ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE OTAGO VOLUNTEERS.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1870 Session I, D-08a

D.—No. 84.

ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE OTAGO VOLUNTEERS.

PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OP THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BY COMMAND OS HIS EXCELLENCY. WELLINGTON. 1870.

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No. 1. Major Bathgate to the Hon. the Defence Mintstek. Sic,— Dunedin, 25th July, 1870. I beg to forward the within report, and to state that the spirit which has animated the force during the last season has been excellent, and that, generally, both officers and men have shown much zeal and attention to their duties. Great credit is due to Captain and Adjutant Atkinson for his care and attention to his multifarious duties, and to his efforts the state of efficiency in which the force at present is must in a great degree be attributed. I beg to draw special attention to the necessity for assistance to the Dunedin Battalion in getting a head-quarters drill shed, armoury, and office erected, and also to the expediency of providing anna for the Cadet Corps. I have, Ac, John Bathgate, Major, The Hon. the Defence Minster, "Wellington. Commanding Otago District.

Enclosure in No. 1. Captain and Adjutant Atkinson to Major Bathgate. Militia and Volunteer Office, Sic,— Dunedin, 23rd July, 1870. I nave the honor to make this my fifth annual report of the Volunteer Force under your command, and respectfully to bring to your notice, for the information of the Government, the following:— Ist, Glass Firing. —l enclose returns of practice of each corps, together with an analysis of the same, showing the strength of the force, the number of men practised in each class, with the figure of merit. The position and aiming drills were conducted differently this year from that of last. The practice was, to have special drills for musketry instruction, this year. At the end of each Company or Inspection Parade, about a quarter of an hour was devoted to that purpose, so that every man in the force had a certain amount of this drill. It will be seen that the strength of the force remains about the same as last year —with this difference, that nearly all at present on the roll are efficients and good attendants at drill. The numbers of men practised are 472 in the 3rd Class, 336 in the 2nd Class, and 181 in the Ist Class, 156 of which are marksmen. The highest scorer in the Province for the Battalion Badge is Lieutenant Bobert Smith, Dunedin Naval Company, with 106 points in the 2nd and Ist Classes (vide page 92, par. 3, of the Musketry Regulations, 1867) ; with Corporal McGregor, No. 1 City Guards, Sergeant Cowie, No. 2 Scottish, and Petty Officer J. Begg, Dunedin Naval, ties for second place, with a score of 105. I bog also to call your attention to the following scores, which will show the progress made in individual firing:—Corporal McGregor, of the No. 1 City Guards, made a total of 175 points in the three classes ; Lieutenant Smith, Dunedin Naval, 170 points; Petty Officer J. Begg, Dunedin Naval, 170 points ; Sergeant Cowie, No. 2 Scottish Company, 164 points ; Lieutenant Goldie, Port Chalmers Naval, 163 points. The weather has been unexceptionally bad for rifle shooting, there having been more wet days than in any other season during the last five years. I therefore considered it advisable not to carry on the file and volley firing. 2nd, Arms and Accoutrements. —Two hundred of the four hundred medium rifles on charge issued in 1864, are worn out for accurate shooting, the grooving being much worn, so that the bullet readily slips down the barrel without the use of the ramrod. Most of them have had at least one thousand rounds per year fired out of them during the last six years. The long Enfield rifles are only fit for recruits and non-shooting men. I would recommend your applying for at least two hundred new medium rifles. 3rd, Brill Sheds. —All the country corps except the "Waikouaiti are provided with substantial drill sheds, sufficiently large for the requirements of the companies. The City of Dunedin is greatly in want of a head-quarters building. The one at present used has long been unequal to the requirements of the companies. It has lately been required for the use of the High School, to which it belongs, so that in a short time the City companies will be without a drill shed, and the Government without an armoury or offices. The shed used by the Artillery is very unsafe for the guns and stores ; the rain pours in at every seam of the boarding. The weight of the guns has caused the flooring and piles to give away. The Provincial Government have* liberally granted £300, the officers of the Artillery Dunedin Naval and the Nos. 1 and 2 Companies have guaranteed £50 each, towards the erection of a large and convenient shed. I would urge on the Government through you, the desirability of granting a sum for a storeroom, armoury, and office.

ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE OTAGO VOLUNTEERS.

D,—No. Ba,

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ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATE

4th, Rifle Ranges. —The Artillery, Dunedin Naval, and Ist Battalion have the use of the two rifle ranges provided by the Provincial Government, both to the extent of eight hundred yards. All the country corps are well provided with ranges, except the Port Chalmers Naval. I am informed by Captain Eobertson that he has made arrangements for a range which will be ready for the next season's practice. sth, Targets. —Those at the Government rifle range are worn out. I would recommend application to be made at an early date for a supply, so as to be ready for the next season. 6th, Ammunition. —The supply has been all that could be desired, both in quantity and quality. The amount expended is as follows : Government allowance to companies, 80,160; purchased, 27,140; making a total of 107,300 rounds during the year. 7th, Cadets. —l have much pleasure in reporting that this branch of the service has made rapid progress during the past year. All the Government schools in and about Dunedin are under instruction. They have not, as a company, gone through their class-firing, owing to the want of suitable rifles. 1 hope to be able to put the whole of the boys over twelve years of age through their class-firing next season. I give a list of the schools with the number attending drill: — High School ... ... ... ... ... ... 85 Middle District ... ... ... ... ... ... 122 South District ... ... ... ... ... ... 67 North Dunedin ... ... ... ... ... ... 30 Caversham ... ... ... ... ... ... 44 Preparatory School ... ... ... ... ... 23 371 Making a total of 371 boys under training. The Sector of the High School, and the head-masters of the district schools, take a great interest in the instruction of the boys, and invariably attend the drill. I bring this matter prominently to your notice, as I consider it one of great importance in the future of this Colony, the training of the youths to the use of arms. Bth, Efficiency. —The companies were never in a higher state of efficiency than at present. The various companies were inspected by Lieut.-Colonel Harington early in this year, who made a most minute inspection of the arms, accoutrements, and clothing; he also made the company officers drill their men; at the end of each parade selecting men to fire at the target. The Artillery and Naval Companies fired shot and shell, thus testing the efficiency in every branch. The Inspecting Officer expressed himself pleased with all he witnessed. Ido not wish to say more on this subject, as Lieut.Colonel Harington will no doubt make his report to the Government, which I have every confidence will be favourable. I cannot leave this subject without adding my testimony to the great benefit derived by periodical inspections by the various companies by an officer of standing. The fact that the Province has, for the fourth time, taken the proud position of champion riflemen of New Zealand, shows clearly that the spirit of rifle shooting has not diminished, and the fact of two new companies in the course of formation upholds the spirit for volunteering. In conclusion, I have every confidence that, in submitting this report to the Hon. the Defence Minister, you will express your satisfaction with the present efficient state of the force in general, and of the progress made during the past year; and I beg leave, through you, to express my grateful thanks to the officers, musketry instructors, non-commissioned officers, and members of the force, for the kind and gentlemanly manner in which they have assisted me in my various duties. I have, &c, Major Bathgate, Jho. Jas. Atkinson, Commanding Militia and Volunteers, Captain and Adjutant. Otago District.

OE THE OTAGO VOLUNTEERS.

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OTAGO DISTRICT. ANALYSIS of CLASS FIRING of the OTAGO VOLUNTEERS for the Tear ended 30th MAY, 1870.

Strekg-th of Practised in CO Final Classifications. Efficients. Non-efficients. 3rd Class. 2nd Class. 1st Class. i COEPS. 1 I O ! £ o o CD pq CD CD 'o CD O 3 o o Hi) CD [ CD CD si CD bo CD a si "o g CO 3 CD 3 CO I—( a O S PR Remakes. 'o _L 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Staff and Band Dunedin Artillery ... City Guards (Rifles).. Scottish „ Bruce ,, South District ,, North Dunedin „ East Taieri „ Oamaru „ West Taieri „ ... 3 2 3 I 3 2 2 2 2 3 ! 1 5 ! 3 5 i 5 5 ! 4 2 ! 2 3 ! 3 2 j 2 3 | 3 2 | 3 4 j 4 3 I 2 1 1 1 1 1 19 52 54 33 40 38 30 43 40 30 37 ... - 1 3 4 6 4 2 26 63 GS I 51 I 50 ! 50 40 56 53 42 45 1 47 27 1,345 53 2,594 33 1,784 37 1,380 36 1,823 14 668 40 1,637 34 1,319 22 869 33 S 1,531 47-00 49-81 48-94 5406 37-29 50-63 47-72 39-95 38-79 41-38 46-39 1 17 41 18 30 10 36 27 14 27 49 699 1,742 1,122 567 1,167 407 1,227 979 494 867 49-00 41-11 42-48 | 41-55 31-50 37-64 40-70 3316 3625 35-28 3211 i 13 29 20 9 17 8 10 25 6 12 30 397 740 541 251 448 232 263 749 162 327 30-00 3053 25-51 27-05 2822 26-35 29-00 2630 29-69 27-00 I 27-25 1 3 "i 11 16 8 21 9 4 5 5 6 11 1 15 34 26 12 27 10 30 26 10 18 1 12 21 15 8 14 6 7 25 6 11 5080 72-24 94-53 10506 53-29 104-63 67-72 84-52 82-49 50-91 77-51 5 3 6 4 i ... | 12 Waikouaiti ,, 1 3 ! 2 i 3G I 43 24 643 15 441 55 2,618 28-79 » 204 17-00 9 14 1 13 14 Cadet „ ... Dunedin (Xaral) 1 3 4 ] 4 i 144 62 ... "i 145 81 29-40 47-60 35. ... i 1,930 38-06 22 ... I 793 36-04 j 8 3 7 7 45 ( The percentage of 3rd class shots is 18-61 ( in excess of 1st class shots. Have only fired in 3rd class. 22 99-35 15 ! C No 1st class range. The percentage of 3rc < class shots is 3'50 in excess of 1st class C shots. Port Chalmers „ ... 3 4 4 48 42 46 57 48 i 1,578 472 120,277 32-87 26 983 39-44 9 250 27-77 18 14 16 8 Total 8 ! !709 i I 27 870 42-95 336 i 12,437 37-01 | 181 5,186 I I 64 138 274 ! 166 36 28-65 ... JoHsr Bathgate, Major, Commanding Otago District. Jno. Jas. Atkinson, Capt. and Adjutant, Musketry Instructor.