A.—4

25

Under the proposed organization the strength, in time of war, of the permanent and auxiliary detachments of coast artillery and of the boats' crews would be as follows :—

Strength of coast artillery and torpedo boats' crews.

Constabulary ... ... ... 100 Naval Brigades ... ... ... 480 580 The foregoing numbers include the gun detachments and the necessary garrisons for defending the batteries against a coup de main. In time of peace, the strength of the naval brigade at each place might be reduced to 80 officers and men. At Dunedin, the artillerymen required for the battery at Ocean Beach, which is to be armed with three guns, may be composed entirely of volunteers; the strength, including garrison, being fixed at 80 officers, non-commissioned officers, and men. This battery, being close to the city and not exposed to sudden attack—as in the case of the batteries at the entrances to the ports —would not require a permanent garrison on the outbreak of war. Great care will have to be exercised in recruiting the officers and men for the naval brigades. A large proportion should be taken from the seafaring population; all the men should be able-bodied, and the majority accustomed to manual labor. Special regulations* for the government of the corps will be necessary. Next, as to the constitution and strength of the field forces recommended. Economy being the first consideration, the idea of maintaining a nucleus of permanent infantry at each place cannot, under present circumstances, be entertained, nor is it quite clear that such a step is necessary. At the same time, it is desirable to draw attention to a source from which, by due preparation in time of peace, a substitute could, in time of war, be drawn for the permanent infantry referred to.

Volunteer garrison artillery at Dunedin.

Naval brigades.

Constitution and strength of field forces.

* A copy of the regulations, in force in Victoria, will be found in the Appendix,

Number of ( commissioned 0 in Detac) 3fficers, Non- Torpedo ifflcers, and Men Boats' hmeuts— Crews. Harbors. Number of Guns. Totals. Of Constabulary. Of Naval Brigades. Luckland ... Six in one battery Six in one battery Four in two batteries Three in one battery 25 100 20 145 Vellington ... 25 100 20 145 lyttelton 25 100 20 145 'ort Chalmers 25 100 20 145 Grand Total 100 400 80 580