the men did the best under the circumstances to keep the vessel clean. Captain Innes, commanding the Scottish Horse, whose discipline Colonel Lyster had referred to as lax, said that the overcrowding was so great as to prevent proper cleaning of the ship. Ho thought that 120 was a fair estimate of the stowaways ; his men told him there wore 200. Colonel Lyster, noticing their dirtiness, thought that they belonged to the Scottish Horse, near whom they wore quartered. Ho challenged Colonel Lyster to get any other officer to corroborate his statement. For the credit of the regiment he came there to refute these statements, after calling at Colonel Lyster’s Club, and informing him that ho intended going there.

Witness, after explaining that ho rose from the ranks, said : “ Lyster’s reasons for making a personal attack on myself and my men I leave to the Commission.” REMARKABLE EVIDENCE. NAVAL OFFICIALS DECLARE THERE WAS PLENTY OF ROOM. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright, Received Aug. 2d, 1.7 a.m. Sydney, Aug ‘22.

At the Drayton Grange enquiry tho Shipwrights’ Surveyor to the Department of Navigation gave evidence. He said there was sufficient room on the Drayton Grange’s deck to exerciso 2000 men. According to the emigration regulations there was sufficient air and exorcising space, but not sufficient sleeping accommodation aboard.

The chief carpenter of the Naval Depot at Garden Island said that he inspected the vessel. He said there was enough room for 3000 men to march round on tho decks. The sleeping, messing, and exercising accommodation was according to regulations. If he had the ship to fit out he would put quite as many aboard.

Another witnoss stated that the Drayton Grange had ten per cent, more hospital accommodation than an emigrant ship. The Commission adjourned until Tuesday, when it will sit in Melbourne.