REPORT OE THE INSPECTOR

p.-rNo. 8.

4

I am further to inform you that the Government are desirous you should proceed to Dunedin in April, to superintend the firing for the annual prizes, and to request that you will be so good as to hold yourself in readiness for this duty. Information will be sent to you of tiie date which may be fixed for the firing. I have, Ac., Lieut.-Colonel Harington, Wellington. G. 8. Cooper.

No. 4 Lieut.-Colonel Habington to the Hon. D. McLean. Bib,— Auckland, 31st May, 1870. In accordance with instructions contained in your letter of the 18th November, 1869, directing me "to proceed on a tour of inspection of the several Volunteer Corps of both Islands (and such Militia as were called out for active service "), I have the honor to make the following report :— On the 3rd of December I went to Taranaki, and inspected the several detachments of Militia that occupied the posts between New Plymouth and the White Cliffs. Owing to the late disturbances in that district, the delachmeuts which were usually small, were mostly confined to the redoubts on guard duties, and had little time for drill. They had few opportunities for rifle practice, but the Bushrangers at Papatiki under Captain Messenger had a range near the redoubt, and made good practice. On the Bth of December I inspected the Taranaki Cavalry Volunteers. Although tho notice was short and many of the members had a long distance to come to parade, the attendance was good; they were well mounted, and drilled fairly. Their rifle practice was not good, but this may be attributed to the state of their carbines, which have been a long time in use on active service, and also to tho fact of there being no properly qualified musketry instructor in the district. On the 9th the Militia of the town were paraded for my inspection, and were put through several evolutions very creditably by Major Stapp. The frequent disturbances in this district for several years have no doubt made the whole population evince a more military spirit than in other parts of tie Colony, and this disposition has been taken advantage of by the Commanding Officer, to render them efficient. On the 16th of December I went to Wanganui, and inspected the detachments of Militia stationed between that place and Patea. There were only a few men at each post, who had but little opportunity for drill or rifle practice ; they appeared, however, to be efficient, and their arms were in good order. On the 21st of December, I inspected tho Wanganui Militia, whose muster was small, owing to the very busy time of year; they appeared anxious to do well, but their drill and rifle practice was.not good, and showed the necessity of having some more regular system of training if they were required for active service in the field. On the 22nd of December, I inspected the Wanganui Cavalry Volunteers, who only turned out in email numbers. Their drill was fair but their firing indifferent, which is attributable to the state of their carbines, as in the case of the Taranaki Cavalry. On the 24th I inspected the Eangitikei Eifles, who were in good order and efficient in their drill. On the 27th the Victoria Cavalry were paraded for inspection; their muster was good, they were well mounted, and acquitted themselves very creditably in their manoeuvres. Owin"- to the scattered distribution of the various corps in the Eangitikei district, I found it impossible to assemble them at a short notice, but the return of the parades attended for the half-year ending 31st December, 18(59, shows that the Volunteer movement in this district is well supported. On the 28th December I went to Wellington, and thence to Otago. From tho sth to the 15th of January, I was employed in the inspection of the Volunteers of the Province of Otago. The several corps paraded strong both in town and country ; their general appearance and efficiency in drill prove them to be the most zealous Volunteers in the Colony, and this superiority is demonstrated practically by the excellence of their rifle and artillery practice. On the 16th I went to Canterbury, and from that date to the 31st was employed in inspecting the various corps of the Province. The numbers generally assembled on parade were small, but this might be accounted for by the great scarcity of labour at this season of the year, when all hands were required for harvest. The several corps were tolerably steady under arms, but there is decided room for improvement in the general zeal of the Volunteer movement throughout the Province. On the Ist of February I went to the West Coast, and from that date to the 11th was employed in inspecting the Volunteers of the County of Westland. The several corps (with the exception of the Westland Cavalry, who did not parade) were in good order, and showed every disposition to make themselves efficient, and especially the "ToLara Eifles," at Eoss, who were very steady under arms, and know their drill well. On the 13th of February I went to Nelson, where I remained till the 25th. The rifle practice was good, as also that of the Artillery ; but the several Companies did not muster in good numbers, nor were they as efficient in drill as might have been expected. On the 26th of February I went to Wellington, and was employed from that date to the 12th of March in inspecting the various corps of the Province. On the whole the corps in the Wairarapa were in good order, and especially the Carterton Eifles, who were very steady under arms and efficient in their drill. I think that the Volunteers of this district deserve special commendation for their zeal, as they are much scattered, and have considerable distances to go to attend drill. They are much in want of targets for rifle practice, and urgently solicited me to request the Government to supply them. I think it my duty to make especial mention of the Wairarapa Cavalry, who were very well mounted, clean in their appointments, steady in their drill, and were altogether the most efficient Cavalry Corps that I have seen in the Colony.