H.—l9b.

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JH. li. POTTER

to maintenance, on the same scale as witnesses in a civil action in the Supreme Court. We propose, in regard to the hospitals, to ask the Superintendent —of course, there is a hospital at Berhampore and at Levin's, but 1 do not know yet whether they are all under the control of the Wellington Hospital or not—to furnish a return (1) of all sick persons sent in from the camp, with the date of reception and discharge; (2) their complaints; (3) all cases of serious illness; (4) the deaths, certified causes of death, and dates; and (5) the dates when the camp authorities were informed of the existence of the serious illness or the death, and whether by letter, telegram, or telephone. We will issue a subpoena to get these if necessary. John da VINOI Louch sworn and examined. (No. 2.) 1. Mr. Salmond.] What position do you occupy in the Public Works Department?—! am District Engineer for Wellington. 2. Have you been in charge of the works undertaken by your Department at Trentham Camp? —Yes. 3. When did the Public Works Department first have anything to do with the camp?— Early in March : it would be about the first week in March. 4. What was the Department asked to do?—We first had to erect a sample hutment. 5. The Chairman.] By whom were the Department asked?—l cannol say. I was instructed to erect a sample hutment. 1 received the instruction from my superior, the Under-Secretary. 6. Mr. Salmond.] Was that done immediately?— Yes. 7. The Chairman.] What do you call " immediately "?—Within a week or so. ll was within a fortnight, 1 think. I see from the file that il was al the end of February 1 received instructions to erect the sample hutment. 8. And when was it finished?—lt was completed before the L9th March. I then reported that one hut for officers and one hut for men had been erected. 9. Two sample hutments? —Y T es. 10. Krected before the 19th March?— Yes. 11. Would those hold fifty men each, or a hundred ? -The men's hutment was supposed to hold a hundred men. 12. And the officers, 1. suppose, thirty or forty?— Not so many. 13. Mr. Salmond.] Was that design ultimately approved?— With modifications. 14. Who prepared the original design? —I understand the military authorities prepared the original design, and it, was approved by a Board consisting of the Government Architect, the City Engineer (Mr. Morton), Dr. Frengley, and, I think, some of the military authorities. The Engineer-in-Chief was not consulted in any way in regard to the camp. 15. On whose suggestion were the modifications made? —By the Board. I should say —the Board I have just mentioned. 16. What were the modifications?— They were very slight. In the first [dace they considered there was too much air-space under the eaves. 17. There was an open space, was there not, between the wall and the caves all round the hut? —Along two sides of the hut. 18. Tlie Chairman.] So as to create a draught along the top?— Yes; and there were some louvres in the gables : they were omitted. 19. Mr. Salmond.] What was the modification: was the aperture at the top partly closed? —No, it was reduced in depth. 20. What is the aperture now? —Four inches. It was six inches. 21. Were those the only modifications? —It was found that the draught got in along the corrugations at the foot of the iron sheets, and a fillet of timber was attached to tlie plate to prevent the draught getting up the corrugations. 22. In other respects was the original plan carried out?— Yes. In the first hut the felting was supported on wire netting. That was omitted, and the roof-battens to carry the felting and the iron were placed close up. 23. Do you consider that the plan as so modified was satisfactory?— Well, it was approved by the Board of experts. 24. You have no opinion otherwise? Was there too much ventilation in the huts?— Not in fine weather. 25. The Chairman.] In winter, then, there is?—l should not say there was too much ventilation ; I think the trouble was that the men were sleeping on the floor with no beds. They slept, I think, on straw mattresses on the -floor. T think that if these were raised oil the floor and placed on bunks or something of that kind it would be a marked improvement, and they would not, feel the draught. 26. The draught comes up through the floor? —Not through the floor, but round the building. The floor is quite tight, built of the very best seasoned timber. 27. Mr. Salmond.] Did the Department then proceed to build the existing huts forthwith?— Forthwith. 28. The Chairman.] How were the existing huts btiill—by day labour or by contract ?—By day labour. 29. Then when did you begin with the further huts?—AVe were instructed then to invite lenders for these huts on the 30th March. We did so the same day—3oth March. 30. Then, were these tenders abandoned? —Tenders were received and declined.