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Volunteer Rifles with a Rifle Carbine; that they should be provided with a simple but neat uniform to be worn on special occasions; that they should be trained as far as the time that can be spared by the individuals composing the force will allow, to the practice, and to a small extent, the science of gunnery, with Garrison (runs; and when sufficient progress in the acquisition of these points has been realized, that a certain number of rounds should be allowed annually for expenditure for target practice. The same patriotic feeling that induces so many of the respectable inhabitants of the Province of Auckland with a stake in the country, to enroll themselves as Volunteer Rifles, would, it is presumed, not only bring them forward to be trained for bloodless practice, but draw them to their guns in the face of a daring enemy. Such men have much to lose even in the destruction of property, still more in the deprivation, even though temporarily, of liberty, in the event of an occupation of the country by the forces of a despotic power. Such an event it is to be hoped, may never happen; but without due defences and preparation, this rich and rising Colony may excite a keen desire for its acquisition by the enemies of Great Britain. A body of this kind would render most efficient aid to a small force of regular Artillery, without which, the latter would hardly be able to man one-twelfth of the Garrison Guns proposed to be provided, without leaving a man for the service of Field Guns which might be called into play. (Signed) Thos. R. Mould, Colonel Commanding Royal Engineers. En Approximate Estimate of the probable expense op repairing and renovating the ( iicoiuie.) WORKS AT BrITOMART POINT, AUCKLAND. £ s. d. Revetting the parapets and embrasures of the Battery ... ... 345 0 0 Renewing certain of the unserviceable platforms, 11 in number ... 162 0 0 Constructing a Shot Furnace ... ... ... ... ... 92 0 0 Renovating the earth works of the land front (by prison labor) ... 60 0 0 New Carriage for a 32-pounder Gun, to replace one decayed and unserviceable ... ... ... ... ... 18 0 0 £677 0 0 (Signed) Thos. R. Mould, Colonel Commanding Royal Engineers. (incio»u«.) Memorandum of thb numbers of Guns required for the armament of proposed Coast Defences in New Zealand. Station. Nos. of Nos. of Nos. of 68-Pounder Guns. 32-Po*nder Guns. 24-Pounder Guns. Auckland 10 14 2 Wellington 6 8 6 Lyttelton 6 6 4 22 28 12 To be mounted as follows, the whole of the 68 -Pounder Guns on wood carriages and cast iron dwarf traversing platforms, as also 22 of the 32-Pounder Guns: the 32-Pounder Guns, 6 in No. for Lyttelton, to be mounted on cast iron Garrison Carriages: the 24-Pounder Guns for Auckland, on ■wood carriages with common traversing platforms, and the 24-Pounder Guns for Wellington and Lyttelton, on cast iron Garrison Carriages. With the Guns should be demanded the necessary side arms, a proportionate quantity of small stores of every necessary description, which should be detailed by the Military Store-keeper, and not less than 200 rounds of ammunition with materials for making it up, shot, and proportion say one-fifth of shells, with fuzes of approved description. The following are the lengths and weights of the Guns required. Pounders. feet, inches. cwt. 68 10 10 112 56 11 0 97 32 9 6 56 24 9 6 50 The weights of 56-Pounder Guns are given above in case it should be deemed advisable to send out that class of Gun in certain proportions if there should not be a sufficient number of 68-Pounder Guns disposable. (Signed) Thos. R. Mould, Colonel Commanding Royal Engineers.