H.—9

8

4.—EEPOET ON VOLUNTEBES BY DISTEICTS.

(1.) REPORT ON WELLINGTON VOLUNTEER DISTRICT.

In charge of this district is Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart Newall, N.Z. Militia. The actual control of all the Volunteer corps —their inspection, drills, musters, capitation accounts, examination, &c.—is in his hands. He is also responsible for the quarterly examination of any acting officers throughout the colony, being the head of and last remnant of the Central Board which existed some years ago. He has also to carry out the annual inspection of arms in the Napier district, and to check and keep the returns of the volley and independent firing of every Volunteer corps in the colony, rendering a return of the whole in order of merit to the Defence Department at end of the year. To aid him he has one sergeant-instructor (Finn) in Wellington and one sergeant-instructor (McMillan) in Wanganui. Colonel Newall visits the corps at Wanganui (3), Marton (1), Feilding (1), Palmerston (1), Masterton (1), Petone (1), and Wellington (5), making, in all, thirteen corps monthly, and the corps at Taranaki quarterly; and Sergeant-Instructor Finn drills each corps at Masterton, Petone, and Wellington—making seven corps—once in each month. Sergeant-Instructor McMillan drills each corps at Taranaki, Wanganui, Marton, Feilding, and Palmerston—making seven corps—monthly ; and, in addition, the sergeant-instructors drill the recruits at Wanganui and Wellington at least once a week. The office-work of the district more than fully occupies every available minute both of Colonel Newall's and of Sergeant-Major Finn's time, and it is also their duty to attend all the volley and independent and Government medal-competition firing of the corps in the district, necessitating their being frequently up before 4 a.m. Class-firing is also largely under the supervision of SergeantMajor Finn. In addition, the drilling of the cadets falls upon the shoulders of the two sergeantinstructors. The work carried out yearly by Lieutenant-Colonel Newall and Sergeant-Instructor Finn is very great, and, in reality, far too much for even such energetic and excellent men. The general appearance and condition of affairs in this district compares very favourably with that of any other district in the colony, and this is, in ray opinion, due to the very hard-working and energetic commanding officer, and his excellent sergeant-instructor (Sergeant-Major Finn). Naval Abtilleby Volunteers. The Wellington Naval Artillery corps is in very good order, officers, petty officers, and men taking great pride in their corps. The Petone Naval Artillery corps is satisfactory. The Wanganui Naval Artillery corps is simply an infantry corps, and a very good one. Field Aetilleey. The Field Artillery in Wellington is well instructed. All concerned show much interest. The guns (6-pr. E.B.L. guns) are unfit for service, and the equipment is in very bad condition. Cavaley. The Alexandra Cavalry corps is in a good state. The Eangitikei Cavalry was inspected by me in very wet weather. I had no opportunity of thoroughly carrying out my inspection, but I judge that the corps is not up to the standard.

Wellington District. I §1 A i a § I a 3 Q I to Hi K m i I f 11 ® to o t> w I till III jB5 go OS »S 111'111 <D O O O O « 02 O o 0Q Q CD I I Officer Commanding District Staff sergeant Wellington Naval Artillery Volunteers Petone Naval Artillery Volunteers .. D Battery Artillery Volunteers Heretaunga Mounted Bifle Volunteers Wellington City Rifle Volunteers .. Wellington Guards Volunteers Wellington Rifle Volunteers Masterton Rifle Volunteers Wellington Garrison Band Alexandra Cavalry Volunteers Wairoa Mounted Bifle Volunteers .. Rangitikei Cavalry Volunteers Hawera Mounted Bifle Volunteers.. Manawatu Mounted Rifle Volunteers Wanganui Naval Artillery Volunteers Boyal Rangitikei Rifle Volunteers .. Wanganui Bifle Volunteers Taranaki Rifle Volunteers Palmerston North Bifle Volunteers Manchester Bifle Volunteers Albert Rifle Volunteers Wanganui Garrison Band.. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 '2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 i" i 1 1 1 1 i i i i 2* 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 1 4 4 4 4 5 4 3 4 2 2 4 3 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 1 2 4 4 3 3 4 3 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 87 52 55 41 54 47 42 38 23 49 46 36 49 42 54 47 52 60 50J 89 40 17 1 2 105 67 71 57 69 62 56 53 26 61 60 49 62 55 68 57 65 71 59 J 50 50 20 .J i" 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Totals .. 1 18 39 ■H 8 4 2 23 78 72 27 1020 11296