VOLUNTEER FORCE OF NEW ZEALAND (REPORT ON).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1885 Session I, H-04a

H.—4a

1885. NEW ZEALAND.

VOLUNTEER FORCE OF NEW ZEALAND (REPORT ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Commander of the Colonial Forces to the Hon. the Defence Minister. Sir,— Defence Office, Wellington, 30th June, 1885. I find, from returns in the Defence Office on the Ist April, 1884, the force of the Volunteer organization of the colony amounted to 4,313 of all ranks, exclusive of cadets, 1,334 in number. The apparent imminence of hostilities with Eussia produced throughout New Zealand a demonstration of military enthusiasm; and, as no other organization except the Volunteer existed, or could he, in the state of the law, created at a moment's notice, the Government accepted the offers of 37 additional corps, to organize themselves for defence purposes. The offers of services were so numerous that, about the Ist May, the Defence Minister was compelled to use some caution in accepting the services of more corps than then existed. The arms available in the colony—old, new, and inferior—scarcely amounted to 11,000 Snider rifles in all, and, in addition to the Volunteer force, the Armed Constabulary and permanent force had to be provided for. There are now about 8,000 men of all ranks in the colony serving in the various Volunteer corps, "which number 130 in all, exclusive of 1,592 cadets. It is hardly necessary to point out that a force so subdivided is much more difficult to train to oppose a civilized enemy than one organized upon the model of other armed forces in civilized countries; but the Volunteers are themselves sensible of this, and at all stations are desirous of being organized for drill and administrative purposes on a more efficient system. In accordance with that desire, and with a view to uniformity of system and facility of combination, I have, during the short time I have been intrusted with the command, taken the following steps : — At Dunedin and Christchurch an administrative rifle battalion has been partly officered, and at Wellington one major has been appointed, with a view to creating such a battalion, or wing of a battalion, at this place. At Auckland at least one battalion will be formed; but I have not yet been able to ascertain what officers are at once competent to discharge the duties, willing to accept that honorary position, and likely to possess the confidence of the men. In dealing with a purely Volunteer force every one of these considerations must be carefully attended to. In a general way each battalion of six companies requires, in addition to its company officers, one lieut.-colonel, two majors, and one adjutant. As yet, all that have been appointed are two majors and one adjutant at Dunedin, one major and one adjutant at Christchurch, and one major at Wellington. Until the new corps are clothed, armed, and taught the elements of company drill, it is not necessary to make permanent battalion arrangements. At Auckland, where, perhaps, there is a larger choice of officers who have seen service in the Imperial and Colonial forces than elsewhere, I anticipate no difficulty in completing the battalion organization. The Field Artillery has for many years been organized as a regiment, with the best results. The Naval Artillery Volunteers at every port are a credit to the colony and a very favourite branch of the Volunteer force. With your permission, and at their own wish, I have incorporated the several corps into a single one; and henceforward I think the Naval Artillery will prove very valuable in carrying out our coast defences. Hitherto they have not had the encouragement which it soon will be possible to give them when the machine-guns, torpedoes, and torpedo-boats are all available for their training, as well as the guns of the permanant fortifications. I gather from the officers of all the corps of Naval Volunteers that they are very anxious to acquire the necessary knowledge to use these new implements of war efficiently; but, before such dangerous substances as submarine explosives are used oven for practice, and before the torpedo-boats can be prudently used much in our harbours, some precautions in the shape of accommodation must be completed, and certain experts must be engaged; and the steps to secure these requisites, there being no immediate necessity for haste, will be better done if a little time is devoted to doing it properly and selecting suitable persons. I—H. 4a.

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With regard to the organization of the whole force, a great deal requires to be done before it can be regarded as a reliable one for all conceivable occasions in which sudden danger has to be met by disciplined force ; but, so long as the present military feeling continues, the most obvious defects of the system will not occasion inconvenience. There is, however, one point on which I desire to say I think great improvement desirable : it is in the training of officers. It is in no way their fault, because hitherto they have had but few opportunities of learning ; but it is a fact that, speaking of the body as a whole, it is not up to the standard that is desirable, nor in proportion to the efficiency of the men. With the assistance of the Government, I hope to be able to enable officers to train themselves better in future. The School of Instruction—now in its infancy here— will, I trust, become of use, and branches at the principal ports follow at no distant time. The state of the law as regards Volunteer and Militia discipline is very defective. If I might suggest, I would propose that steps may be taken to pass an enabling Act to empower the Governor to frame from time to time disciplinary regulations, to have the force of law, which might be drawn up during the recess, and that some Military Discipline Act should be prepared by next session. Happily, the spirit of the Volunteer force has been so good hitherto that few instances have occurred to throw into strong relief the weak points of the system as it now exists. But this could not be relied upon if it were exposed to any strain, nor, perhaps, if the force is continued on its present scale, and if it remains as large as it is now. I desire to bring especially to the notice of the Government that the Field Artillery are still miserably ill supplied with field guns. If three complete batteries were imported, the number, in addition to the old arms now used, would barely afford a demi-battery of guns (three) to each corps. Nothing is more dispiriting to the regiment, which is as fine a body of men as can be desired. As yet I have not had an opportunity of officially inspecting the colonial forces. I have seen the Volunteers who were organized prior to the late augmentation at Auckland (on the Queen's Birthday), at Wellington, and at Dunedin. At the latter place, at 11 p.m., a night alarm, more or less unexpected, was given, and at the points of muster —the drill-shed for the city and suburban corps, and the railway-stations for corps a little distance away—l,os9 turned out from a possible 1,117. I think these figures speak for themselves. All the troops I have yet seen show the same excellent physique, and, to the extent to which they have been trained, a most creditable appearance in their movements on parade. The permanent force is being created chiefly from the ranks of the Armed Constabulary Beserve —a corps which needs no comment of mine to increase its reputation. It is intended to train twenty-five men and an officer as an artillery detachment at each of the ports defended by permanent works. These men have been detailed and distributed, and have begun to learn their duties ab initio, having put up their heavy guns, cleaned them up, and having been continually undergoing training in their use. As the men become efficient they will receive certificates of competence. At Auckland the force there is reported as having passed its preliminary training. At Taiaroa Heads and Lyttelton the men are progressing well, and will be perfected shortly. At Wellington the fortifications have been the most backward; but the men are now being satisfactorily trained in them, and had some prior instruction at Mount Cook. The number of guns at each port could not be served by so small a detachment as it is proposed to place there of the permanent force in time of war. But it is proposed, in such an event, to reinforce the batteries from the Naval Artillery Volunteers, who will be trained to heavy-gun drill as soon as the permanent force is reported efficient. Already some instruction has been given at some of the ports, and the corps are anxious themselves to acquire a knowledge of their work. The Torpedo Corps, of forty men, for the colony will have to be slightly improved in its organization before it can be relied upon to carry out its special duties. But this must be a work of time and selection of men, as only men of special capabilities are of use, and it is necessary to have men of several specialities for the work. Captain Douglas, 8.N., is, however, alive to the importance of this question, and is endeavouring to supplement whatever is wanting in the organization. It is necessary, for instance, to have with each torpedo-boat one intelligent engineer trained to sea-going engines, and several men who have received a sea-training. Arrangements have been temporarily made for occasional working of the torpedo-boats, but their delicate and complicated machinery requires the superintendence of skilled engineers. The Engineer Corps of Artificers will be chiefly employed for some time on the fortifications, which, I gather, it is desired to complete entirely with our own forces and Armed Constabulary. There can be no difficulty in doing this ; although, at all events, for some time we must be dependent on the Bublic Works Department for superintendents and foremen, and perhaps, to some extent, for engineers at times. It is only just to give the Bublic Works Department the highest possible credit for all the assistance it has rendered the Defence Department in constructing the fortifications; and to mention that to Mr. Bell and the other District Engineers the very highest praise should be awarded for the extremely zealous manner in which they have carried out their duties. Not only have they worked all the daylight hours but much of the night during these months, and, while aiding the defence, have kept up their ordinary district duties as well. Their work has been so much in excess of what officers are expected to perform, and their hours have been so many more than, except on such an. emergency, it would be reasonable to ask them to devote, that I trust it may be possible to make some special acknowledgment to these gentlemen. I have the honour to transmit herewith a state of the Volunteer force, as well as a statement of the numbers which, on an emergency, could be assembled at each of the chief ports. I have, &c, The Hon. the Defence Minister. G. S. Whitmore.

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Return of Volunteers to the 30th June, 1885.

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Garrison Corps. District. Cavalry. I Corps. I Mounted «_„__ Infantry.! Col P BArtillery. Cor Ps- Artillery. Corps. rSeS Corps. Country Corps. Corps. Honorary. Corps. Total. Corps. Cadets. Corps. Bines. Auckland Waiuku Waikato Taranaki Patea Wanganui Rangitikei Wellington Wairarapa Napier Poverty Bay Thames 1 1 1 43 63 65 4 306 2 161 1 48 7 498 2 1 95 50 4* 240 21 3 1 2 2 4 9 2 2 1,391 145 65 105 99 273 229 584 210 242 98 115 i 32 - ■• - '48 63 •• "* 50 1 1 55 51 i 31 l i 58 'i 152 64 276 i '63 i - hi ■• -2 1 136 i 62 ,. 2 1 4 1 1 125 53 210 50 48 'it 40 i 3 4 254 213 •• - 63 i l *57 50 .. i *72 i 59 i 56 Total North Island 6 339 1 32 9 622 5 I 1 48 17 1,168 14 280 I 58 3,556 9 330 737 561 l I I I i I Nelson Marlborough Canterbury and South Canterbury Oamaru Dunedin Invercargill Lake Westland 1 1 1 75 '64 59 i 46 1 2 3 1 61 123 63 188 50 1 3 1 2 1 62 197 63 119 64 1 1 49 -69 2 1 8 2 7 1 135 65 599 163 455 73 1 1 5 1 6 1 1 47 42 269 38 275 50 137 53 'it *2 1 33 188 151 41 5 3 24 5 22 6 3 305 140 1,546 327 1,321 337 137 250 1 2 2 4 4 49 114 92 320 367 1 *62 '2 135 •• 2 89 • • • • Total South Island 3 198 1 46 9 547 8 I 505 2 118 j 23 1,625 19 i 4,363 911 413 72 15 1,031 1 I 1 I I I I I I. ] i I j ! i i I ! Total all New Zealand 9 537 2 78 18 1,169 13 835 3 166 40 2,793 33 7,919 1,648 12 693 130 24 1,592 * One Naval Coast Guard. t Mounted Infantry. { One Honorary Eeserve Corps. S One Artillery Corps.

H.^4a.

Return of Volunteers, and how armed, 30th June, 1885.

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District. CorpB. O a c "o D d 3 o 3 "3 | '3 'a I CD 3 QQ QQ si 8 M o CO 'S ■s a 6 I O .3 o ! lideri to .3 O | 1 m o 1.3 3-° O O o F3 CO I I Auckland Waiuku Waikato Taranaki, Wanganui, Patea, and Rangitikei •Staff * Auckland Naval Artillery •Devonport Naval Artillery •Ponsonby Naval Artillery •Onehunga Naval Artillery "Cavalry, Auckland Troop *A Battery Artillery .. *O Battery Artillery 'Engineers •Victoria Rifles "City Guards Rifles •Hobson Rifles *Newton Rifles 'Veteran Rifles •Onehunga Rifles •Poneonby Rifles •Garrison Band fNaval Coastguard •(•College Rifles tQueen's Own Rifles .. "(Gordon Rifles JWhangarei Rifles JCoromandel Rifles •Waiuku Cavalry •South Franklin Mounted Infantry JWairoa Rifles •Staff *Te Awamutu Cavalry •Staff •Wanganui Naval Artillery •Alexandra Cavalry •Wairoa Light Horse •Wanganui Rifles •Wanganui City Rifles "■Royal (Marten) Rifles •Taranaki Rifles 'Garrison Band {Patea Rifles [Manchester Rifles JPalmerston North Rifles JInglewood Rifles (Rangitikei Mounted Rifles Wanganui Collegiate School Cadets Taranaki High School Cadets.. •Staff * Wellington Naval Artillery •Petone Naval Artillery •Heretaunga Cavalry .. *D Battery Artillery •City Rifles .. * Wellington Guards •Wellington Rifles *Ncwtown Rifles •Garrison Band JKaiwarawara Rifles College Cadets To Aro School Cadets Mount Cook School Cadets I Staff {Greytown Rifles JMasterton Rifles JCarterton Rifles JFeatherston Rifles Mastorton School Cadets Greytown School Cadets Carterton School Cadets Featherston School Cadets •Staff •Napier Naval Artillery *F Battery Artillery •Napier Rifles •Volunteer Band JWoodvillo Rifles •Staff *J Battery Artillery .. JCook County Rifles •Staff •Thames Naval Artillery •Thames Rifle Rangers i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i l i l i i l 1 1 1 l l l l l l l 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 '2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 5 4 s 5 5 5 5 3 5 4 5 5 5 5 2 4 5 5 2 i 2 5 's 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 2 4 4 4 4 4 .1 1 I 1 1 l l l l l l i i l 1 1 1 'i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 91 58 53 69 34 69 76 39 62 91 56 51 48 54 53 22 58 56 48 47 42 41 54 43 55 49 54 39 55 54 55 44 22 43 70 39 47 39 54 29 4 100 67 61 78 43 77 84 48 69 100 64 60 57 62 62 24 66 65 56 53 50 45 63 32 50 1 65 2 58 63 48 63 63 64 50 26 51 78 47 55 40 63 31 4 71 65 57 62 65 53 65 63 30 58 109 56 89 2 51 54 44 01 70 40 47 50 1 63 57 57 15 50 2 50 48 1 59 56 60 6S 61 '(34 45 98 71 60 80 80 82 50 59 63 100 63 60 50 *58 50 55 50 48 39 49 "es 62 66 68 50 50 60 51 55 2 68 5 1 1 '62 30 ■Wellington 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 o 5 ;■> 5 7 5 4 3 63 56 48 52 57 46 58 60 28 47 104 55 82 72 64 1 1 1 1 1 1 63 1 "62 66 63 63 60 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 1: 60 25 20 51 2 4 Wairarapa 1 2 1 2 1 2 2 2 2 1 4 4 3 4 5 4 4 4 43 47 37 55 62 39 40 43 50 50 50 58 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Napier .. 10 10 10 10 °2 2 2 1 5 G C 1 4 54 47 47 14 43 1 1 1 1 1 1 60 63 60 Poverty Bay 1 1 2 1 50 1 1 2 2 4 1 43 44 *61 Thames .. 50 2 2 i 4 5 51 48 68 1 1 1 63 * Garrison corps. t Honorary corps. I Country corps.

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Return of Volunteers, and how armed, 30th June, 1885— continued.

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District. Corps. to (D 5 "o o £ § 3 en 3 a CD CO I 02 3 O 03 3 f ■a 1 1 I Q a1 o & lideri <D a Q !>* Q 1 00 O I.S it o to v rS 'o O I I <0 1 Nelson *Staff * Nelson Naval Artillery *H Battery Artillery •City Bifles .. * Stoke Rifles 'Garrison Band JWaimea Rifles JNelson College Cadets 'Staff 'Blenheim Rifles I Spring Creek Rifles tBlenheim Mounted Rifles Blenheim School Cadets Tnamarina School Cadets 'Staff •Lyttelton Naval Artillery 'Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry 'Mounted Rifles .. .. *E Battery Artillery *N Battery Artillleiy .. •Engineers 'City Guards Rifles 'Christ's College Rifles •Christchurch Rifles .. 'Sydenham Rifles 'Scottish Rifles 'Richmond Rifles •Irish Rifles 'Garrison Band Honorary Reserve Corps (Hon. Colonel Brett) fWoolston Rifles {Kaiapoi Rifles Christ's College Cadets High School Cadets 'Staff *Timaru Naval Artillery *C Battery Artillery .. 'Timaru Rifles J Ashburton Rifles JTemuka Rifles JGcraldine Rifles I Wai mate Rifles fAshburton Guards 'Staff 'Naval Artillery *I Battery Artillery •Oamaru Rifles 'Otepopo Rifles •Garrison Band JHampden Rifles High School Cadets North School Cadets South School Cadets Waitaki High School Cadets 'Staff 'Dunedin Naval Artillery •Port Chalmers Naval Artillery 'Peninsula Naval Artillery 'Dunedin Cavalry *B Battery Artillery .. *L Battery Artillery 'Engineers 'City Guards Rifles •North Dunedin Rifles 'Waikari Rifles 'South Dunedin Rifles 'Highland Rifles •Irish Rifles .. *Caversham Rifles 'Garrison Band I South District Rifles tOtago Guards fNaseby Rifles JBruce Rifles JEast Taieri Rifles I Olutha Rifles {Waikouaiti Rifles J Waitahuna Rifles 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 5 6 5 5 1 3 4 1 1 1 1 52 52 52 40 18 40 41 3 Gl 62 61 55 19 47 49 1 65 42 33 88 26 4 63 75 46 62 64 49 50 62 79 79 69 65 71 25 100 63 59 'eo 60 > Marlborough 1 i 1 '2 2 1 1 50 '49 1 1 1 1 1 '2 1 2 2 5 4 57 36 30 80 22 *50 63 38 Canterbury 5 3 8 8 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 4 4 3 5 G 4 ■\ 5 5 5 5 4 K 2 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 55 67 40 53 54 41 42 53 70 70 01 59 62 23 92 112 60 63 61 60 50 63 60 80 63 60 63 60 > 1 1 1 1 [ 1 1 1 2 1 25 100 Canterbury South .. Oamaru 1 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 l 4 5 5 3 4 4 5 5 5 5 3 3 3 3 2 1 1 1 i l i 1 1 1 1 i 46 42 51 30 56 63 96 54 43 46 54 54 69 56 20 31 89 75 84 49 48 50 59 33 2 60 71 99 61 51 54 53 40 2 63 63 78 65 20 38 95 81 90 54 5 64 68 56 64 64 55 69 56 52 60 54 63 80 61 29 52 120 31 42 44 51 48 38 60 50 60 63 64 40 40 50 40 'o0 100 70 50 60 50 100 65 50 30 Dunedin 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 5 5 1 4 5 ■4 5 5 4 4 2 1 55 60 51 50 54 47 60 46 43 52 47 55 74 56 27 46 115 29 34 38 44 40 30 63 63 60 6 63 63 75 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 '(33 6 1 57 63 60 57 63 80 63 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 4 1 2 1 2 2 2 4 4 4 4 4 1 '50 120 39 50 43 44 50 1 1 * Garrieon corp3 t Honorary corps. J Country corps.

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Return of Volunteers, and how armed, 30th June, 1885— continued.

Beturn of Small Arms and Ammunition. Bifles, &c- —In Store and on Issue— Snider (all sizes) —On issue ... ... ... ... ... 8,122 In store ... ... ... ... ... 3,230 Ammunition — Snider—ln store ... ... ... ... ... ... 662,035 Cadet Arms — '■■'Carbines, muzzle-loaders —On issue .... ... ... ... 245 ~ ~ In store ... ... ... ... 4 * For drill purposes only.

Return showing Distribution of Ordnance on 30th June, 1885.

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Distriot. Corps. o 3 1 I '3 -2 O Ef CQ 1 GQ cud pq o £ o o p 3 O E-i I ! 1 lide', 1 o •3. I? 5 a § O B '3 a I o i Ef Dunedin— continued Invercargill Lake North District School Cadets .. South District School Cadets .. Middle District School Cadets Normal School Cadots *Staff .. ■ * Bluff Naval Artillery.. * Southland Hussars *G-Battery Artillery .. *Invercargill Eifles * Garrison Band JEiverton Eifles tIrish Rifles JStafi {M Battery J Cromwell Eifles JArrow Eifles Arrow School Cadets .. Queenstown School Cadets •Staff *Greymouth Naval Artillery .. HVestland Eifles *Greymouth Rifles JKumara Eifles 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 5 5 5 5 2 4 1 1 1 1 1 41 50 55 45 17 42 100 67 100 100 2 50 59 64 54 19 50 41 2 40 47 50 56 33 2 62 70 65 53 66 7 7 56 63 •• ,\ • .. 1 t .. 63 50 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 s 4 4 4 3 1 1 1 33 40 42 49 29 50 I .. 50 49 Westland .. 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 4 4 3 1 1 1 59 62 57 46 k ! i . . i 63 68 50 * Garrison corps. f Honorary cor] is. X Country corps.

Armstrong. Distribution. 40-pr. 12-pr. 6-pr. 24-pr. Howitzers. 7-ton Guns. 64-pr. Guns. 4f Mortars. Iron Guns, various New Zealand Artillery, Auckland „ „ Wellington „ „ Lyttelton „ „ Dunedin .. Armed Constabulary Force, Taranaki Auckland Thames Napier Wellington Gisborne .. .. .. ' Christchurch Timaru Nelson Dunedin Invercargill Oamaru Quecnstown ». 3 3 2 3 8 6 2 3 1 2 2 2 1 2 4. 1 2 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 3 1 1 2 2 4 2 1 1 On issue to Volunteers In store 1 6 10 10 11 19 4 7 13 1 Totala 10 10 11 19 11 u By Authority: Geoege Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—1885.