5

A.—7

instruction and frequent practice, and, although, it is believed that the service will be popular, it is possible that patriotism and esprit de corps may eventually have to be supplemented by increased capitation to keep up the numbers and efficiency of this part of the forces. It should be arranged, if possible, that the Volunteer Coast Brigade men should engage to serve for three years, thus insuring that a sufficient body of trained men shall always be available, and that the labour and cost of training men shall not be lost by their leaving the service when partly trained, or shortly after they have completed their course of instruction. The duties of infantry soldiers are not so difficult as those of the more technical branches, and there is no reason to doubt that the Volunteers of the field force may be made efficient under existing regulations. Possibly some additional time may be needed for training the small part of the force whose duty it would be to serve the field guns. On the Coast Brigade would fall the chief responsibility for the defence of the four principal harbours, and so essential is it that they should be thoroughly trained and practised in their duties, and that all their appliances should be in good working order, that I would recommend that the permanent part of the force should normally be employed solely in their special duties, and that all guards, orderly duties, &c, should be taken by the permanent rifles; and, even further, I would recommend that the officers of the Coast Brigade should be given an allowance in lieu of servants, so that none of the men should be taken off their proper duties. In considering the estimates for the current year, I have noticed that there is a store establishment at Auckland, which may be very much reduced ; the bulk of the military stores may be kept at Wellington. A number of other items evidently admit of reduction to meet the revised organization I have proposed. This organization with its probable cost is given in the annexed approximate estimate, from which it will be seen that the normal annual expenditure may safely be reduced from its present amount, £99,748, to about £72,332, showing a saving of about £27,416. I would observe that it is very important that the four officers in command of the Coast Brigade at the principal ports should be thoroughly instructed technically, and I would recommend that eventually they should be Imperial officers, selected either from the artillery, engineers, or the navy, and in any case trained both in artillery, submarine mining, and torpedo service. Probably it would be necessary to give higher salaries to secure the services of really competent and thoroughly-trained men; but on their knowledge and energy will depend the safety of the ports. The staff that I have estimated for is, in my opinion, the least that could carry on efficiently the duties of the head-quarters office at present; but when the works of defence are completed the officer superintending the designs and construction of the works will no longer be required; and the services of a special officer to instruct in the use of the Whitehead torpedoes may also be dispensed with when a certain number of the Coast Brigade have been trained in this duty. No saving can, however, be counted on corresponding with these reductions, as the Imperial officers recommended eventually to be employed must doubtless be paid higher salaries than those estimated for. The education of all ranks of both the Permanent and Volunteer Forces is of the greatest importance. The standard of requirements will be highest for the officers of the permanent Coast Brigade; but all the officers and non-commissioned officers of all branches of the defence forces should be thoroughly instructed in their special duties, and in the general knowledge of military matters, which is essential to the efficiency of all soldiers. The soundness of their knowledge should be rigorously tested by examination on the lines already laid down in the regulations. The Staff Officer of Education will conduct and superintend the education and examination, assisted by the staff of instructors; and to give due weight to the examinations and confidence in their results they should be conducted by a Board having for its president the Commander of the Forces, the Staff Officer for Education being a member of the Board and its Secretary. This staff officer will need at first to train his assistants, and to establish an uniform system of instruction, which should include not only the details of drill required for simple military movements, and the use of the several weapons, but also tactics, the usages of war, and elementary field fortification. For the field force a practical knowledge of these simple elements will suffice ; but the Coast Brigade, having to deal with an enemy afloat, will require instruction of a different nature. They must be acquainted with the usages of war, and with marching drill, but their special training must have reference to the coast artillery, the submarine mines, and the torpedoes, which they will have to serve. This instruction must be given by the Officers Commanding the Coast Brigade, assisted by the Instructor in Submarine Mining and Torpedo Service, and by the noncommissioned officer instructors. Probably it will lead to economy and efficiency if, in the first instance, all the non-commissioned officers and men of the Permanent Coast Brigade are trained at Wellington before being sent to their stations. The instruction and the examinations to insure proficiency in these duties must both be practical rather than theoretical. A man may have book knowledge, and be able to write answers to questions, without being practically efficient in his duties. To insure uniformity in instruction and practice, however, and to assist both instructors and learners, the manuals published by authority in England should in all cases be used, and a sufficient supply of them should be obtained. The existing regulations of the Volunteers and Permanent Militia will need revision if the system I have recommended be adopted. I have already adverted to the great advantage which would result from the appointment as vacancies occur of thoroughly-trained Imperial officers to fill the appointments of the four majors commanding the Coast Brigade at the four ports, and I would extend this gradually also to the Commander of the Forces and his two staff officers. By this means, if the appointments be for five

1 Training, &c, of , permanent j Coast Brigade. I I

' Store establishj ments.

Economy resulting from revised organization. Officers of Coast Brigade.

Head-quarters staff.

Education and training.

Examinations.

Training of field force.

Training of Coast Brigade.

Books of instruction required from England.

Revision of Regulations. Appointment of Imperial officers to fill vacancies.