7. The Native Officers' houses also require roof and side-ventilation, and
such can be provided for them, in my opinion, at a small cost.
8. The old syce lines are now being converted into a regimental bazaar,
which was much needed. There will be a difficulty experienced. in choosing a
proper site for a public latrine for the residents in it, as the bazaar is so near the
road, and is situated above a nullah leading to the river ; but I think that they
should be built on the same principle as those already recommended.
9. There are two rows of new syce lines in course of erection, which were
nearly completed at the time of my visit. These are much better than the
syce lines in some cavalry regiments ; but it is unfortunate that no roof or side-
ventilation has been provided, and that the huts have not been raised on a
plinth, but in some instances the floors of the rooms are below the ground-level.
Ridge-ventilation, or, at all events, openings such as are made in cook-rooms for
the escape of smoke, might without difficulty be provided, and continuous open-
ings of one foot might be made along the top of the external walls ; or windows,
3 feet by 2, might be inserted in them. The latrine for the syce lines will be ample
and convenient. The position of the litter-yard between . the syce lines and
regimental bazaar should, in my opinion, be changed, as it is altogether too near.
I was glad to find, however, at a second visit to Sirur, that Colonel LaTouche
has had the new huts in the syce lines built as above suggested, and it is a
manifest improvement.
10. The conservancy establishment consists of 23 men, who are paid by
the regiment, and the removal of all cutchra from the lines is evidently very
carefully attended to, as they were very clean, and. well cared for. I think, how-
ever, the prickly-pear hedge along the boundary of the lines is a mistake, as
it was seen to harbour filth, and it should, in my opinion, be removed, as a wooden
fence would be quite as effective and much more cleanly.
11. The school-room requires roof and some side-ventilation, and, in my
opinion, the standard guard-room is quite unfitted for the purpose to which
it is put ; and I consider it is an absolutely dangerous building for the guard,
especially as it is the only place where a prisoner can be kept. It has been for
years past condemned by the Commanding Officer and the Medical Officer, and,
I believe, by the General Commanding the Division ; and I can only hope that
Government will be pleased to order a proper standard guard-room and proper
cells to be provided
12. The present hospital, too, is in front of the lines, but, is a building
which, although it would make an excellent standard guard-room, is utterly un-
suited in every one way for a hospital. It was originally built as a talimlchana,
and has likewise been condemned for years past by the Commanding and Medi-
cal Officers : a full description of it will be found in Doctor Gordon's Report, so
that it is not necessary that I should describe it again ; but I would desire to
represent to Government, with all the earnestness I can, that the provision of
a new hospital for the Poona Horse is a matter of urgent necessity, as, in the
present building, the men are made sick, and it is impossible that it can be other-
wise, when sometimes the beds are necessarily so close together as to be nearly
touching. I look upon the hospital at Sirur as one of the worst places that I
have seen, and I trust that immediate measures may be taken to provide the
men of this regiment with a building in which their diseases should, at all events,
not be aggravated, and one where proper quarters for the hospital establish-
ment can be provided. At present there are absolutely none of any description
whatever.
13. I should also recommend that the site for the new hospital should be
on a line with the Officers' compounds. There is no site for a hospital, good in
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