THE OTAGO VOLUNTEER FORCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 824, 13 September 1867, Page 2

THE OTAGO VOLUNTEER FORCE.

The following report, accompanying an analysis of Preliminary Drill and Class Firing for the year ending 30th June last, was forwarded by Captain J. J. Atkinson, to Lieut. -Col. Cargill, under date sth August. The analysis appears in the jlVcio Zealand Gazette of August 31st : —

I have the honor to forward the Musketry Instruction and Practice Return of the Volunteer Force under your command for the year ended 30th June, together with an analysis of the practice of the various corpsr, shewing the strength and the number who have gone through their preliminary drill, also those who nave practised, with the figure of merit. It will be seen that the total strength of the Force, on the 30th June, is 730, of which 421 have gone through the preliminary drills, 307 have completed the Ist period, 3rd class, that 184 have practised in the 2nd class, that 91 have practised in the Ist class — 83 of the number are marksmen. The following return shows the improvement, both, in the numbers practise*! and average points ;—

1866.1867. 18S6. 18673 rd c1a55...307 296 Average...3B.o6 42.81 2nd class... 184 176 Do 32.43 '35.02 Ist class... 91 89 Do 20.66 27:80 Marksman 48 83 The highest score in each class being; as follows — 3rd class. Vo'unteer William F. Stevens, Dunedin Naval Company, 73 points. 2nd class. Serjeant Sidney Muir, Artillery. Company, 63 points. Ist class. Gunner William, D. Smith, Artillery Company, 50 points. This, added to the score in the 2nd class, entitles Gunner Smith, to wear the " Battalion Badge." ' . ' ■• The Oamaru Rifle Company, having no Rifle Range, have not gone through their practice. The High School Cadet Company has made marked progress, when allowance is made for the boys who have left the school during the year, and who have joined other Companies. The North. Dunedin Company have not practised, being at a great distance from the Rifle Range. They have succeeded in procuring a site for a range in their own district, and I hope to pass a number of this Company through during this year. The increase in the number practised in the Corps has not been so great as I expected. I beg to call your attention to the fact, that it is not necessary for members of Ihe Force to go through their Musketry Practice to qualify them as " efficients, " thus accounting for the want of interest taken in this important branch of their training ; also that there is no inducement for them to practise in the Hythe position, as all the prizes given by the Government are shot for in any position — lying down is therefore preferred. I would offer the following suggestions, with a view to Musketry Practice being considered by the Volunteers as part of their training, also making the Hytlie position more popular in private practice. Ist. That it be necessary for every Volunteer to go through the Ist period 3rd class in the annual course, to qualify for efficiency. J 2nd. That no Volunteer bo permitted to fire for the District Prizes who has not complied with suggestion No. 1. 3rd. That the marksmen be supplied with i the badges laid down in page 51, paragraph 95, of the Volunteer regulations. 4th. That the names of the marksmen be published with the annual return authorising them to wear the badge. If these suggestions were adopted, it would cause greater interest to be taken in the class firing. I am not accusing the Volunteers of want of interest in the movement, or in their shooting ; and when I state that 55,740 rounds of ammunition have been purchased from the Government, and 20,500 from private tradesmen^ tluring the year, at a cost of £266 loa 6d, paid for by the members of the Force, is a proof to the contrary ; it is the position I am advocating.

There is another subject which. I wish, to bring to your notice, that of the firing for the Government Champion Belt ; the manner of selecting representatives has caused in this Province the idea to be entertained that the best men do not go to Wellington to compete, and it ia a strange fact that those who have taken the greatest number of prizes in the Otago Rifle Association and Company matches, have not represented the Province at Wellington. I would, therefore, recommend that the score made in the firing for the District Prizes (which would be in Hythe position, if my suggestions were adopted), be added to the score made in firing for representatives, then take the best twenty total scores, and let them shoot off for places on the sama day, and at the same range. This would not cause a great expenditure of ammunition, and I feel confident it would give general satisfaction.

Tho result, as shown by the Returns, will compare favorably with those of last year, aad when allowance is made for the Oamaru and North Dunodin Companies being without Rifle Ranges, and the great number of recruits, who were not qualified to practise, in the Bruce Rifles and Dunedin Naval, the Force may be considered in a high, state of efficiency.

I trnst you will be satisfied with the general state of the Volunteer Force, and the progress made during the year.