OUR DEFENCE FORCES.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 23, 28 January 1899, Page 5

OUR DEFENCE FORCES.

The following memo, has been issued by the Defence Department to officers commanding districts :— " The Commander of the Forces recommended in his report that an attempt should be made to get a portion or the whole of the volunteers out at Easter, or any convenient season, for a whole week's training. Is this feasible in your district ? If so, what time would be the most suitable ? And what 'ocality would you recommend for the camp ? Please send reply to reach here by the first week in February." Officers commanding companies have been asked to ascertain from their corps if the above suggestions Van be carried out. On Saturday next the Wellington Rifle Battalion and the Cycle Corps will be taken over to Mahanga Bay by the, Duco, and will join the Navals in resisting a supposed attack on Wellington. If a sufficient number of men are present, each marj will be paid 2s 6d for his attendance. A correspondent writes :— " The succesf of the first volunteer encampment of 1899 yet pointed o«t the weakness in the organisation of the Wellington Battalion, viz., the Regimental Staff. Every sucl command is in the hands of a Lieut. -

Colonel, assisted by two Majors, an Adjutant, Quartermaster, etc. In the gathering referred to, a company had to be deprived of its Captain to act as Major, another lost the services of a Lieutenant, whilst a third loaned an officer as Quartermaster. This is not fair to the men, noi conducive to efficiency. The staff shoald be at once appointed. One step in this direction is taken to-day by Lieut. Harcourt being gazetted Adjutant. But, as the stability of the Battalion is uncertain, company officers would be loth to give up their present commissions, as, in the event of its dissolution, their commissions would lapse. If possible, competent men from outside should be procured for the staff who have the necessary company and battalion knowledge. In view of the mobilisation of the three battalions at the ensuing Easter, this should be attended to as early as possible." The Wellington Navals went into camp at Mahanga Bay this afternoon. Upon arrival, it was found that the sheds in which the bunks had been fitted had been made snug by the Permanent Artillery, and everything was ready for them to go to their quarters. Squads for each gun were immediately told off, and the afternoon's drill oonsisted of gunnery undei the Permanent Artillery instructors, the officers of the Navals instructing and drilling the various battery commanders' staffs in range-finding, telephoning, aud conveying orders. To-morrow three classes of instruction will be held for the officers, under MasterGunner Richardson, at 9 a.m., 2 and 6 p.m. The men will be given an opportunity of working up for their examinations, and petty officers will be instructed in range-finding and electrical dial work. The Duco will take the men to and from the camp each day. A Christchurch contemporary states that the militia roll for the police district of Canterbury and North Otago has now been completed, and a summary of it has been prepared. In the district the number of those who are liable to serve in the first-class^ — single men between. 17 and 30 — is 11,085 ; in the second-class — married men between 17 and 30 and single men between 30 and 40—3627 ,- and in the third-class-married men between 30 and 40 and single men between 40 and 55 — 4782; giving a grand total of 19,494. The numbers ior Timaru district (i.e. South Canterbury) are 1744— 554— 686— t0ta1, 2984.