30

H.—9,

Kaitangata Eiples.—l2th December, 1892. Present: 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 colour-sergeant, 4 sergeants, and 34 rank and file. Absent: 10 rank and file. Uniform. —Scarlet tunics; black helmets. The tunics are of many patterns; helmets also of different patterns ; trousers of different patterns. Arms and Accoutrements. —Snider rifle; buff belts, of different patterns; slings, old and incomplete. Officers. —Captain Eutherford: Capable; a good man for his position. Lieutenant Simpson: Pair. Lieutenant Brown : Good smart officer. Non-commissioned Officers. —Colour-Sergeant Smaill: A very good non-commissioned officer. Sergeants Fraser and Simpson are not up to the mark; the other sergeants are good. Man. —A very good stamp generally, but several very raw men in the ranks. Drill. —The drill, considering that the sergeant-instructor only visits the corps once monthly, is fairly good. With more instruction, I have no doubt but that it will become good. A good spirit of discipline is evident. The men obey the words of command well, and are very steady in the ranks. Change of uniform has not been made, owing to indecision as to the pattern to be adopted. With new uniforms and proper accoutrements the appearance of the men would be very different, and the corps would be in a much more satisfactory state. Bkuce Bifles (Milton). —13th December, 1892. Present: 1 captain, 1 colour-sergeant, 2 sergeants, and 25 rank and file. Absent: 17 rank and file (5 sick). Uniform. —Scarlet; black helmets. Arms and Accoutrements. —Snider rifle ; buff belts. Officer. —Captain Eeid : Very good officer. Non-commissioned Officers. —A good class of men, but not up to the average. Men. —Good stamp. Drill. —The drill under Captain Eeid was well done. Captain Eeid proved very efficient in command of his company, and is undoubtedly a very capable officer, but he has no other officers in the company, and the non-commissioned officers are not of much, if any, assistance to him. The corps is also short of non-commissioned officers, and is below its strength. The attendance at drill has been bad during the year. Except as regards the commanding officer, I regret to have to report that this corps is not in an efficient state. Tuapeka Eifles (Lawbence). —14th December, 1892. Present: 2 lieutenants, 1 colour-sergeant, 4 sergeants, and 27 rank and file. Absent: 1 captain and 14 rank and file. Uniform. —Scarlet; black helmets. Arms and Accoutrements. —Snider rifle; buff belts. Officers. —Captain McKeich : Absent on business. Lieutenant Urquhart. Lieutenant Brooks. Non-commissioned Officers. —Below the average in capability. Men. —Good physique. Drill. —The drill was much below par. Lieutenant Urquhart was not capable. Lieutenant Brooks was very nervous, and did not appear to advantage. The non-commissioned officers were not up to the mark, and consequently the men were hustled about, and were unable to work together. The drill was in the open, on a very bad piece of ground; but, even taking that into consideration, the men were unable to march together, and gave me the impression that they very rarely drilled outside their hall. Ido not consider this corps is in a good state. East Taieei Eifles (Mosgiel).—lsth December, 1892. Present: 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 3 sergeants, and 21 rank and file. Absent: 1 colour-sergeant and 20 rank and file (4 sick). Uniform. —Scarlet; black helmets. Arms and Accoutrements. —Snider rifle; buff belts. Officers. —Captain Carncross : A good commanding officer. Lieutenant Cameron : A very good officer. Lieutenant Kennedy : A good officer. Non-commissioned Officers. —Capable. Men.— Good. Drill. —The drill of this corps was very good under officers and non-commissioned officers. There was but a poor attendance on parade: 8 of the absentees were out of the district, and are therefore non-effective; 4 were sick ; 6 absent without leave; 3 absent with leave, working. I believe that, although this corps cannot at present be regarded as satisfactory as regards its strength, it will, under its present officers, revive and become a very good company. Otago High School Cadets, Dcnedin.—2nd December, 1892. Present: 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 colour-sergeant, 4 sergeants, and 36 rank and file. Absent: 4 rank and file. Uniform. —Blue frocks, white facings ; round blue forage-cap, white band. Arms and Accoutrements. —Snider rifle; buff belts. Officers. —Captain Montgomery, Lieutenant Eoyse, and Lieutenant Herbert. Non-commissioned Officers and Cadets. —A fine well-grown body of boys.