THE VOLUNTEERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3242, 27 June 1872, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The following is the annual report o£ the District Adjutant, Major Atkinson:— Militia and Volunteel-Office, Dunedin, 10th June, 1872. Sir—l have the honour to make my seventh annual report of the Volunteer Force under your command, and would bring to your noticr, for the ir.formatioit -0-tfcH-feerr.scnG, the following •.— CLASS FIRING. It will be seen that the strength of the Force on the 30th April, 1871, Nwas °^ adults, and 227 Cnaets, making a totalW x 165. On the last day of April of this year, the strength was 1286, of which, number 251 were Cadets, leaving the, adult strength 1085, being an increase o£ 147- This includes the Southland companies, which have been taken on the strength of this command during the past year. The total efficients are 875, o£ which number 611 practiced in 3rd classy 427 in the 2nd class, and 264 in the Ist class, 224 of whom are marksmen.

I attach the analysis, marked A for the Volunteer Corps, and B for Cadet Q^f-ap-showing the strength of efficientsTaßß^fc number practised, with figure of nierit^BW return of marksmen, marked C. I also forward the Company practice returns, iit support of the analysis.

The highest^ scorer for the Battalion, badge is Captain Jamieson, "Scottish. Rifles, with 119 points in the 2nd and lafc classes ; Lieutenant Muir, Dunedin Artillery, second, with 112 points. The Battalion badge was won last year with 107 points ; this year six men have made that number and upwards. The East Taieri Rifles is the best shooting Company, having practised 36 men. out of a corps of 40 members. The whole ■ of the men pracfsed have parsed into the j Ist class, 33 of whom have become marks- ! men. This is the second year this Cont- ■ pany has taken first pkee^ ) The practice has been very good, wliea. : it is taken into consideration that it is : not required by the "Volunteer Regular tions to constitute efficiency. j I would here make a comparison witlt ' one of the crack corps of England, " The • Robin Hood Rifles." Their progress re- ' turn shows "that 790 members have j completed the requirements in class firing during present year, while there are 202 1 marksmen authorised to wear the marks- ! man's badge."— Vide Volunteer Gazette, ! 9th September, 1871, page 649. While in this district 611 men have fired in the classes, of whom 224 are marksmen, prov- | ing that this Province more than holds ; its own with the rifle shots of the mother- > country. I recommend that some notice [ of the class firing be taken by the Goveni- ! ment, in the direction of prizes—a goldT or silver medal to the highest scorer in. ' the Province, and a bronze medal to the ! highest scorer in the corps. It wouH 1 only be the first cost, as the badge would: jbe handed over each year to the winner. llt would increase the interest in rifle shooting, and the class firing in particular. The Cadets fired in the 3rd class. The scoring is not so good, owing to the change of rifles, and having to compete with, weapons with which they had no practice. Ninety-two boys competed. Colour-Ser-geant T. Black is the highest scorer, with. 61 points. Cadet R. Morrison ia second, with 57 points. The boys are very attentive to their drill, and will prove themselves good marksmen as they grow older. I beg to to recommend that the. Cadets be encouraged to rifle practice with, prize medals, the same as suggested for the adult corps.

ARMS AND ACCOUTREMENTS. The arms, with very few exception?, are unserviceable for accurate shooting - the grooving is much worn, so that the bullet does not take the proper rotarymotion. I call your special attention to this, as the shooting must fall off as theweapon becomes defective. Most of the companies have provided themselves witlt accoutrements better suited to the requirements of the force.

CAPITATION AND CLOTHING. Would it not be better if the capitation, grant were given for services rendered instead of the present system, giving each volunteer £1 for the present parade qualification, 5s each for their classes in. the annual course of class firing ? By this x I mean the money to be given for each, twenty rounds iired, no matter in what class, so that if a man fails in the 3rd class, he can try again to the extent of 60 rounds; and 5s for attending six Battalion drills where Battalions are formed, and where such does not exist, six extra company drills. I feel confident it would do good, and cause the corps to takes greater interest in attending drill. The Oamaru, Hampden, Riverton, and. No. 1 and 2 Company Rifles have adopted the gray uniform. It looks well, and is much more serviceable than the scarlet,, less liable to be soiled and will Last niuck longer. As the corps are all well clothed, may I suggest that great coats and waterproof haversacks be provided anddeductetL from the capitation grant, as in the evenfc of an encampment or being called out for service, the force is unprovided with the

covering for wet and cold weather, or any convenience for carrying or extra ammunition ? JII^B^Bp DRILLS AND INSPECTIONS. V / the present regulations, the x-—'Country Corps are visited once in the -quarter, the Dunedin Corps are inspected every month. As the corps are numerous, I cannot stay long at each. I pur.pose continuous drills. It could be carried out as follows : —By allowing the same travelling and forage allowance as at present for the Staff Sergeants, and -calling in to Dunedin the Staff Sergeant • stationed at Invercargill. A Sergeant -could be sent to each of the Country Corps to remain one month, during that -■time to hold fifteen drills for the company, and ten recruit and musketry drills; also the Corps could go through their ■class firing, the Sergeant acting as marker. The men would learn more, and the •■officers would have a better opportunity of acquiring a knowledge of their duties. -As it now is, the visits of the Staff are ■only flying ones ; and if the weather should be wet, the Company cannot -muster for instruction. If my suggestions were adopted, the Staff would attend at the season of the year most convenient f or the Corps, during the fine weather and long days. I have every confidence that very great benefit would result from continuous drills, particularly to the Country • Corps. DRILL SHEDS. Since my last report, the- Dunedin -Artillery have built a large and commo'■dious drill shed in a central position in ... Dunedin, in which they have placed their guns and stores. I have every hope that the rifle companies in Dunedin will come to an understanding with the Artillery '•■Corps for the use of their shed. This ■•will enable me to carry on the recruits and musketry drills during the Avinter The Country Corps, with the -exceptions of the Clut'ha and Waikouaiti Companies, have good and serviceable places to drill in. RIFLE RANGES AND TARGETS. rThe Corps are all provided with goo.d ) .-and safe ranges to the extent of 800 yards. "They are much in want of targets. The * one/set at the Dunedin range, the property of the Government, is worn out. 'Would you be pleased to recommend the -^Government to supply this want ? The Companies consider it a great hardship to be compelled to find their own targets, •and now that the capitation grant has flbeen reduced 10s per man they cannot s.afford the cost. . AMMUNITION. The ammunition has been of g«od quality and the quantity ample. The Government grant to Corps has been 100,400 :rounds. The quantity purchased has fceen 84,900 rounds, making a total of 185,300 rounds expended since April, am. CADETS. "There are 251 Cadets under training. ' This. does not include the boys at the j-District Schools, who are drilled twice a week, but are not in regular gazetted ".corps. The boys attend to their drill, ■ and are making considerable progress. ; Some of the officers and non-commissioned ♦ officers will make good drill instructors. •\^ "The Rector and Masters of the district are very anxious about the drill fg/K/BtfesHt b°ys> and they encourage it by PUPKneir attendance at the drill-ground. K\ ;•"; GENEHAI, EFFICIENCY. '.The Companies are in an excellent ■-state of efficiency, when it \s> taken into _^ consideration that the Dunedin Corps T^ave 'been without a drill-T3hed~aurmg-tne-past year, and that the Corps have had no TOJiter drill or musketry instruction. The 'Spirit for volunteering is becoming more a imatter of duty than pleasure or amuse.Tnent. The Inspector of Militia and Volunteers made his annual inspection of ;the Corps in March last; the' Artillery *and Naval corps had shot and shell practice. He also inspected the Battalion at -•drill. I have every confidence that his Teport will be favourable. The class jfiring returns show not only an increase van the number practised but a higher figure of merit than ever before obtained —--the average of the Scottish Rifles being : greater than any I can find in the Volunteer Force in England. The fact that "Otago has for the sixth time in succession obtained the high honour of being the •• champion shots of the Colony—the Cham--1 pion Belt being ivon. twice in succession by Captain Wales, the Silver Challenge <Jup, eight of the prize rifles, and onehalf the money prizes competed for at the Hate Government Rifle Matches, coming to ■ Ofcago, with seventeen representatives ; against a field of over thirty from the •■other Provinces, clearly proves that their proficiency as marksmen has not diminished. I beg that you will recommend that all future competitions for Govern prizes be carried on as at Shoebury- " ness—that the competitors be regularly en..camped, and carry on duty as if on ac- ■ tual service. The large number of '.Field and Staff - Officers required to carry on the rifle matches would enable the Inspector to impart careful -.instruction successfully. lam confident that all the Militia and Volunteers within -a reasonable distance of the camp ground •would take advantage of the opportunity of gaining a knowledge of their field To the officers it would be a '-special benefit. I would refer you to -Lieutenant-Colonel Churnside's Royal Artillery report on the Artillery meeting -at Shoeburyness, in which he reports : — " The cairp duties have been carried out -according to regulations, and the tents -and ground have been kept in excellent ■■order. The marching in was conducted ■with creditable punctuality, and the men 'On arriving presented a steady and soldierlike appearance. The duties of .: guards and picquets were all duly executed to my full satisfaction." The camp ■equipments could be saved out of the •detention allowance in two years. In conclusion, I have again to express uny thanks to the officers, non-commis--sioned officers, and volunteers, for the '«kind and gentlemanly manner in which "they have assisted me in the performance -of my duties, and I have every confidence that in submitting this report to the Inspector of Militia and Volunteers, you will express yourself satisfied with the state of the force. I trust that the marksmen will be vgazetted, and that the badges so well •earned may be issued. I have, &c, (Signed) J. J. Atkinson, ' Major, District Adjutant.

Memo.—The following return sliewa the increase in the number practiced : — 1870. 1871. 1872. 3rd Class 472 524 Gil 2nd Class 336 353 427 1st Class 1SI 239 264 Marksmen 15G 209 224 In previous years the Cadets were included with the adults. This year I have given them a separate return.