DEFENCES AND DEFENCE FORCES OF NEW ZEALAND, ANNUAL REPORT ON THE (BY COLONEL F.J. FOX, NEW ZEALAND MILITIA, INSPECTING OFFICER).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1895 Session I, H-19

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1895. NEW ZEALAND.

DEFENCES AND DEFENCE FORCES OF NEW ZEALAND, ANNUAL REPORT ON THE (BY COLONEL F.J. FOX, NEW ZEALAND MILITIA, INSPECTING OFFICER).

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

To the Honourable the Peemieb and Defence Ministeb. Sib — I have the honour to forward herewith my report on the defences and defence forces of the colony for the year 1894-95, which I trust may be found satisfactory. I have, &c, Pbancis J. Pox, Defence Office, 29th July, 1895. Colonel, N.Z.M.

GENEEAL EEPOET. Since I had the honour of making my last report, the defence of the colony has been much improved, and active steps are being taken at the present time to complete the defence in so far as is considered necessary as regards armament, works, and submarine mines. The efficiency of the forces is being dealt with and improved. Two thousand Martini rifles have been received in the colony, and the remaining rifles and carbines to complete the proposed equipment, now under order, should be in the hands of the forces within a year. Arrangements have been made for the supply of small-arm ammunition of proper quality made within the colony. The remaining necessities—the supply of appointments, accoutrements, renewal of campequipment, and completion of stores—are receiving due consideration. A conference of officers was called together in September by the Hon. the Defence Minister for the purpose of recommending to the Government any changes in Volunteer and defence matters which the conference might consider necessary, and for altering the Volunteer Begulations as might be deemed advisable. As a result new regulations have been promulgated, and amendments required in the Defence Act will be submitted. New clothing regulations have been compiled. Sound recommendations have been submitted to, and approved of by, the Hon. the Minister. The capitation grant has been increased to £2 10s. per efficient man, very much to the benefit of the Volunteers. The new regulations provide for the better organization of the Volunteer Force by banding the various companies of the districts into battalions of infantry and brigades of naval artillery. A much-needed want —the provision of handy manuals of musketry instruction, and of drill for mounted rifles and naval artillery—has been met. Lieut.-Colonel Newall, New Zealand Militia, commanding the Wellington District, Captain Coleman, New Zealand Militia, and Staff Sergeant-Major Eichardson, Eoyal Artillery, have been respectively associated with the production of these manuals, and have done excellent work. Staff Sergeant-Major Eichardson is now preparing a handy field-artillery manual. It remains for a proper organization to be completed for each district, under competent headquarters control, when a scheme of defence can be prepared by which the defence of the colony may be brought into effect on emergency arising. Such a scheme is absolutely necessary. "Without it the defence cannot be efficiently conducted. It is also necessary that better infantry instruction should be provided. The officers require instruction in tactics, elementary field fortification, and military topography. I hope that these two very urgent necessities, and the supply to the infantry and mounted rifles of means for carrying a proper amount of ammunition in the field, will be soon remedied. Under the heading of the " Permanent Forces " I have made certain recommendations, which I hope may receive favourable consideration. It is to be regretted that a generally very satisfactory report is marred by the fact that in the Auckland District ony 59 infantry capitated during the last Volunteer year, which was extended by two months. The fact has to be faced that there is no efficient force for the defence of Auckland. The guns and submarine mines cannot be relied upon unless they are protected by an efficient infantry force. I— H. 19.

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DEFENCES. (1.) WOBKS AND AEMAMENTS. Auckland. —(l.) The Bastion Port is nearly completed. (2.) Work has gone on at the electriclight installation. (3.) A 64-pr. gun has been mounted. (4.) Eepairs and other slight work have been effected. (5.) Two 6in. B.L. guns have been sent Home for strengthening. Wellington. —(l.) One Bin. B.L. gun has been mounted. (2.) Eepairs and small work have been effected. (3.) Arrangements are being made for altering Port Ballance, and for mounting one 7in. E.M.L. gun. Lyttelton. —(l.) Fort Jervois has been completed to original design. (2.) Eepairs have been made. (3.) Two 6in. B.L. guns have been sent Home for strengthening. Dunedin. —(l.) Eepairs have been effected. (2.) One 6in. B.L. gun has been sent to England for strengthening. The ammunition for the heavy guns is deteriorating very seriously from age; the fuses are generally unreliable, and the powder is fast losing its strength. (2.) Submaeine Defence. The "Ellen Ballance" has been fitted for laying E.C. mines. Stores have been received from England which improve the value of this defence. Some further stores are required for Wellington. Considerable work has to be done at Auckland; the necessary arrangements are being made. (3.) Tobpedo-boats. Beyond the fact that the boats and equipment are two years older than when I last reported, there has been no change.

PEEMANENT FOECES. Peemanent Abtilleey. This force is divided into four so-called batteries. Each battery has one officer attached to it, two of which are majors, one a captain, and one a lieutenant. A third major is borne on the strength, Major Goring. He is in command of the Auckland District, but also is practically the Battery Commanding Officer. The strength* of the batteries varies from 55 at Wellington to 21 at Lyttelton. The officers in command of these batteries appear to correspond direct with the Defence Office, the District Commanding Officer being ignored; the result being that, except in the case of Lieut.-Colonel Goring, the District Commanding Officers are not aware of what is going on as regards their Permanent Artillery, nor of the condition of their defences. For instance, they are not officially aware of the fact that the 6in. B.L. guns in an un-chase-hooped state are dangerous to fire, and consequently are not to be depended on for defence ; nor do they know that the powder is rapidly deteriorating with age ; nor that the fuses are generally unreliable, and not to be depended upon. This results from want of organization. They understand that the Permanent Forces and the defences are under the direct control of the Defence Office, and that they have no responsibility as regards those forces and defences. They are not aware of the number of men required to man the works, and therefore are ignorant of the numbers which are deficient in their districts. Under these circumstances, on an emergency arising they would be absolutely unable to organize their defence. The Wellington Battery is the depot of the force. Eecruits are there trained and clothed, and on the completion of their training they are drafted to the various other batteries to fill vacancies caused, in the main, by transfer of gunners to the police. The number of men so transferred during the past yearf has been 36. This is an abnormally large number. The fact results that it has been necessary to send untrained men from the depot to the outlying batteries, in which it is very difficult for them to be trained, owing to the almost impossibility of getting gun detachments together for drill. In some cases it has been necessary to send men not fully trained to the police. As a setoff to this draining of the Permanent Artillery, 100 policemen have been put through a course of gunnery during the year, and the experience shows that the men who were trained previously to their being drafted to the police are to be relied upon as gunners on emergency. This is very satisfactory. As regards drill and theoretical knowledge the non-commissioned officers and trained gunners are excellent, but as regards practical work they are ignorant. They have not sufficient practice, and most of them have rarely, if ever, fired at a moving target. I find that at the different stations there are small differences in detail of drill, consequent generally on a want of uniformity as regards certain fittings and alterations, which have not been made in the same way at each station ; and at some stations alterations have been carried out and not at other stations. The uniform of the Force is not the same throughout, nor are the rules as to discipline. There is no officer in the position of Officer commanding the Permanent Artillery, responsible to the department for the uniform carrying-out of work and of regulations.

* Taken on Ist May, 1895. f Prom Ist January, 1894, to Ist May, 1895.

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The distribution of the Force on the 1st May, 1895, was—

* One major in command, Auckland District. Peemanent Toepedo Coeps. The corps has its depot at Wellington, where more than half the men are quartered, detachments being at Auckland, Lyttelton, and Dunedin. The detachment at Auckland is under an officer, Captain Powell. The other detachments are under petty officers. The work of these detachments is running the Government steam-launches— one at each station—and the care and preservation of the torpedo-boats and submarine mining stores. ' The Volunteer submarine miners are instructed by them. The strength of the detachments precludes any practical work from being carried out in laying down mines, nor could such work be carried out, owing to want of appliances. The torpedo-boat is run at Auckland and Wellington with torpedoes ; but this is not done at either Lyttelton or Dunedin. At Wellington the depot is under command of Captain Falconer. Instruction-work is carried out chiefly in theory. No service mines have been laid out during the past year, and only on five days during the year has any practice in laying out dummy mines taken place. The submarine steam-launch has been employed 196 days for work in other departments. The torpedo-boats are well kept, and the submarine mining equipment in the various stores is well cared-for. The officers and men are as capable as they can be under the circumstances. As is the case with the Permanent Artillery, the District Commanding Officers are not responsible for the Torpedo Corps detachments under their command, and they are generally unaware of the state of their defence under this head. A capable officer is required to be in charge of this corps, to be responsible for its efficient control and for the maintenance of proper equipment. Distribution:—

As it appears probable that for some time no further great strain will be put upon the Permanent Artillery as regards furnishing drafts for the police, it would be advisable for the training of the men to be lengthened to include a course in submarine mining. The value of the Permanent Force would be greatly enhanced were the two branches combined into one corps, all officers and men, except actual specialists, being trained to the working of the guns and of the submarine mines. It is very unlikely that the guns will be required for use at the actual commencement of hostilities, and therefore, during the time from the declaration of war to the actual arrival of a hostile ship in our waters the Permanent Artillery would be available for laying out the mine defences were they previously trained for such work. Similarly, after the mine-field has once been laid out a certain number of the Permanent Torpedo Corps would be available for the service of the guns,

Gunners. CO a '3 c3 o 03 o 3 CO .2,-8 CD CO CO H O "Si CD 02 CO a 03 bo o CO IS o o o CO CD c3 a o ffl CO .a. § © < a si pq <) CO CO o CO rH CO CO o >o 3 cq 03 CO O u CO a O P4 15 o Auckland Wellington ... Lyttelton Dunedin *1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 7 1 1 2 3 3 4 5 3 3 4 4 4 2 5 19 24 8 12 38 54 21 30 i l "s 1 i Total strength ... *3 1 1 1 3 6 l 3 11 12 15 15 63 8 143 Establishment ... 3 1 1 1 i 4 4 4 4 12 I ! 27 30 52 144

6 p u 4a CO H rtf c3 CD r3 CD . I 1 00 a 'a is a o ■fi a a § a" cc 09 U CD O sa o >, 4= © CQ CD CD | so 9 H CO I O o O 15 o O O n3 a CO "3 O o O CD CD a 03 a . C3 CO go Torpei CO CO cS 6 ifel a IM lo-me: a o o PM a O CO a '3 +=, 03 O CO EG O U CO 3 o H Auckland Wellington Lyttelton Dunedin 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 4 2 1 2 3 6 "2 5 17 2 1 1 16 33 5 8 Total strength 2 1 3 1 1 4 4 9 11 25 1 62 Establishment 2 1 1 4 1 2 6 14 18 15 64

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I have to draw attention to the fact that no provision is being made for filling up vacancies in the ranks of the officers in the Permanent Force. These vacancies must occur, and it is most . necessary that trained officers should fill them. These officers should belong to the colony, should receive their first instruction in the colony, and, if found capable, be sent to England for courses in gunnery and submarine mining. If found incapable they should be replaced. Eighteen months' training in the colony and eighteen months' training in England should produce officers technically capable. A further training as district staff officers in the colony, in addition to their technical work, should make them capable of filling such vacancies as may occur. Such appointments should be open to public competition, a certain qualifying standard being requisite, especially in mathematics. Candidates should not be more than twenty years of age.

VOLUNTEEBS.* (1.) Cavaley and Mounted Eifles. There are three cavalry corps and ten mounted rifle corps in the colony. All the corps do the same drill, and are instructed as mounted rifles. They are generally well horsed ; but, while in some there is uniformity in appointments, cleanliness, and smartness, in other corps there is nothing of the kind—consequently there is a wide difference in the value of the corps. The Otago Hussars is deserving of the highest praise. The Canterbury Yeomanry, Alexandra Cavalry, Hawera Mounted Eifles, and North Otago Mounted Eifles are very good corps. The Heretaunga Mounted Eifles has improved very considerably. A manual of mounted infantry drill is now in the press. Its issue will be of very great benefit. Great credit is due to Captain Coleman for its compilation.

Distribution.

(2.) Naval Aetilleey Volunteebs. This Force is divided into two distinct branches— A. Affiliated to the works of defence. B. Purely infantry companies. The work done by the A branch in artillery and submarine-mining work is very considerable, being much more than that of any other branch of the Volunteer Force. The companies are, in general, worthy of much commendation, the Wellington Navals being most praiseworthy. I cannot speak too highly of the value of this company, possessing three excellent officers and 65 highlytrained men. The Dunedin, Petone, and Ponsonby Navals also do excellent work. Each man of * The strength as shown in these tables js as at the end of the Volunteer year.

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District and Corps. Officers. Men. Qualified for Capitation. Unqualified. Kemarks. Auckland— Waiuku Mounted Eifles South Franklin Mounted Eifles Te Awamutu Mounted Eifles ... 3 3 3 57 57 43 41 35 19 25 46 Bad. Indifferent. Bad. Total ... 157 76 90 Wellington— Alexandra Cavalry ... Wairoa Mounted Eifles Heretaunga Mounted Eifles ... Hawera Mounted Eifles Manawatu Mounted Eifles 3 2 2 3 2 55 49 40 68 49 48 43 31 38 35 10 8 11 33 16 Very good. Fair. Good. Very good. Good. Total ... 12 261 195 78 Canterbury— Canterbury Yeomanry Canterbury Mounted Eifles 4 2 69 51 61 32 12 21 Very good. Good. Total ... 120 93 33 Otago— Otago Hussars North Otago Mounted Eifles ... 3 3 58 60 55 52 6 11 Excellent. Very good. Total ... 118 107 17 Nelson, &c.— Marlborough Mounted Eifles ... Indifferent. 48 51 Grand total, 13 corps 36 704 471 269

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this branch receives a yearly grant of £1 provided he attains a certain degree of proficiency. The money so expended yields a valuable return. A manual of garrison artillery drill has been published. It will be of great benefit to the officers and men. Staff Sergeant-Major Eichardson, .E.A., has devoted much time and labour to this manual, which is an excellent one.

Distribution of Branch A.

The work done by the B Branch of the Naval Artillery is that of rifle companies. A wise decision has been arrived at in allowing these corps a certain time within which they must become infantry companies, and become absorbed in the battalions about to be formed. The Bluff and the Nelson Naval Artillery Companies are very excellent infantry companies; the Thames, Westport, and Timaru Companies are very good.

Distribution of B Branch.

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District and Corps. Officers. Men. Proficient. Qualified for Capitation. Unqualified. Bemarks. Auckland— Auckland Navals Ponsonby Navals Devonport Navals 3 3 4 87 87 83 30 56 9 82 87 8 3 87 Good. Very good. Good. Total 10 257 95 169 98 Wellington— Wellington Navals ... Petone Navals 3 3 95 71 65 48 84 65 14 9 Excellent. Very good. Total 166 113 149 23 Canterbury— Lyttelton Navals Good. 65 14 59 Otago — Dunedin Navals Port Chalmers Navals 3 3 72 77 47 32 69 76 6 4 Very good. Good." Total 149 79 145 10 Grand total, 8 corps ... 23 637 301 522 138

District and Corps. Officers. Men. Capitated. Unqualified. Remarks. Auckland— Thames Navals 70 68 4 Very good. Wellington— Wanganui Navals Napier Navals 2 3 63 49 63 50 2 2 Very good. Good. Total 112 113 Canterbury — Timaru Navals 79 66 15 Very good. Otago— Bluff Navals... Oamaru Navals 4 3 97 58 98 59 3 2 Very good. Improved. Total 155 157 Nelson, &c.—• Nelson Navals Greymouth Navals Westport Navals 3 3 2 60 52 64 61 55 58 2 Very good. Moderate. Very good. "8 Total 176 174 10 Grand total, 9 corps ... 24 592 578 38

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(3.) Field Aetilleey Volunteees. The batteries of this branch of the service are armed with different field guns, some being good, some serviceable, and others quite unserviceable. The 6-pr. E.B.L. guns and the 12-pr. E.B.L. guns are useless, and the batteries armed with them are therefore not to be relied on. The officers, noncommissioned officers, and men of such batteries are trained theoretically, but can have no practical training. No battery has its complement of service ammunition in charge, nor the means of carrying it. Hitherto the instruction has been in pure drill and in theoretical work. Taking them all round each battery has shown very great interest in that work, and a very great improvement has been made. The batteries armed with guns with which it is safe to practise are in a perfectly fit state to have regular practice, provided that it is carried out under supervision. A start has been made in this direction. No attempt has been made in training the batteries in field movements. This is wise. The role of the field batteries will be that of guns of position, only requiring horse-power to move the guns from one selected position to another. The batteries have suffered very much from the want of a handy manual of drill and equipment. Staff Sergeant-Major Eichardson, who is an excellent instructor, is now preparing such a book.

Distribution.

(4.) Gaekison Aetillbey. There is only one battery of garrison artillery in the colony—the N Battery, at Lyttelton. The work required from this battery is of the same nature as that required from the A Branch Naval Artillery Volunteers, and it should be absorbed into that branch of the Volunteer Service. The Naval Artillery uniform is popular, inexpensive, and well adapted for coast-defence work. District and Corps. Officers. Men. Proficient. Capitated. Unqualified. Remarks. Canterbury— N Battery ... ... ...- 2 52 13 32 22 Improving.

District and Corps. CO © I o ■a . 0 !Xj ccCD jtj -g a '§• | o t> Guns. CO u CD £ *3 CO a o 60 cS Remarks. mckland — A Battery 80 81 2 4 9-pr. E.B.L. ... Nil Very good. 3 Vellington— D Battery F Battery ... 2 3 58 45 59 42 1 6 4 6-pr. Nord. 4 6-pr. E.B.L. ... 4 4 Personnel good; materiel useless. // U Total ... 5 103 101 7 Janterbury— C Battery E Battery ... 2 2 56 57 50 46 8 13 3 9-pr. E.B.L. ... 4 9-pr. E.B.L. ... 3 4 tt Good. tt Total ... 4 113 96 21 )tago— B Battery G Battery 3 3 57 52 49 52 11 3 4 9-pr. E.B.L. ... 4 12-pr. E.B,L. ... 4 Very good. Personnel good; materiel useless. Good. It It I Battery 3 48 40 11 3 9-pr. E.B.L. ... 3 Total ... 9 157 141 25 Jelson — H Battery 3 6-pr. E.B.L. ... Personnel good; materiel useless. 3 52 52 3 Grand total, 9 batteries ... 24 505 471 58

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(5.) Engineers. There are two corps which are trained as field companies. The Dunedin company is a very good one; the Christchurch company good.

(6.) Infantry. It is with pleasure that I am able to report that I have generally found amongst the infantry companies in the Wellington, Canterbury, Otago, and portion of the Nelson Districts a very distinct improvement as regards their knowledge of drill and field-work. I am sorry that I cannot report any improvement in the infantry of the Auckland District or in the corps of the Westland Subdistrict. In the latter I found the officers and men belonging to the various companies most anxious to learn, but unable to do so owing to inefficient supervision. The bringing of this subdistrict under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Pitt, V.D., will, I feel certain, have an excellent effect. The condition in which I found the Auckland infantry companies I have already reported confidentially upon, and I need do no more in this report than state that they were quite inefficient at my inspection, and that there is practically no infantry force to be relied on for the defence of Auckland. The instruction and example as to smartness set by some of the instructors leaves much to be desired. If all the corps were well instructed, and had a smart example set to them, they would be capable generally of doing anything that was required of them. The esprit of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men is, as a rule, most excellent. They have generally worked hard to improve, and have done so. In the Canterbury and Otago Districts, and in Nelson and Marlborough, there are several officers of field rank who take the greatest interest in the Volunteer movement; but in the remaining districts officers in that position do very little. This is much to be regretted. Ido not here refer to Volunteer officers who are permanently employed. The rifle companies are being gradually armed with Martini-Henry rifles, and arrangements have been made within the colony for the supply of small-arm ammunition. This is very satisfactory. There is at present no organization beyond that of the so-called corps, which is in reality a company, and should be made part of a battalion. A battalion organization is provided for in the new regulations, and should be enforced in each district. The infantry always has been and must remain the base of any force. No artillery and submarine defence can be relied on unless that defence is supported and protected by infantry. It is therefore necessary that the infantry force of the colony shall be made effective as regards its organization, its equipment, and its capability. The force is being efficiently armed; it remains for it to be efficiently organized, commanded, and instructed. The uniforms of the various corps vary both in pattern and in quality : it will be of great advantage when the whole of the corps are clothed alike. I wish specially to commend the following companies—Wellington City Eifles, Wanganui Bines, Kaiapoi Eifles, Christchurch City Guards, Timaru Eifles, Dunedin City Guards, and Invercargill City Guards; while many other companies have improved very greatly since I last inspected them.

Distribution.

District and Corps. Officers. Men. Capitated. Unqualified. Remarks. Canterbury— Christchurch Engineers 64 62 Good. Otago— Dunedin Engineers 78 65 15 Very good. Total, 2 companies 142 I 127 20

Companies. I Officers. Men. Qualified for Capitation. Unqualified. Auckland District Wellington District Canterbury District Otago District ... Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland Districts 4 9 9 11 9 25 19 31 183 506 544 572 59 484 497 491 133 47 66 112 10 26 545 528 43 Grand total ... 43 110 2,350 2,059 401

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VOLUNTEEES. DISTEICT EEPOET. (1.) Auckland Disteict. I regret that I am obliged to report that the Volunteer Force in this district is, as regards the mounted rifles and rifle companies, very inefficient, and far below the necessary strength. There are only four infantry companies in the district. None of these are efficient, the Hamilton company being the worst. Of these companies only 59 received capitation, and 15 of these were recruits. Of the three mounted rifle companies only 76 received capitation. These companies are much behindhand as regards their knowledge of drill and field work. The instruction in infantry work has been very indifferent. It has been improved by sending Sergeant-Major Instructor Carpenter to Auckland. Great improvement has been made in the Auckland and Ponsonby Naval Artillery, and the Ponsonby company is now quite a good one, having 56 well-trained men in its ranks. The Devonport Navals have been raised, during the year. The A Battery has very much improved, and ranks with the best field batteries in the colony as regards the capabilities of its officers, non-commissioned officers, and men. The instruction in artillery work is good. Lieut.-Colonel Goring, commanding the district, is a very energetic and capable officer. Major Banks, late 12th Lancers, has been most good in giving his services voluntarily in aid of the Volunteers.

Inspection of Volunteer Corps in Auckland District.

T3 © OM '8 fl ■ CO 03 CD §§a ■SH 53 ao o 'I o Auckland District. o a o CD CD Oj CO a H < o a <M O •a "3 CD 43 ca "3 a 13 CD X! "3 a CJ< a Remarks. to CD O o lounted Eifle Corps — Waiuku Mounted Eifles 57| 60 51 41 19 This corps is inefficient. Little or nothing was known of drill or field work. This corps is inefficient. Nothing was known of drill or field work. This corps is inefficient. No proper camp was held. Te Awamutu Mounted Eifles South Franklin Mounted Eifles 3 43 46 33 46 3 57 60 39 35 25 Total ... 9 157 166 123 76 90 laval Artillery— A. Auckland Navals ... Ponsonby Navals ... Devonport Navals ... 3 3 4 87 87 83 90 90 87 45 75 70 82 87 8 3 87 This is a good corps. A very good corps. Lately formed. Promises well; at present inefficient. A good infantry company. I was unable to inspect it this year. B. Thames Navals ... 2 70 72 72 68 4 Total ... 12 327 339 262 237 102 'ield Artillery— A Battery 3 80 83 66 81 2 This is a very good corps as regards officers, non-commissioned officers, and men. lifle Companies— Victoria Eifles Auckland City Eifles ... Hamilton Eifles Te Aroha Eifles 3 3 1 2 50 39 47 47 53 42 48 49 38 29 34 35 29 30 53 42 19 19 This corps is inefficient. This corps is inefficient. Most inefficient. This corps is not efficient, but pro» mises fairly well. Total ... 9 183 192 136 59 133 i ___ Grand Total 33 747 780 587 453 327

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(2.) Wellington Disteict. The cavalry and mounted rifle companies are generally in a satisfactory state, and have considerably improved since I last reported. The Alexandra Cavalry and Hawera Mounted Eifles are very good. There are four naval artillery companies. The Wellington Navals is a most excellent Volunteer company. It is affiliated to the heavy guns, and possesses 65 very well-trained and 30 partially-trained men. The Petone Navals is a very good company, having 48 well-trained and 23 partially-trained men. The Wanganui and Napier Naval Companies are purely infantry companies. The D Battery is armed with 4 6-pr. Nordenfeldt field-guns. It is the most efficient of the field batteries in the colony. The F Battery has 6-pr. E.B.L. guns, which are useless. The officers, non-commissioned officers, and men take great interest in theoretical work, but cannot be given any practice. There are nine rifle companies in the district. A very general and considerable improvement has taken place since I last inspected. More infantry instruction is much needed. Sergeant-Major Finn is very capable, and a very hardworking instructor. The Taranaki, Wanganui, and Napier Districts have been absorbed into the Wellington District, under Lieut.-Colonel Newall, who is a very hardworking and good officer. Major Wood, who is in charge of the Napier Sub-district, is a very good officer, taking much interest in his work. Major Ellis does what he can to further Volunteer interests.

Inspection of Volunteer Corps in Wellington District.

Wellington District. M CD O <a o © ■il • W <f CD •a m 8 ~ft O CD'S o o a , sa« ao O i "3 o En '3< I ° m S a I -3 m csr <J c3 ■ O* ■a © 3 "3 a CJ 1 a P Remarks. Cavalry and Mounted EiflesAlexandra Cavalry Wairoa Mounted Eifles Heretaunga Mounted Eifles Hawera Mounted Eifles Manawatu Mounted Eifles 3 2 2 55 49 40 58 51 42 50 30 24 48 43 31 10 8 11 A very good corps. Pair. Good. 3 2 68 49 71 51 41 36 38 35 33 16 Very good. Good. i _ Total ... 12 261 273 181 195 78 Slaval Artillery— A. Wellington Navals ... Petone Navals B. Wanganui Navals ... Napier Navals 3 3 2 3 95 71 63 49 98 74 65 52 82 62 54 41 84 65 63 50 14 9 2 2 Excellent. Very good. Very good infantry company. Good infantry company. i j Total ... 11 278 289 239 262 27 ?ield Artillery— D Battery F Battery 2 3 58 45 60 48 53 40 59 42 1 6 Very good. Good theoretically and at gun drill. The battery is, however, useless, the guns being unserviceable. Total ... 5 103 108 93 101 7 infantry Companies— Eoyal Eangitikei Eifles... Wellington City Eifles ... Wanganui Eifles Taranaki Eifles Napier Eifles ... Palmerston North Eifles Manchester Eifles Wellington Guards Hastings Eifles 3 2 3 ; 3 I 3 3 3 3 2 56 64 60 57 48 60 52 63 46 59 66 63 60 51 63 55 66 48 44 63 63 50 48 56 51 42 44 57 61 63 59 48 60 47 54 35 2 5 1 3 3 8 12 13 Very good. Very good indeed. Very good indeed. Good; much improved. Much improved. Good. Good. Good. Improving. Total ... 25 506 531 461 484 47 Grand Total 53 1148 1201 974 1042 159 This is a very excellent rei iresent at inspection. 2—H. 19. iord. About 84 er Ci int. ci ipitated. About 81 per cent, were

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(3.) Cantebbuey Disteict. The Canterbury Yeomanry is a very good corps ; much improved since I last reported. The mounted rifle company is improving. The Lyttelton Navals and the N Battery Garrison Artillery are much improved. They are affiliated to the heavy guns, but still have very few men who have qualified as gunners. The Timaru Navals is simply a very good infantry company. The C and E Batteries possess good knowledge theoretically and at gun drill, but practical work is much needed. They are armed with 9-pr. E.B.L. guns. Neither battery has any service ammunition on charge, nor is there any means of carrying any except in the limbers. The Canterbury Engineers is a good company, but has rather gone backwards. The nine infantry companies have generally improved, the Christchurch City Guards and the Timaru rifle companies being very good. The district is fortunate in having Majors Slater, Moore, and Francis amongst its Volunteer officers. No difficulty should be experienced in forming a battalion. Lieut.-Colonel Gordon, commanding the district, works well. The infantry instructors are good.

Inspection of Volunteer Corps in Canterbury District.

This is a very good record. The total strength of corps at my inspection was 856, of whom 811 were present. Eighty-four per cent, earned capitation.

13 © ui CD O Cd" o o a ■ m d fiO o a o CD © a, CO a M 'a cs Canterbury District. EG U CD O o "3 o EH 8a «+H O T3 "3 CD 43 eg "3 a <y "3 © ta "3 a en s P Remarks. < Cavalry and Mounted EiflesCanterbury Yeomanry ... 69 73 61 61 12 Very good. I was unable to inspect this corps during its training this Christchurch Mounted Eifles Total ... 2 51 53 33 32 21 year. Good. 6 120 126 94 93 33 Naval Artillery— A. Lyttelton Navals ... B. Timaru Navals 1 2 65 79 66 81 48 67 59 66 7 15 Good; much improved. Very good as an infantry company. Total ... 3 144 147 115 125 22 Field Artillery — C Battery E Battery 2 2 56 57 58 59 50 45 50 46 8 13 Good; wanting practical knowledge. Good; wanting practical knowledge. Total ... 4 113 117 95 96 21 Garrison Artillery— N Battery 2 52 32 22 Improving. 54 44 Engineers — Canterbury Engineers ... 3 64 67 39 62 5 A good company. Eifle Companies— Christchurch City Guards Temuka Eifles Ashburton Eifles Christ's College Eifles ... Christchurch City Eifles Timaru Eifles Kaiapoi Eifles Waimate Eifles Eangiora Eifles 3 2 2 3 1 2 2 2 2 65 48 60 62 63 77 74 47 48 68 50 62 65 64 79 76 49 50 52 45 65 40 38 63 54 38 29 62 46 61 53 50 64 73 43 46 6 4 1 12 14 15 3 6 4 Very good. Fairly good. Good. Good. Good. Very good. Very good. Fairly good. Fairly good. Total ... 19 544 563 424 498 65 Grand Total 37 : 1037 : 1074 811 906 168

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(4.) Otago Disteict. The Otago Hussars is one of the best bodies of Volunteers that I have ever met. The North Otago Mounted Eifles is a very good company. The Dunedin Naval Artillery is very good indeed, having 47 well-trained and 25 partiallytrained gunners. The Port Chalmers Naval Artillery is very much improved, and has 32 welltrained and 45 partially-trained men in its ranks. The Bluff Naval Artillery is an excellent infantry company ; and the Oamaru Navals has very considerably improved as an infantry company. There are three field batteries in the district. Of these, B Battery is as good as can be expected. The G and I Batteries have improved very much in their knowledge of gunnery. All are deficient in practical knowledge. G Battery is armed with 12-pr. E.B.L. guns, which are unserviceable. B and I Batteries have 9-pr. E.B.L. guns. There is no service ammunition on issue, nor is there the means of carrying it. The Dunedin Engineer Company is in a very good state of efficiency. Considerable improvement has been shown in the majority of the infantry companies, of which there are eleven in the district. Several are, however, inefficient in their strength and knowledge. The Bruce Eifle Company did not capitate last year, being below its minimum strength. The East Taieri, Naseby, and Eiversdale Eifle Companies did not attend the Easter Camp, and the Kaitangata Company was represented by seven men. The infantry instruction in this district is very much behindhand. Sergeant-Major Towler is good, but the other instructors are useless. With good instruction the Volunteers would much improve. They have shown that they are desirous of learning. The Oamaru and Southland Districts have been absorbed into the Otago District, under Lieut.-Colonel Webb. I feel certain that the corps in those districts will benefit thereby. Lieut.-Colonel Webb is a very excellent officer. Majors Callan, Headland, and Smail, and Captain Milne and Quartermaster Mclndoe, are very good officers. A battalion can easily be formed in this district, and Lieut.-Colonel Webb has already taken steps in that direction.

Inspection of Volunteer Corps in Otago District.

Otago District. T5 13 © a a cs .3 m tn a '!« ° £ a cd Soft o o CD m d •4=» 'S, a o •21 43 13 o3 © 43 S Is a <y © "3 "3 a a* a P Remarks. 03 u CD o o "3 o Cavalry and Mounted BiflesOtago Hussars North Otago Mounted Eifles Total ... • 3 3 58 60 61 63 57 53 55 52 6 11 Excellent. Very good. 6 118 124 110 107 17 Naval Artillery— A. Dunedin Navals 3 72 75 40 69 6 Very good indeed. Seen at camp at gunnery. Good ; very much improved. Very good indeed as an infantry company. Seen at Easter Camp; did capital work. Much improved as an infantry comPort Chalmers Navals B. Bluff Navals 3 4 77 97 80 101 64 53 76 98 4 3 Oamaru Navals 58 61 60 59 2 Total ... 302 15 pany. 13 304 317 217 Field Artillery— B Battery 3 57 60 31 49 11 Very good as regards its officers, non-commissioned officers, and men. Practical work necessary. Personnel good; materiel useless. Detachment seen at Easter Camp. Improved very much. Practical work very necessary. G Battery 52 55 18 52 3 3 I Battery 3 48 51 49 40 11 Total ... 9 157 166 98 141 25 Engineers — Dunedin Engineers 2 78 80 64 15 Very good indeed. 65

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Inspection of Volunteer Corps in Otago District —continued.

A very creditable return, marred by a few companies. About 85 per cent, capitated. Note. —Owing to the lateness of the season I inspected several corps of this district at the Easter Camp. It is impossible for corps to muster so strongly at camp as at their homes. (5.) Nelson, Maelboeough, and Westland Disteict. The Marlborough Mounted Eifle Company is not up to the standard. There are in this district three Naval Artillery companies. They are purely rifle companies, of which the Nelson and Westport are very good. There is one field battery, armed with 3-6-pr. E.B.L. guns. The guns are useless ; there is no ammunition for them. Theoretical knowledge is fair; practical knowledge nil. Of the ten rifle companies, those at Nelson and the Blenheim Eifles are good ; but the Westland companies are very much behindhand. This is generally not the fault of the officers and men, who as a rule appear to be keen to become efficient. A bad system has hitherto prevailed, which will be put an end to now that Lieut.-Colonel Pitt is in charge of the whole district. Competent supervision has been much needed. Lieut.-Colonel Bonar has done much for volunteering in the past. He is not, however, able to exercise that supervision which is necessary in the command of a sub-district, and the various companies under him have suffered in comparison with those companies which are more looked after. The practical examination of the officers has been allowed to become simply a form, and the subaltern officers of several of the companies are never given an opportunity of commanding their men on parade. The want of a drill-hall at Greymouth has severely handicapped the two companies belonging to that place. The drill-hall at Blenheim is too small for any company to drill in. At my inspection the Blenheim City Eifles had no officer and only one sergeant present. Majors Franklyn and Eogers take much interest in volunteering. Captain and Adjutant Littlejohn is a most excellent officer. Quartermaster Coleman is a good officer, taking great interest. Sergeant-Major Instructors Healy and Benning are capable instructors. The honorary officers of Nelson take quite an exceptional interest in the volunteering work. Lieut.-Colonel A. Pitt, V.D., who commands the district, is a most excellent officer.

Otago District. ■S'2 © a a c5 o 'to a co a g« I s O CD rt *a ra a o 4-3 c CD Ph on a H <! © © a i ;a a 2 * a -3 a, c3 c3 c 3*» a <y | P Remarks. on N CD a o o EH Eifle Companies— Eiverton Eifles 2 46 48 19 42 6 Seen at Easter Camp. A poor muster; work done good. Very good indeed. Seen at Easter Camp. I think this company will improve. Indifferent. The company was not at Easter Camp. Very good. Seen at Easter Camp; smart and well turned out. Very good indeed. Seen at Easter Camp; did capital work. Very good. Not seen. This corps did not attend Camp. Fair. This company had only 7 men at Easter Camp. Seen at Easter Camp. Good work done. The company has considerably improved. Not seen. This company did not attend Easter Camp. Dunedin City Guards ... 3 67 70 27 61 9 Bruce Eifles ... East Taieri Eifles 3 3 30 48 33 51 31 34 36 33 15 North Dunedin Eifles ... 2 64 66 42 63 3 Invercargill City Guards 3 70 73 40 73 Dunedin Highland Eifles Naseby Eifles... 3 3 63 45 66 48 54 61 28 5 20 Kaitangata Eifles 3 45 48 31 46 2 Gore Eifles ... 3 49 52 19 45 7 Eiversdale Eifles 45 48 31 17 Total ... 31 572 603 297 486 117 Grand total 61 1229 1290 786 1101 189

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Inspection of Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland, District.

Medical Depaetment. A numbee of gentlemen of the medical profession give their time and frequently spend their money freely for the benefit of the Volunteer Force. In many of the companies and corps a proportion of the men are instructed in ambulance work, but in others nothing of the kind is attempted. There is no system of organization, and none is attempted except during Easter Camps. Surgeon-Major De Latour, Principal Medical Officer, Otago District, does more in the way of organization than I have found in other districts. There was no medical officer at the camp at Kaituna, in the Canterbury District. It is fortunate that no serious consequences resulted. No artillery practice should be carried out unless a medical officer is present. It has been reported to me that medical officers attending camp and taking medical comforts for the benefit of the men in camp have frequently to bear the expense thereof, being unable to recover the amount. This is not right, and very possibly was the reason why no officer went to the Kaituna Camp. They are justified in arguing that it is useless their going without medicines, and, although perfectly willing to go, they do not feel called upon to expend their own money in supplying medicines. Cadet Coeps. The following return shows the various cadet companies in the colony, with their strengths, and the amount of allowance paid to each during the past year. The Wanganui Collegiate School Cadets, the Wellington College Cadets, the Nelson College Cadets, the Kaiapoi Eifle Cadets, the Queen's Cadets, and the Dunedin High School Cadets are very good companies.

'elson, Marlborough, and Westland District. •a is © a a c3 ■i-a ■ <M CO a co o M CD CD h cfi :a 3 "3 43 O EH d o CD & CQ a M c3 O ©•a © 43 ca "3 a <y 13 © 9 "3 a en a P Remarks. CO © o o Mounted Eifles— Marlborough Mounted Eifles 48 51 32 51 Moderate; shows signs of improvement. Naval Artillery— (B.) Nelson Navals Greymouth Navals 3 3 60 52 63 55 56 42 61 55 2 A very good infantry company. This company has gone back; there was no drill-shed. A very good infantry company. Westport Navals ... 2 64 66 47 58 8 Total ... 8 176 184 145 174 10 Field Artillery— H Battery Eifle Companies — Westland Eifles Nelson City Eifles Stoke Eifles ... Blenheim Eifles Waimea Eifles Kumara Eifles 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 52 70 49 47 71 48 57 55 73 52 49 74 51 60 42 61 52 38 63 48 50 52 63 44 35 70 43 57 3 10 8 14 4 8 3 Fair knowledge of theoretical work; no practical knowledge. The guns are useless. Fairly good; has improved slightly. Much improved. Much improved. This will be a very good company. Much improved. Has improved. The subaltern officers never have a chance of drilling the company. There was no drill-shed. I was obliged to inspect in the dark. The company did fairly well. No officer; only one sergeant present at inspection. This company is in a very unsatisfactory state. No improvement. No improvement; a bad spirit exists in this company. Greymouth Eifles 55 57 51 57 Blenheim City Eifles ... 48 51 34 51 Brunnerton Eifles Totara Eifles ... 3 1 51 49 54 50 36 20 54 49 i Total ... 26 545 571 453 523 48 Grand total 40 821 861 672 749 112 87 per cent, capitated.

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The St. John's College Cadets, the New Plymouth School Cadets, the Blenheim School Cadets, the Christ's College Cadets, the Christchurch High School Cadets, the Palmerston South High School Cadets, and the Tokomairiro High School Cadets are good companies. The remainder of the cadet companies which I have inspected during the past year are not up to the standard of the above companies. In most cases the work done was simply setting up and recruit drill. There are in all thirty-seven companies of cadets, and the difficulty of instructing such a number of companies is very great. It would be extremely beneficial if all the companies could be raised to the same state of proficiency as those reported upon as being very good. Several applications have Been received from Auckland for the formation of cadet companies. If there is a reasonable prospect of such companies receiving good instruction it would be wise to form them. Indifferently-instructed cadets are worse than useless, as they from the commencement get into slovenly and careless habits.

Return of Cadet Corps, showing Strength, and Amount of Annual Allowance paid each Corps, on the 28th February, 1895.

District. Corps. Strength. Allowance paid. Auckland ... East Coast Taranaki ... St. John's College Eifle Cadet Volunteers Napier High School Naval Artillery Cadet Volunteers ... New Plymouth School Eifle Cadet Volunteers ... Wanganui Collegiate School Eifle Cadet Volunteers Wanganui Boys' Public School Eifle Cadet Volunteers ... Masterton School Eifle Cadet Volunteers Wellington College Eifle Cadet Volunteers Mount Cook School Eifle Cadet Volunteers Nelson College Eifle Cadet Volunteers Westport School Eifle Cadet Volunteers Blenheim Borough School Cadet Volunteers ... Tuamarina School Cadet Volunteers ... Christ's College Eifle Cadet Volunteers Christchurch Boys' High School Cadet Volunteers Kaiapoi Eifle Cadet Volunteers Queen's Eifle Cadet Volunteers Timaru High School Cadet Volunteers Temuka District High School Cadet Volunteers Oamaru High School Cadet Volunteers Oamaru North School Cadet Volunteers Oamaru South School Cadet Volunteers ... Waitaki High School Naval Cadet Volunteers ... Palmerston South High School Cadet Volunteers Union Street School Cadet Volunteers Normal School Cadet Volunteers South District School Cadet Volunteers ... Arthur Street School Cadet Volunteers Outram School Cadet Volunteers Dunedin High School Cadet Volunteers Lawrence District High School Cadet Volunteers North-east Valley School Cadet Volunteers Albany School Cadet Volunteers Tokomairiro High School Cadet Volunteers George Street School Cadet Volunteers Balclutha School Cadet Volunteers ... Invercargill Middle School Cadet Volunteers ... Woodlands School Cadet Volunteers ... 55 40 42 106 44 51 49 62 61 43 60 24 56 60 46 40 46 47 47 48 47 43 47 65 62 51 81 45 53 50 60 62 39 69 50 50 41 £ 20 Wanganui ... 15 20 20 it • • • Wairarapa... Wellington 20 20 20 it •' • Nelson „ ... ... Marlborough 20 North Canterbury... „ ... it South Canterbury... a ... Oamaru If ... ... If • • • tf . - . ... Dunedin ... 20 20 20 20 15 10 15 20 20 20 20 10 10 10 10 Disb. 20 20 10 10 20 10 // ... ... „ a • • • ... ... u .- . ... It • • • ■ • ■ Southland ... ' 15 „ ... ...

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EEPOET ON WOEK DONE BY THE DEFENCE FOECES DUEING EASTEE ENCAMPMENTS, 1895. I have the honour to report as follows on the work done by the Defence Forces at the camps held during Easter holidays, 1895 : — Camps were organized, in the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago, and Nelson Districts. In the Auckland District there was one camp, at Devonport, in which camp the whole Force of the district was ordered to assemble. In the Wellington District there were four separate camps:—(A.) At Mahanga Bay, under Major Messenger, Permanent Artillery, in which camp were assembled all the available Permanent Artillery and the men of the Wellington and Petone Naval Artillery affiliated to the working of the heavy guns. (A 2.) At Shelly Bay, also under command of Major Messenger, in which the available men of the Torpedo' Corps and the men of the Petone Naval Artillery affiliated to submarine-mining work were assembled. (B.) At Feilding, where the whole of the cavalry, mounted infantry, infantry, and naval artillery not affiliated to the heavy guns were assembled. The four Nelson corps, under Lieut.-Colonel Pitt, V.D., commanding the Nelson District, were also ordered to this camp, and, as Lieut.-Colonel Pitt, V.D., is senior to Lieut.-Colonel Newall, the command of the Force devolved on him. (C.) At Island Bay, where the D Battery was ordered to carry out a course of practice. In the Canterbury District there were two camps:—(A.) At the forts protecting Lyttelton Harbour, where the available Permanent Artillery, Submarine Mining Corps, Lyttelton Naval Artillery, and N Battery Garrison Artillery were assembled, under Major Sir A. P. Douglas, Bart., Permanent Artillery. (B.) At Kaituna, where the whole of the cavalry, mounted rifles, field artillery, infantry, and naval artillery corps not affiliated to the heavy guns, and the engineer company were assembled, under Lieut.-Colonel Gordon, commanding the district. In the Otago District there were four camps :—(A.) At Taiaroa Heads, where the Permanent Artillery, Torpedo Corps, and Dunedin and Port Chalmers Naval Artillery were assembled, under Captain Morrison, Permanent Artillery. (B.) At Waitati, where the naval artillery not affiliated to the heavy guns, the engineer company, and the infantry companies were assembled, under command of Major Callan. (82.) At Waikouaiti, where the Otago Hussars and North Otago Mounted Eifles were assembled, under Captain Chaffy, North Otago Mounted Eifles. (C.) At Warrington, where three batteries of field artillery were assembled for practice, under Captain Eice. In the Nelson District, at Greymouth, where the Westland corps were assembled, under Lieut.-Colonel Bonar, V.D. The numbers assembled in these various camps were :■ —

Note. —The Thames Naval Artillery, the Te Awamutu, Waiuku, and Marlborough Mounted Rifle Companies, the Blenheim and Blenheim City Rifles, and the P and H Batteries were not ordered to camp The strength of these corps is not included. Three companies—the Riversdale, East Taieri, and Naseby—did not attend the camp, and one—the Kaitangata—was represented by seven men. All corps ordered to attend camp were warned that unless half the minimum strength attended the corps would be disbanded.

'resent in Camp. Absent. 'otal. Perr E. lanent >rce. Vol' F( mteer irce. Perm; Foi anentl Vol' rce. Fi mteer Permanent Force. Volunteer Force. irce. District. Camp. 03 U O) CD ■& o a' © 03 95 CD CD sa o a © CO CD a o © S3 5-( CD CJ se o a © 03 CD ° a sa | 03 N CD O o a © Auckland... Devonport 44 28 392 157 44 31 549 Wellington j Mahanga Bay 1 Shelly Bay ... Feilding Island Bay ... 1 1 6 30 30 15 1 3 2 55 1 49 18 803 41 51 46 284 12 1 1 6 30 30 15 1 3 3 62 1 100 64 1,087 53 "i 7 Total 8 76 61 911 393 76 69 1,304 Janterbury Lyttelton Harbour Kaituna 1 2 20 3 2 38 63 495 1 3 34 366 1 2 20 3 3 41 97 861 Total 23 40 558 400 23 44 958 Otago Taiaroa Heads Waitati Waikouaiti ... Warrington ... 1 2 30 6 6 28 6 6 54 399 76 70 13 90 421 48 88 1 2 30 6 6 41 6 8 144 820 124 158 "i 2 "i Total 37 46 599 15 647 3 37 61 1,246 elson Greymouth ... 16 256 117 19 373 Grand total 19 181 191 2,716 33 1,714 19 181 224 4,430

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The camps were held with the object of testing the defence of the four chief ports, and of ascertaining the value of the defence forces. Orders were issued for this purpose. I regret that in the Auckland District the result was very unsatisfactory. In the Wellington District there was an excellent muster of infantry and mounted rifles at Feilding, and of the D Battery at Island Bay, but all work was prevented by continuous rain and gales. In the Canterbury District there was a good muster of field artillery, infantry, and mounted men at Kaituna. Very good work was done for the first thirty-six hours, but after that such bad weather prevailed that nothing more could be attempted. Very excellent work was done by the Otago Volunteers, but three companies did not attend camp. From the reports of the officers in charge I find that generally it was found impossible for the majority of the men of the naval artillery companies to remain in camp during the encampment. In consequence of the representations of their officers, who stated that unless the men were allowed to leave on Saturday they would lose their means of livelihood, a number of men were allowed to leave. It was therefore impossible to keep the guns in readiness. It is with very great satisfaction that I am able to report that the conduct of the Volunteers at each camp was excellent. The men in camp in the Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago Districts experienced the most inclement weather and the most trying circumstances. Those who were in camp at Feilding were all late in returning to their homes, the Nelson contingent not reaching that town until the Sunday after Easter. Under the circumstances, all ranks showed an excellent spirit; and it is most satisfactory that a strong desire to help the Government, in making no demand except for actual food, was evident. It is also most pleasing to note that the employers recognised that the difficulty was one for which their men could in no way be blamed, and .that they at once took their men on again. From my personal observation in the Otago District, I am satisfied that a great step forward has been made. Officers and men were most keen and anxious to learn their work and to go through any hardships. ' The outpost line defending Dunedin was held by day and by night during rain and hail without a murmur. The march of the mounted men from Waikouaiti, starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning, pitching their camp at Warrington at 5 p.m., reconnoitring the defending outposts at 10.30 p.m., and, after an arduous night-march, attacking and penetrating the defending line at daybreak on Sunday, was an excellent piece of work. Approximate Cost of Taper. —Preparation, not given; printing (1,450 copies), ,£l3 15s. By Authority: Samuel Costall, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB9s. Price 6d.]