THE TERRITORIALS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 288, 28 April 1913, Page 5

THE TERRITORIALS.

I ILL IN CAMP. A SERIOUS CHARGE. . Per Press Association. , Wlmngarei, Last Night. Yesterday morning a young man I named Stanley Pearson was brought ii.to [ town from ll'ikurangi and admitted to a private hospital suffering from a very serious attack of pneumonia, contracted while attending the recent camp of Territorials at Cambridge. It is stated that he was ill in camp for two days before the camp broke, hut was not medically treated; being left in his tent during the period. His comrades state that they asked Dr. Good to attend to Pearson, but were referred by him to the surgeon then in charge of the loth Regiment, Dr. Good having been detailed for duty with the 3rd Regiment. For some unaccountable reason Pearson was not, it is alleged, brought before the medical officer in charge of his Regiment, and was left with such attention as could be given by his comrades. For confirmation of these statements, an Advocate reporter waited on Dr. Good, who stated that he could not say definitely whether lie was spoken to regarding Pearson, but thought it very likely that if such was the case he referred the man's comrades to the doctor in charge of the regiment, j He was certain,- though, that lie was not told that Pearson was seriously ill, or he would have seen him and ordered his immediate removal to the Cambridge Hospital. An amazing feature of all this is the statement that young Pearson remained in his tent two days without Such a thing seems almost incredible, and is scouted by Colonel Steadman, officer in charge of the regiment to which Pearson belonged, as beyond the region of possibility.' Colonel Steadman says that he had no personal knowledge of the case in camp, and only heard of Pearson being ill when the matter was mentioned to him bv Captain Wood on the way from Auckland, the latter stating that he had arranged for Pearson to be given a saloon berth on the steamer instead of remaining -with the other men on deck. Colonel Steadman further says that the medical officer attached tt> the regiment was continually in the lines and was very attentive to his duty, and it is unreasonable to suppose that if Pearson's sickness had been reported to him it would not have received immediate attention. The facts are, apparently, that Pearson was entrained at Camoridge ill with pneumonia and bleeding at the nose. He travelled to Auckland in an open truck, but was provided with the comfort of a berth on the way from Auckland ito jWangariui, and (reached Hikurangi in a very bad state, and is now desperatelv ill. The Advocate says that it is not without authority for stating that some of the arrangements at | | Cambridge were, in some respects, the worst conceivable. For t\yo days after the men from the North arrived there was not a medicine chest in the camp, and right through there was not even a basin for holding hot water, or any proper facilities for heating water if such were required for medical purposes. PAYING THE TERRITORIALS. HOW THE MONEY WAS CONVEYED. A sum approximating £IO,OOO was required to pay the troops at Oringi. Each man received 4s a day, and the officers larger sums. The money had to be delivered at the camp in silver and gold. On Thursday the Palmerston •branch of the Bank of New Zealand paid over the necessary money. Every precaution was taken to ensure safe "delivery .(says the Times). Military regulations were strict|y enforced. A guard in uniform was stationed at the bank, and the money Was placed in proper heavily-bound boxes. The money was then lifted' into an express and conveved to the 12.45 train. A detachment of Territorials from Oringi formed the escort. These men safely guarded the treasure and saw it safely delivered in camp. ' The whole cost of iSie camp, it is officially stated, ran into £20,000.