D.—No. 7a.

Volunteers. Wellington ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 387 AVanganui ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 35 Rangitikei ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 167 Taranaki ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 Auckland ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 660 Napier ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 117 Marlborough 99 Nelson 86 Canterbury 486 Otago 704 Southland 42 2782 Mace's Corps Mounted A rolunteers (to receive land at the Patea for former military service) 35 Total 2817 We have already suggested that the administration of these forces should be vested in the Head of the armed Constabulary, who should have honorary militia rank for this purpose. AYe are of opinion that if this is done, the occasional inspection of Volunteers and Militia could be made by the officer at the head of this force. Their drill and instruction in the Northern Island could be undertaken by officers also belonging to that force, and the staff, &c, to be maintained for a similar purpose in the Southern Island need not, we think, exceed £3,000. The present expenditure on this account for the whole Colony is £7901. This is exclusive of Capitation Grants, about £8,000; prizes, ammunition, and miscellaneous expenses, about £5,000 more ; making altogether for an establishment of less than 3,000 Volunteers, an expenditure of nearly £21,000. In our First Report, we deemed it our duty to suggest that the various Defence Forces at present employed should be substituted by one armed Constabulary Force, and that, consequently upon that change, the Ministerial control of that force should vest in the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, in whose office the merely Ministerial business connected therewith should be transacted. We cannot think any force can be efficiently managed except by a permanent chief in command, duly responsible to the Government but clothed with large powers sufficient for the discharge of his duties. Such a change, in our opinion, will promote economy as well as efficiency. However effective a Military force may be for the immediate repression of armed rebellion, it must be borne in mind that the chief duties of an armed force in the Northern Island will be, after active disturbance is quelled, more of a civil character in continuous efforts to secure and maintain law and order. AYe think that a Constabulary Force will be better adapted to this end. Another point of essential importance in the creation of a temporary force is its ultimate disposal, and we are of opinion that, as security is restored, the gradual absorption of a semi-civil force into the ordinary police, and into the regular pursuits of settlers, will be much more easily effected than would be the case with the disbandment of soldiers. There would, moreover, bo thus created in the Colony a superior class of men, carefully trained in and accustomed to the duties of Military Police, whose services could be easily rendered available in the event of any future necessity arising for having resort to them. These ulterior considerations indicate, in our belief, peculiar advantages, in addition to those of immediate economy and efficiency, in the construction of such a force as we recommend. The terms of enrolment at present are very unequal and various, and do not allow of the disposition of the forces at the will of the commander for the best interests of the service. This occasions embarrassment and unnecessary expense, and may often risk the failure of important undertakings, and proves the necessity of one uniform system, whether Military or Police. When it is recollected that

25

SERVICE COMMISSIONERS

PERMANENT STAFF. AT PER DIEM. AT PER ANNUM. STRENGTH. Marlborough (continued) — Corporal Two Buglers Nelson. s. d. 4 0 2 0 £ s. 73 0 73 0 d. 0 0 Adjutant, £300 per annum Sergeant-Major Bugler Canterburt. 6 0 4 0 109 "io 73 0 0 0 Artillery 28; Eifles 58; Total —86. Adjutant Sergeant-Major Sergeant-Major Cavalry and Drill Instructor Bugler Otago. e"o 300 0 109 10 109 10 73 0 0 0 0 0 Cavalry 83; Artillery 45; Engineers 73; Eifles 284; Total —485. 4 0 Adjutant Sergeant-Major Sergeant Southland. 6 0 300 0 109 10 109 10 0 0 0 Artillery 62 ; Eifles 528 ; Naval 114; Total—704. 13 0 6 0 237 5 109 10 0 0 Eifles 42. Adjutant Sergeant Total 7901 5 0