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.