H.—6c.

TROOPER V. ANDREWS."!

81

380. What was the result of that overflowing?— The pipes, or something, used to get blocked. They seemed all right up to about 3or 4 o'clock. They used to be clean early, and then block up at that time. 381. Did that happen every day ? —lt happened very often. 382. Was there any one detailed to look after the latrines? —That I could not say. They were always cleaned in the morning by a fatigue party. 383. But not afterwards?— Not in the afternoon. 384. Was it possible for any one who saw the latrines in that state to clear them ?—I could not say. 385. If a trooper went into the latrine and saw it blocked, was it possible for him to clear it?— T could not say what was the cause of the stoppage. 386. Did you often see it overflowing ?—Yes, sir. 387. How often?—A good many times. It used to work with the boat. The water used to bash about. 388. What time did they generally get into that state ?—Later on the evening; the evening would be the worst. 389. Before dark ? —lt would be towards evening. 390. Have you any other complaints to bring before our notice ?—No, sir ; I do not think so. 391. Did you find it very stuffy down below ?—Yes, very stuffy when all the men were down. 392. Do you think many men got colds by going up of a night-time to get cool ? —I could not say, sir. 393. Do you think they would be more likely to catch cold after breakfast than after dark ? — The place seemed to be warmest after breakfast. 394. Just after breakfast was warmest ?—Yes ; after they had slept all night. 395. Had you a hammock yourself?— Sometimes, sir; I did not always get mine. 396. You did not always get the same hammock ?—No;' they used to hang too tight together. 397. Mr. McNab.] How many hooks did they take to swing a hammock? —They took two. 398. Then, where there was a hook and a hammock swinging from it towards the stern of the vessel there was no hammock swinging from that hook forward of the vessel on to that hook? —No ; they were between the hooks. 399. The men did not take advantage of the hooks facing the hammocks continuously lying from end to end of the vessel ? —lt was a sort of zigzag. 400. They did not take advantage of the hooks to continuously swing the hammocks right straight aft ?—No ; the hooks would be turned the wrong way for them to do that. 401. Was it impossible to have the eyes of the two hammocks hanging from the one hook? — They could have done it by tying the ropes. 402. Could not they hook the hammocks on to the hook in the ordinary way?— The other way seemed to be the handiest, by zigzagging; they all fitted in so well. 403. The Chairman.] How did the meat show when it was tainted ?—lt was a sort of dark colour at the top. 404. Was this before it was cooked? —After it was cooked. 405. Did you see if it was tainted before it was cooked? —Yes, sir, on one occasion. 406. What period of the voyage ?—Coming out from Durban to Albany ; I saw them taking out some meat from the hold. 407. Did you see any tainted meat after you left Albany?—l could not say. I only saw one lot. 408. You think it was before you got to Albany? —I think so. 409. Do you think you saw any after that? —I could not say, sir. 410. You say that the men were obliged to go on the deck while quarters were being cleaned? — Yes, sir. 411. What could be done to prevent that?—lt could not very well be prevented. They had to be washed out. 412. It was unavoidable? —Yes ; all hands had to come on deck. 413. Can you suggest any means of getting the decks clean without bringing the men on the upper deck ?—No, sir. 414. Was it a hardship to go on the deck ?—Yes, sir, it was cold; and it was very unsatisfactory sometimes. 415. You did not like being up in the fresh air ? —We used to get down as soon as we could, as it was too cold. 416. What occupation did you follow before you went with the contingent?—l was a storeman, sir. 417. You say that it was hard lines being sent on deck because of the sprays ?—lt was very cold and the sprays used to come over 418. How often were you wet through ? —I was wet through four or five times going along. 419. Eight through all your clothes ? —No, not through the tunic. 420. Had you any greatcoats?— Some of us had them. Some had them in their kits. 421. Did you not use your coats ?—They used to use them at times. 422. When you did not use your greatcoats it was your own fault ?—Yes. 423. If you had used your greatcoats you would never have felt the cold so much ?—Yes, sir. 424. Why did the men not use them more generally? —A lot of the men had them in their kits, and did not trouble to get them. 425. Could they get them ?—That I could not say. 426. Could you get yours ?—I had mine. 427. You think going up on deck caused men to get colds? —Yes; it was very cold after sleeping all night down below. That was the worst part of it.

U—H. 6c.