VOLUNTEER MATTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 578, 16 November 1871, Page 2

VOLUNTEER MATTERS.

We are requested to publish the following: —" Militia and Volunteer Office, Wellington, 31st October, 1871.—Sir,—I am directed by the Honorable Mr.'McLean to convey to you the following instructions with regard to the payment of capitation to Voiuuteers in. Sew Zealand for thfi current financial year, ending 30th June, 1872. In preparing the estimates fnr the year the capitation votes were calculated ou the basis of the strength of the various corps in existence at end of last-financial year, and votes were taken accordingly at the rate of £2 10s a man for officers and efficient Volunteers of Cavalry and Artillery; £2 for Engineers, Rifle and Naval Volunteers; ftnd £1 for Cadet Corps. It will therefore be: obvious to the whole Volunteer force, that the Government can only guarantee the payment of the full rate 3f o the extent of the numbers of. Voiuuteers who were on the roll on the 30th June, 1871. Cases of.corps recruiting their strength above that at which they then stood will receive very fair consideration within : the limits of the sum voted, subject tathe terms of circular No. 72 ot September 26,1871, In authorising the payment of capitation to the Volunteers at the end of :he financial Tear, the rules imposed by the Volunteer Regulations ■will be strictly adhered to, and no payment will be made ou account of any man who is nofc ' efficient' within their meaning ; or to any corps whose monthly and quarterly returns are not properly made out and re°ularly forwarded. You will be good enough, during the last quarter in the Volunteer year, to satisfy yourself by personal inspection that the arms, accoutrements, and other Government property on issue to the several corps in your district are in possession of the corps, and in the event of there being aoy deficiencies, to at once report the extent of them to the Inspector of Stores, who will furnish this office ■with the cost of such deficiencies, the amount of which will be charged against the capitation accruing to the corps. iNo claim for capitation will be entertained unless accompanied by a certificate from, the officer coraaianding the district, that he ' has inspected the Government property in possession of the corps, and that the several articles seeu by him agree with those which have been issued to the corps.' I also beg to call your attention to my circular, No. 45, of the 28th July, 1871, and to request you will point out to officers commanding corps that it is absolutely necessary that the claims of every corps in your district should be sent from your office during the month of-April, otherwise I cannot, ensure the capitation allowance being paid before the 30th June, in which case there will be great risk of the corps losing it altogether. You will be good enough to take care that these instructions are carefully explained to all the Volunteers in the district under your command.— I am, &c, Phillip Haringtojt, Lieufc.-Ool.i Inspector Militia and Volunteers."