H.—l9.

Summary (Officers and Men). 72 companies mounted rifles ... ... ... ... ... 5,729 5 field batteries ... ... ... ... ... ... 442 8 companies naval artillery \ 3 companies garrison artillery ) "' 2 companies submarine miners ... ... .. ... ... 174 4 companies field engineers .. ... ... ... ... 334 117 infantry corps ... ... ... ... ... .. 7,323 5 cycle corps ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 122 5 bearer corps... ... ... ... ... ... ... 196 5 garrison bands ... ... ... ... ... ... 125

15,391 The above shows an increase of 490 Volunteers on last year's numbers. Mounted Coeps. I have with this branch of the service, as well as with the infantry, limited the training to the smaller units for the present. Excellent material exists in New Zealand for this important arm, -and, with the spirit now animating corps, a proper system of training should produce good results. In the corps I lately inspected in the Auckland District many of the men ride long distances to parade, and doubtless in other districts the same commendable practice pertains. Such a practice renders a man resourceful and independent—two most valuable qualities on service. While mounted drill is necessary to enable bodies of men to be moved to any point required, rapidly, and in good order, yet too much time should not be spent on it, nor the fact lost sight of that dismounted action is the true metier of the mounted rifleman. Field Abtillbby. There are five field batteries in the colony. One only of these is of modern armament. There is one new field battery on order from England. None of the field batteries are completely horsed, nor are they completely harnessed. Ido not attach so much importance to the former deficiency as to the latter, as horses can readily be hired for work, and it is cheaper than buying and keeping them. Ido not recommend the purchase of further batteries at present; there are more important wants. Naval and Gakeison Aetilleby. The naval and garrison artillery require reorganization. They should be formed into garrison artillery divisions, as in the Imperial service. The present so-called naval corps are an anomaly, being purely garrison artillery. There are eight position-guns on order from England; these should be ample for all requirements. Gun practice during the last year has been good. All corps take much interest in their work, but more daylight parades are necessary. The physique in some cases is hardly up to the standard required by the work entailed. Engineee Coeps. There are four field engineer corps in the colony. Such corps cannot but be most useful in any operations likely to take place, but, to duly qualify themselves for such, more daylight work and a practical study of minor works and entrenchments is necessary. The one corps I have had the opportunity of inspecting showed zeal, and intelligence in such work as they have been up to now exercised in. SUBMABINE-MINING COBPS. Two submarine-mining boats of the latest pattern arrived this year in the colony. The submarine-mining corps that I have had an opportunity of inspecting show much interest and intelligence in this work. I have, however, only had the opportunity of inspecting these in the evening, and have seen no practical work as yet. I understand the number of daylight parades performed is at present too few to admit of the desired standard of efficiency in this work being attained. Infante*. The battalion system is now in force throughout the colony. More outdoor work is required, and, while fully realising the difficulties that exist in this matter, I venture to think that if worked on common-sense lines, corps will make an effort to turn out by daylight more than has been the custom heretofore. Ceremonial exercises should give place to practical work, and those points which are merely a means to an end should not be mistaken for the more important matters essential to efficiency. The Musketry Regulations have been amended, and the course made more practical. Shooting at unknown ranges should form the main, if not entire, annual training of members of the Defence Forces, the recruit being trained to the use of his rifle at known distances. Although the past war should not be taken as a hard-and-fast pattern, yet magazine rifles demand more extended formation than heretofore. A better discipline, and greater knowledge by junior ranks is therefore essential, and the former much depends on the latter. Cycle Coeps. Four cycle corps exist, and a fifth is in process of formation at Nelson. Such corps are useful and inexpensive, but their sphere of action is necessarily limited.

3