H.—lsa

Keturn of the Strength of tlie Volttnteer Force, and How Armed— continued.

* Hot armed.

. Enclosure 1 in No. 1. Colonel Lyon to the Under Secretart for Defence. Sir— Cambridge, 16th July, 1879. I have the honor to forward my report of inspection of the Thames Volunteers for the information of the Hon. the Defence Minister. The Thames District comprises one company of Engineers, one Scottish Battalion of three companies, one of Eine Bangers, one Native Company and Naval Brigade, two companies of Cadets—one attached to the Scottish and the other to the Naval. Annexed is a state showing the number of each company at inspection parade. I inspected each company separately on the evenings of the 7th, Bth, 9th, and 10th of April. In consequence of want of space (my inspections being held in the Public Hall), there was no possibility of drilling the several companies, further than proving them and putting them through the manual and platoon exercise, which were in general satisfactorily performed. I carefully examined the arms and accoutrements, which were in good order. I was unable to see the Naval Brigade at gun practice, being obliged to leave earlier than I intended, in order to be back in YVaikato in time to make arrangements for the review to be held at Hamilton on Easter Monday. The Thames Volunteer's are particularly zealous, and take a great amount of interest and pride in all volunteer matters. I had heard much about them, especially the Scottish and Naval Brigade, and

5

Snider: 0a« Ar: .et as. District. Corps. U fl c Q O 4fl o3 fl -4_> — 3 7* d q © _J 3 — J_ 3 02 aci - 3 V JDQ fl _i —; < 05 a a •Jl OD S-. to 'm fl pq o QQ u Q> -—i O :- B a u H - a S3 an M a 3 «3 Tr 5 H to O h _ D - | - 5 A- - Q M a _ s, i NJ ... 3 .- 3 tn o a 5! O OQ H 'a* o g '3 C3 _ I. — 5 Dunedin — contd. City Guard Rifles ... North Dunedin Bifles South District Eifles No. 1 Waikari Rifles No. 2 Waikari Eifles Bruce Bifles East Taieri Bifles ... West Taieri Eifles ... Clutha Bifles Waikouniti Rifles ... Portobello Eifles ... Dunedin Naval Port Chalmers Naval No. 1 City Guard Cadets High School Artillery Cadets High School Bifle Cadets ... North District School Cadets South District School Cadets Middle District School Cadets Tokoinairiro Cadets Normal School Cadets Waikouaiti Cadets ... Sandy mount Cadets* Dunedin Naval Cadets Port Chalmers Naval Cadets... l l l l l l l l l l i l i i i l l l l 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 J I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i i i i i 6 o 4 E •1 3 4 5 4 3 4 5 8 3 5 •I 4 5 5 2 7 4 3 5 4 l l i l i i i 108 59 45 47 41 48 56 38 63 49 56 94 65 38 70 50 93 47 91 54 90 36 47 81 34 119 68 52 57 48 54 64 45 71 55 63 103 77 44 78 57 100 55 100 59 100 41 53 88 42 J" 81 77 100 67 55 SO 57 60 46 73 39 50 49 50 2 100 44 49 39 85 40 ... i 1 1 1 1 80 80 i i Invercargill Staff G Battery Artillery K Battery Artillery Garrison Band Invercargill Rifles ... Biverton Bifles Artillery Cadets l l l l l l l 2 1 1 1 1 i l i l "i l "4 6 3 5 f, 5 i i 2 47 58 26 51 68 82 3 55 69 29 61 76 91 80 75 57 40 Lake ... Staff Arrow Bifles Queenstown Bifles ... Cromwell Eifles Queenstown Cadets Arrow Cadets* l i l i i i l i 2 71 60 73 38 33 66 47 60 60 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 j ... 5 <; 8 2 ■•1 ) 1 2 62 50 60 34 26 20 Weslland ] Staff 1st West—nd Bifles Greymouth Bifles ... Hokitika Cadets ... Greymouth Cadets ... 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 3 i 46 2 57 51 14 41 121 50 i ib ir, 60 5