H.—9a

8

Turn-out. —The appearance on parade was very satisfactory —clean and smart. Drill. —The drill was good as regards standing gun drill, but there was little knowledge shown of artillery work, and but little instruction appears to have been given. The guns are clean and well cared for, but are useless. The woodwork of the carriages and limbers is fast decaying. Stoke Eifles.—lBth March, 1893. Uniform. —Serge frocks, Glengarry caps; in bad order and ill-fitting. Arms and 'Accoutrements. —Snider rifle; white enamel belts, very old and worn out. Eifles polished with powder and sand-paper. Officers. —Captain Harkness : Capable officer. Lieutenant Ching : Wants application. Non-commisioned Officers.—Fair. Men. —Fair. Turn-out. —Indifferent; spoilt by the uniforms. I was told that the corps was waiting for the adoption of some definite uniform before ordering a new supply. Drill. —Fair under Captain Harkness. The men were steady on parade, and the manual exercise under Sergeant Parker was very well done. Sw r ord-bayonet exercise also well done. In the firing exercise there was a want of discipline. Waimba Eifles.--18th March, 1893. Uniform. —Scarlet tunics, blue facings. Arms and Accoutrements. —Snider rifles, polished with powder; whits enamel belts, old; buff slings. Officers. —Captain Wratt: Capable. Lieutenant Bryant: On leave. Lieutenant Eicketts: Lately appointed. Non-commissioned Officers. —Fair. Men. —A fine body of men. • Turn-cut. —A good muster, but the general appearance was not smart. Drill.— The drill was but moderate under the officers and non-commissioned officers. Nelson Naval Aetilleey Volunteers. —20th March, 1893. Uniform. —Naval Artillery Volunteer uniform, in good order. Arms and Accoutrements. —Snider rifles; brown belts. Officers. —Captain Simpson : Absent from district on leave. Lieutenant Watson : Fair. SubLieutenant Lukins : Absent, sick. ' . Non-commissioned Officers. —Very good stamp. Men. —A very fine body of men. Turn-out. —There was an excellent muster. 'The men were well-dressed and clean, and of fine physique, presenting a very creditable appearance. The manual and firing exercises were well done, as also the physical drill and bayonet-exercise, under the different petty officers; but the other work was generally indifferent under Lieutenant Watson, who told me that he rarely drilled the company. This is wrong. The officers and non-commissioned officers must be given opportunities of drilling the men, otherwise they feel no sense of responsibility. Nelson City Eifles.—2oth March, 1893. Uniform. —Scarlet tunics. Arms and Accoutrements. —Snider rifles ; buff belts. Officers.- —There is no captain. Lieutenant Gray: Not well up in his drill. Lieutenant Alborough : Eecently appointed. Non-commissioned Officers. —Below par, excepting Sergeant Gaynor. Men. —A great number of young recruits. Drill. —The drill was throughout very indifferent; neither of the officers, nor of the noncommissioned officers, excepting Sergeant Gaynor, were able to drill the company. I found this company quite below the standard of the other companies in Nelson. Part of the men live at some distance from the town, and it was evident that they had done but little drill. Nelson College Cadets.—2oth March, 1893. Uniform.— Blue frocks ; Glengarry caps. Arms and Accoutrements. —Snider artillery carbines ; brown leather belts. Officers. —Captain Littlejohn: A very excellent officer. Lieutenant Cooke: Good officer. Lieutenant Gibbs : Good officer. Non-commissioned Officers. —Very good. Cadets. —A very smart body of lads. Twrn-out. —Smart and clean. Drill. —Very good under all the officers and sergeants. The attack formation was done under Captain Littlejohn, and was intelligently worked. This is a very good cadet corps. Westpoet Naval Aetilleey.—lsth March, 1893. Present: 1 lieutenant-commander, 2 lieutenants, 5 petty officers, 44 seamen. Absent: 8 seamen. Uniform. —Naval Artillery. Arms and Accoutrements. —Snider rifles ; brown belts; not well cleaned. Officers. —Lieutenant-Commander Martin: Fair. Lieutenant Gothard : Fair. Lieutenant Carr: Fair. Petty Officers. —Moderate.