7

H.—loa,

Waiuku Cavalry. —I inspected Waiuku Cavalry on 2nd March. Attendance good; arms and accoutrements clean and in good order. The men and horses are very good and serviceable. The corps was drilled by their own officers at the sword exercise, &c. They have no Drill Instructor ;it would greatly add to the efficiency of this Troop if the Drill Instructor from the Waikato paid them a monthly visit. Forest Rifles, Pukekohe Rifles, Tuahau Rifles, Wairoa Rifles. —I inspected these companies on 2nd and 3rd March. The district is a very scattered one. The attendance was good considering the distances the men had to come. Arms and accoutrements clean and in good order. Drilled pretty well at firing and manual exercises. Te Awamutu Cavalry, Hamilton Contingent, Cambridge, fyc. —l inspected the Waikato Cavalry on the sth, Bth, and 9th March. The men were well turned out; arms and accoutrements clean and in good order. The men and horses are very good and serviceable, and very well drilled. The corps went through a very pretty and useful exercise, two troopers at a time riding at full speed quarter of a mile, taking two jumps and tethering their horses together, and firing at a target; it showed that the men could both ride and shoot. They have an excellent Instructor. Hamilton Rifles. —I inspected the Hamilton Rifles on 9th March. Arms and accoutrements clean,, and in good order. A good company, well drilled ; not clothed. Hauraki Engineers, Thames Scottish No. 1, 2, and 3, Thames Rifle Rangers, Thames Native, Naval Brigade, Thames Scottish Cadets, St. George's Naval, fyc. — I inspected the Thames Volunteers on the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th of March. The attendance was good; arms and accoutrements clean and in good order. The companies were exercised respectively by their own officers, and went through the'manual and firing exercise very creditably The Volunteers of this district are the best in the North Island, both in physique and soldierlike bearing; they take great pride in themselves, their red clothing suits them well. The appearance and drill of the Naval Brigade is very creditable. Where all are good it is invidious to draw a distinction. The Volunteers of this district have neither drill-shed or parade ground, and each company has to pay rent for a small and inadequate hall. Major Murray deserves great credit for the interest he takes in the Volunteer movement, and the efficiency of the district is mainly due to him. Hay of Plenty Cavalry. —l inspected the Troop on 18th March. Men well turned out; arms and accoutrements clean. Troop consists of 29 men, including officers. Total, 24 on parade. The Officer Commanding this Troop has a very indistinct word of command; the men could not understand him, consequently the drill was a farce. Poverty Bay J Battery Artillery, Artillery Cadets. — I inspected the Artillery on 26th March. Men well turned out; arms and accoutrements clean. Both corps were out for a week's drill, two and a-half miles out of Gisborne, where they were encamped, and were drilled at manual and firing exercises, which they did very fairly; they also drilled in skirmishing order. No guns ; they have a 24-pounder, but I did not see it. Napier JF Battery Artillery, Engineers Company, Artillery Cadets. —l inspected the Artillery on 3rd and sth April. Men well turned out; arms and accoutrements clean ; guns in good order ; gun drill good. Engineers at manual and firing exercises, skirmishing drill and bayonet exercises; drilled fairly. * Artillery Cadets unclothed and unarmed. Wanganui Rifles, City Rifles, Rifle Cadets. —l inspected these companies on 12th April. The men were well turned out; arms and accoutrements clean. The parade was formed on the racecourse ; they marched past. Manual, firing, and bayonet exercises. The companies were exercised by their own officers, and acquitted themselves fairly. Captain Watt's Company went through the bayonet exercise, judging their own time very well. The companies were afterwards thrown out in skirmishing order. Palmerston Rifles. —I inspected this company on 13th April. Arms and accoutrements clean and in good order. Exercised at manual, firing, and bayonet exercises; drilled fairly. Manchester Rifles. —I inspected this company on 14th April. Exercised at manual, firing, and bayonet exercises ; drilled fairly. Royal Rifles. —-I inspected this company on 15th April. Exercised at manual, firing, and bayonet exercises ; thrown out in skirmishing order ; drilled fairly. Alexandra Cavalry. —l saw six men of this Troop on the racecourse on 12th April; not supposed to have received sufficient warning. The officer in command of Troop asked me to fix another day, but I was unable to comply as I had not the time. On reference to the Report of last year, I see that only four troopers were present on parade for annual inspection. Wairoa Light Horse.— -I inspected this Troop on 17th April. The men well turned out; men and horses good ; troop fairly exercised by Officer Commanding Troop. Patea Light Horse. —l inspected this Troop on 19th April. Attendance not good; arms and accoutrements clean and in good order ; drill indifferent, did not go out of a walk. Hawera Light Horse. —l inspected this Troop on 21st April. Men and horses good; arms and accoutrements clean. The Troop were fairly exercised by Officer Commanding Troop. There is no Drill Instructor in this district, one should be appointed. Carlyle Rifles Nos. 1 and 2, Carlyle Cadets. —l inspected these companies on 19th April. Arms and accoutrements clean and in good order. The companias were fairly drilled by their own officers at manual and firing exercises. Kakaramea Rifles* —I inspected this company on 20th ApriL Arms and accoutrements clean; badly drilled. Normanby Rifles. —-I inspected this company on 22nd April. Arms and accoutrements clean and in good order. Company exercised by its own officers in manual and firing exercises. Hawera Rifles Nos. 1 and 2.f —Companies did not parade, supposed to be broken up. The Infantry Drill Instructor in the Patea District is inefficient; I would suggest that an efficient Instructor should be appointed.

* These corps have been disbanded. t Since amalgamated.