3

H.—l9.

The distribution of the Force on the 1st May, 1895, was—

* One major in command, Auckland District. Peemanent Toepedo Coeps. The corps has its depot at Wellington, where more than half the men are quartered, detachments being at Auckland, Lyttelton, and Dunedin. The detachment at Auckland is under an officer, Captain Powell. The other detachments are under petty officers. The work of these detachments is running the Government steam-launches— one at each station—and the care and preservation of the torpedo-boats and submarine mining stores. ' The Volunteer submarine miners are instructed by them. The strength of the detachments precludes any practical work from being carried out in laying down mines, nor could such work be carried out, owing to want of appliances. The torpedo-boat is run at Auckland and Wellington with torpedoes ; but this is not done at either Lyttelton or Dunedin. At Wellington the depot is under command of Captain Falconer. Instruction-work is carried out chiefly in theory. No service mines have been laid out during the past year, and only on five days during the year has any practice in laying out dummy mines taken place. The submarine steam-launch has been employed 196 days for work in other departments. The torpedo-boats are well kept, and the submarine mining equipment in the various stores is well cared-for. The officers and men are as capable as they can be under the circumstances. As is the case with the Permanent Artillery, the District Commanding Officers are not responsible for the Torpedo Corps detachments under their command, and they are generally unaware of the state of their defence under this head. A capable officer is required to be in charge of this corps, to be responsible for its efficient control and for the maintenance of proper equipment. Distribution:—

As it appears probable that for some time no further great strain will be put upon the Permanent Artillery as regards furnishing drafts for the police, it would be advisable for the training of the men to be lengthened to include a course in submarine mining. The value of the Permanent Force would be greatly enhanced were the two branches combined into one corps, all officers and men, except actual specialists, being trained to the working of the guns and of the submarine mines. It is very unlikely that the guns will be required for use at the actual commencement of hostilities, and therefore, during the time from the declaration of war to the actual arrival of a hostile ship in our waters the Permanent Artillery would be available for laying out the mine defences were they previously trained for such work. Similarly, after the mine-field has once been laid out a certain number of the Permanent Torpedo Corps would be available for the service of the guns,

Gunners. CO a '3 c3 o 03 o 3 CO .2,-8 CD CO CO H O "Si CD 02 CO a 03 bo o CO IS o o o CO CD c3 a o ffl CO .a. § © < a si pq <) CO CO o CO rH CO CO o >o 3 cq 03 CO O u CO a O P4 15 o Auckland Wellington ... Lyttelton Dunedin *1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 7 1 1 2 3 3 4 5 3 3 4 4 4 2 5 19 24 8 12 38 54 21 30 i l "s 1 i Total strength ... *3 1 1 1 3 6 l 3 11 12 15 15 63 8 143 Establishment ... 3 1 1 1 i 4 4 4 4 12 I ! 27 30 52 144

6 p u 4a CO H rtf c3 CD r3 CD . I 1 00 a 'a is a o ■fi a a § a" cc 09 U CD O sa o >, 4= © CQ CD CD | so 9 H CO I O o O 15 o O O n3 a CO "3 O o O CD CD a 03 a . C3 CO go Torpei CO CO cS 6 ifel a IM lo-me: a o o PM a O CO a '3 +=, 03 O CO EG O U CO 3 o H Auckland Wellington Lyttelton Dunedin 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 4 2 1 2 3 6 "2 5 17 2 1 1 16 33 5 8 Total strength 2 1 3 1 1 4 4 9 11 25 1 62 Establishment 2 1 1 4 1 2 6 14 18 15 64