H.—36.

1875. NEW ZEALAND.

MR. J.C. SOALL'S PAPER ON PRACTICAL MUSKETRY, (REPORT ON, BY LIEUT.-COLONEL MOULE).

Presented to both Souses of the General Assembly by Command of Sis Excellency.

Lieut-Colonel Motjle to the Chaieman, Public Petitions Committee. Native and Defence Office, Sib,— (Militia and Volunteer Branch,) 29th July, 1874. With reference to the request of the Public Petitions Committee, that I should give my opinion on Mr. Soall's proposed system of musketry instruction, I beg to report as follows:— I have gone carefully through Mr. Soall's papers, and find that his system of instruction has not been properly tested, owing to the impossibility of getting Volunteers to devote sufficient time to it. It has not been proved in any way that it would be an improvement on the present mode of instruction, nor that it would take less time to carry out. Indeed, lam of opinion that the Imperial system, now in use, is both simple and effective; whereas Mr. Soall's plan is not at all clear, and appears to me of a very impractical character. Men in the field would scarcely have time to make use of a " Kange-finder" to ascertain the distance of the enemy, nor to devote to plumbing the rifle in aiming. I fail to see that Mr. Soall has advanced anything worth adopting. I may add that musketry instruction and judging-distance practice have not been carried out in the Volunteer Force of this colony, and for the simple reason that, as already shown, the men cannot afford the time. I have, &c., W. Moule, Lt.-Col. The Chairman, Public Petitions Committee. By Authority: Geobgb Didsbcet, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB7B. Price 3d.]