H.—9a

6

Kumaea Eifles. —10th March, 1893. Present: 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 colour-sergeant, 4 sergeants, and 47 rank and file. Absent: 2 rank and file, sick. Uniform. —Scarlet tunics ; black helmets. Arms and Accoutrements. —Snider rifles ; buff belts and slings. Officers. —Captain Davis is, I judge, a painstaking commanding officer, anxious for the wellbeing of his corps. Lieutenant Bain : A good officer ; very willing. Lieutenant Stubbs : A smart young officer, anxious to improve. Non-commissioned Officers. —Excepting the colour-sergeant, not up to the ordinary standard. Men. —Soir.e very fine men; but a much younger and less well set-up class are joining the corps. Turn-out. —There was an excellent muster, only two men being away sick ; but this corps had some twelve men in their band on parade, instead of the five allowed by regulations. The uniform is generally in very indifferent condition, and of many patterns. Drill. —The drill was generally indifferent. There was no knowledge of fire discipline. Neither officers nor non-commissioned officers, except the colour-sergeant, who has been recently appointed, appeared to advantage. Company drill was rendered difficult by the smallness of the hall, which is hired as a drill-hall; but the men did their best. This is a very good shooting corps as regards its team. I found that the expenses of the hall come to about £20 per annum, and the bandi costs a considerable sum, the bandmaster being paid out of the capitation. With such an outlay it is only natural that the uniform should be indifferent. Bach man pays 10s. entrance-fee on joining. The corps could not carry on without such a subscription. Greymouth Naval Aetilleey.—llth March, 1893. ' Present: 1 lieutenant-commander, 1 sub-lieutenant, 1 chief petty officer, 3 petty officers, and 42 seamen gunners. Absent: 1 sub-lieutenant, and 8 seamen gunners. Uniform. —White shirt, straw hats; in excellent order. The men have blue shirts and caps. Arms and Accoutrements. —Snider rifles ; brown belts. Officers. —Lieutenant-Commander Fricker: A good commanding officer. Lieutenant Smith: A smart young officer. Lieutenant Jones : Absent, away from Greymouth. Non-commissioned Officers. —Good. Men. —Clean and well set up, but young. There were nine very young recruits on parade, two of them being under seventeen. Turn-out. —The turn-out was very good, and smart in appearance. Drill. —The drill was on the whole fairly well done. This corps has on charge a 12-pr. E.B.L. gun, with which it never drills. The gun is fairly well kept. I found that a supply of ammunition had been sent as an annual allowance. As already stated, under general remarks re Naval Artillery corps, this is an extremely unwise proceeding, which may at any moment lead to disaster. Band. —The band is composed of five men belonging to the Naval Artillery and five to the Greymouth Eifles. The bandmaster receives £20 per annum from each corps. The drill hall has a debt of £350 on mortgage at 10 per cent. The interest and lighting costs each corps £20 per annum. Gebymouth Eifles. This corps has sent in an application to be allowed to disband; but the action of the commanding officer has not been approved generally by the corps. I met a number of members (20), who expressed the conviction that the corps could be restarted if a good commanding officer could be found. I intimated that I thought it would be unwise of them to place too much hope on their services being retained. Beunneeton Eiples.—l3th March, 1893. Present: 2 lieutenants, 4 sergeants, and 48 rank and file. Absent: 1 colour-sergeant and 1 sergeant. Uniform. —Scarlet tunics, black helmets; in bad order. Arms and Accoutrements. —Snider rifles; brown belts and slings. Officers. —Captain, nil. Lieutenant Tomkies: A good, smart young officer. Lieutenant Armstrong: A young officer. Non-commissioned Officers. —Fair to moderate. Men.- —Good physique. Turn-out. —A very good muster, only two being absent. The appearance was completely spoilt by the oldness and dirtiness of the uniforms, which were also of different patterns, and the fact that seven men were without uniform trousers. The pouch was worn on the right side in front, and the slings were all much too long. Drill. —When commanded by Lieutenant Tomkies the drill was fairly executed, but without any attention to detail; but when Lieutenant Armstrong and some of the non-commissioned officers were in command the drill was absolutely bad. There is no captain. Lieutenant Tomkies, though a very smart young officer, is too young for the command of this corps. The men are nearly all coal-miners, belonging to shifts having certain hours. The drill-instructor visits the corps once a month, finding a fair parade on one month and a very indifferent muster the next month.