The Troopship Scandals

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 247, 26 August 1902, Page 1

The Troopship Scandals

Sydney, August 22,

At Hie Dray; on Grange inquiry several company and other officers were examined. AH agreed that the Drayton Grange was overcrowded, and generally contradicted the evidence of alleged insubordination. They claimed that the men did the best under the circumstances to keep the vessel clean. Captain Inuis, commanding the Scottish Horse, whoso discipline Colonel I.yster had referred to a» lax, said that the overcrowding was so great as to prevent the proper cleaning and airing of the ship. He thought 120 a fair estimate of stowaways. His men told him that there w. re 200. Colonel Lyster noticing their dirtiness, thought they belonged to the vScottisli Horse near whom they were quartered. He challenged Colonel Lyster to get any other olllcer to corroborate his statement. For the credit of the regiment be came there to refute the statements, after calling on Colonel Lystor’s club and informing him that he intended doing so. Witness, after explaining that he rose from the ranks, said, “ Lyster’s reasons for making a personal attack on myself and my men I leave to the Commission.”

The shipwrights’ surveyor to the Department of Navigation gave evidence that there was sufficient room on the Drayton Grange’s deck to exercise 2000 men, and that according to the Emigration Regulations there were sufficient air and exercising space hut not sufficient sleeping accommodation on board.

The chief carpenter, Naval Depot, Garden Island, said that he had inspected the vessel, and found room enough for 0000 men to march round on deck. The sleeping, messing, and exercising accommodation was according to regulations. If be had the ship to fit out he would put quite as many on board. Another witness stated that the Drayton Grange had ten per cent, more hospital accommodation than emigrant ships. The Commission has adjourned till Tuesday, when it will take evidence at Melbourne, Auckland, August 23.

A report from Motuihi states that the Montrose invalid? are all doing well, with the exception of Troopers C. Lowe and L. D. Morgan, who both caught colds on the journey from the Montrose. Sergeant Pierard and Corporal Lecomte, who volunteered to nurse die scarlet fever cases, have both been stricken down by that disease. Some of the troopers in the district hospital passed a bad night, but are not in a serious condition.