H.—9a

12

Very satisfactory work done. It is much to be regretted that in this district no other corps went into camp. I feel certain that good work would have been done by the Otago Hussars and North Otago Mounted Eifles had they been brought together. Also the battery could have had useful work in a camp of its own in the vicinity of Dunedin. It appears that the country corps would have had great difficulty in getting to Dunedin and back to their homes, using the ordinary train-service. Special trains run through on Thursday and Monday nights would have obviated this difficulty. Amongst the Bifle Corps in Dunedin there is but little enthusiasm. This can hardly be wondered at when a corps like the Irish Eifles is allowed to exist after an adverse report had been made on it.

AUCKLAND. Kohimarama Camp.

It is to be observed that the Auckland City Corps, excepting the Naval Artillery and the A Battery, turned out very indifferently. The work done in camp was satisfactory. The conduct of the men is reported to have been excellent. The "Wairoa Eifles, on whom I have reported badly and recommended should be disbanded, did not attend camp.

NELSON. Richmond Camp.

The men of the Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland Districts were concentrated at Eichmond, near Nelson. An excellent muster of all corps, excepting the Marlborough Mounted Eifles, which corps did not attend. The work done was satisfactory, and the conduct of the men very good. Lieutenant-Colonel Pitt reports that there was much want of knowledge of the attack formations, and that it appeared that the Westland corps had never been together or worked in battalion drill.

Corps. Officers. Officers. Privates. Total, Staff Waiuku Cavalry Te Awamutu Mounted Eifles South Franklin Mounted Eifles ... Auckland Navals Ponsonby Navals Thames Navals A Battery Engineers Victoria Eifles Newton Eifles Garrison Band " • ■ • ... i ... i ... J ... J 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 4 6 3 3 6 5 7 6 4 5 4 30 22 27 34 31 29 30 20 15 20 19 3 37 31 32 39 3!) 36 39 28 22 27 23 Totals 92 57 294 380

Corps. Officers. N.C. Officers. Men. Total Nelson. Staff ... kelson Navals ... Westport Navals I Battery kelson City Eifles 5toke Eifles iVaimea Eifles ... College Cadets ... 7 2 2 4 3 4 2 2 7 5 6 7 5 5 9 44 37 32 29 31 32 46 9 53 ii ■ii 39 38 41 57 Mablboeough. 3 2 7 6 44 44 54 52 Blenheim Eifles ... Blenheim City Eifles ... ' Wbstland. 5-rey mouth Navals st Westland Eifles iumara Eifles 3runnerton Eifles ?otara Eifles 4 3 3 2 2 5 6 7 4 6 54 34 39 42 34 63 43 49 ■48 42 Totals ... 45 87 542 674