A.—No. G

Major-General Galloway has been appointed to the command of the Colonial Forces, and has generously given his services to the Colony gratuitously.

The Arms at the various Stations are now as follows :— Arms. Men armed. Auckland .... 5,991 . . 5,937 Wellington 1,554 . . 3,196 Whanganui . . . . 751 . . 552 Taranaki .... 865 . . 819 Hawke's Bay ... 750 750 Colonial Defence Force . 375 . . 375 Totals . . . 10,286 . . 9,029 In addition to which, orders have been dispatched to England for— 3,500 Rifles 1,400 Breech-loading Carbines 1,200 Revolvers With the requisite Accoutrements and Ammunition. _ , ~ _ Thomas Russell. Colonial Defence Office, Auckland, 20th October, 1803. Note.—By the latest information from Wanganui there were only fifty men of the Colonial Defence Force stationed at hangitikei, but authority has been given for enrolling an additional twenty-five men there and no difficulty was anticipated in carrying out the instruction, aud it is believed the required number is now enrolled

5

MEASURES OF DEFENCE.