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Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 469, 22 October 1879, Page 2

The number of Armed Constabulary in New Zealand is at present 870 of all ranks, of which 600 are on the West Coast, and 100 in Wellington. They are all armed with short Sniders. There are also in the North Island 218 police of all ranks, besides 39 mounted troopers. This standing army is supplemented by a very respectable reserve in the shape of Volunteers, the number of whom for June, 1879, was 8,082. Although the population of the North Island is little more than two-thirds of that of the South Island, it contributes no leas than 5,041 to this total. Out

of 722 Oavalry, the North Island contributes 622 5 out of 380 Engineers, it contributes 315 ; and out of 675 Naval Volunteers, it contributes 443. But the South leads in Artillery, supplying 622 out of the total of 910.. Besides the 8,032 Volunteers,- there al‘e 2,308 Cadets, of which 669 belong to the North; In the eleven months precedirig June 30th, 1879, the increase in Volunteers in the North was 2,207, against 317 in the South. At the end of last June there Wefe 866 Sniders in store, and 3,400 expected from England. At (he same date there were 969,160 rounds of Enfield ammunition in stove. This little fact probably accounts for the Government having been so liberal with Enfielde in this district. There are still - nearly 10,000 of these antiquated weapons in store.