H.—l9

39

Kicks, sore backs, and girth-galls still furnish a large proportion of cases requiring treatment. These are largely preventable injuries, and something more needs to be done to avoid their occurrence as far as is reasonably possible. More thorough supervision should be exercised on picket-lines, and a uniform pattern of saddle suitable for military requirements should be adopted. The latter recommendation, if carried out, would go far to minimize the numbers of cases of saddle and girth galls met with. The importance of condition in relation to horses employed in military operations should be strongly impressed upon all owners. Too many " soft " hacks find their way to the camps, with the inevitable consequences of sores, lameness, &c, which follow this lack of muscular tone. This is, of course, unavoidable to some extent in the case of country horses, many of which are entirely grass-fed. If these horses could be given a few hard feeds before going to camp the digestive troubles now so frequently occurring as a consequence of the sudden and complete change in the character of the food would be largely avoided. Opportunities for the acquisition of a sound knowledge of horsemastership should also be afforded to officers and members of Mounted corps. It is also necessary in certain cases that the latter receive instruction in riding. Farriers : Deficiencies in this respect are still noticeable during camps, though it is proposed shortly to place the matter on a more satisfactory basis. Equipment: Field service veterinary medicine chests, designed by Major Young, and manufactured in New Zealand, have been approved and issued for service. These will supply an urgent want, and should prove more satisfactory under practical conditions than the heavy and cumbersome chests formerly issued for use in camps. A pocket case of instruments to be carried by Veterinary Officers would be found of great service, and recommendations on this point will be submitted for consideration. C. J. Reakes, Lieut.-Colonel, Director, Veterinary Services and Remounts.

APPENDIX L. A LIST OF THE DRILL-HALLS IX THE DOMINION BELONGING TO THE DEPARTMENT. Auckland District. Wellington District —continued. Canterbury District —continued. Auckland Garrison Hall. Napier Drill-hall. . Rangiora Drill-hall. Cambridge Drill-hall. New Plymouth Drill-hall. Reefton Drill-hall. Coromandel Drill-hall. Pahiatua Drill-hall. Spring Grove Drill-hall. Clevedon orderly-room. Petone Drill-hall. ; Temuka Drill-hall. Hamilton Drill-hall. Waitara Drill-hall. Timaru Drill-hall. Huntly Drill-hall. Wanganui Drill-hall. Waimate Drill-hall. Kingsland Drill-hall. Wellington Garrison Hall. Weetport Drill-hall. Matakana orderly-room. Woodville Drill-hall. Opotiki Drill-hall. Otago District. Paeroa Drill-hall. Canterbury District-. j Alexandra Drill-hall. Paparoa Drill-hall. Ashburton Drill-hall. Arrowtown Drill-hall. Te Puke orderly-room. Blenheim Drill-hall. Bluff Drill-hall. Waihi Drill-hall. ! Christchurch Garrison Hall (King Colac Bay Drill-hall. Whangarei Drill-hall. Edward Barracks). Dunedin Garrison Hall. Geraldine Drill-hall. Duntroon Drill-hall. Wellington District. Greymouth Drill-hall. ; Invercargill Drill-hall. Apiti Drill-hall. Hokitika Drill-hall. Lawrence Drill-hall. ( !arterton Drill-hall. Kaiapoi Drill-hall. Milton Drill-hall. Dannevirke Drill-hall. Kaikoura Drill-hall. Oamaru Drill-hall. Feilding Drill-hall. Kumara Drill-hall. Port Chalmers Drill-hall. Gisborne Drill-hall. Lyttelton Drill-hall. Queenstown Drill-hall. Hastings Drill-hall. Leeston orderly-room. Riversdale Drill-hall. Hutt Drill-hall. Millerton Drill-hall. Riverton Drill-hall. Levin Drill-hall. Nelson Drill-hall. Winton Drill-hall. Marton Drill-hall. In addition to the above, public halls at Taneatua, Patumahoe, Feilding, and Denniston are available for drill purposes in pursuance of the terms of the deeds of trust or private Acts governing them.