H.—l9

10

(3.) Cantebbuey Disteict. The Canterbury Yeomanry is a very good corps ; much improved since I last reported. The mounted rifle company is improving. The Lyttelton Navals and the N Battery Garrison Artillery are much improved. They are affiliated to the heavy guns, but still have very few men who have qualified as gunners. The Timaru Navals is simply a very good infantry company. The C and E Batteries possess good knowledge theoretically and at gun drill, but practical work is much needed. They are armed with 9-pr. E.B.L. guns. Neither battery has any service ammunition on charge, nor is there any means of carrying any except in the limbers. The Canterbury Engineers is a good company, but has rather gone backwards. The nine infantry companies have generally improved, the Christchurch City Guards and the Timaru rifle companies being very good. The district is fortunate in having Majors Slater, Moore, and Francis amongst its Volunteer officers. No difficulty should be experienced in forming a battalion. Lieut.-Colonel Gordon, commanding the district, works well. The infantry instructors are good.

Inspection of Volunteer Corps in Canterbury District.

This is a very good record. The total strength of corps at my inspection was 856, of whom 811 were present. Eighty-four per cent, earned capitation.

13 © ui CD O Cd" o o a ■ m d fiO o a o CD © a, CO a M 'a cs Canterbury District. EG U CD O o "3 o EH 8a «+H O T3 "3 CD 43 eg "3 a <y "3 © ta "3 a en s P Remarks. < Cavalry and Mounted EiflesCanterbury Yeomanry ... 69 73 61 61 12 Very good. I was unable to inspect this corps during its training this Christchurch Mounted Eifles Total ... 2 51 53 33 32 21 year. Good. 6 120 126 94 93 33 Naval Artillery— A. Lyttelton Navals ... B. Timaru Navals 1 2 65 79 66 81 48 67 59 66 7 15 Good; much improved. Very good as an infantry company. Total ... 3 144 147 115 125 22 Field Artillery — C Battery E Battery 2 2 56 57 58 59 50 45 50 46 8 13 Good; wanting practical knowledge. Good; wanting practical knowledge. Total ... 4 113 117 95 96 21 Garrison Artillery— N Battery 2 52 32 22 Improving. 54 44 Engineers — Canterbury Engineers ... 3 64 67 39 62 5 A good company. Eifle Companies— Christchurch City Guards Temuka Eifles Ashburton Eifles Christ's College Eifles ... Christchurch City Eifles Timaru Eifles Kaiapoi Eifles Waimate Eifles Eangiora Eifles 3 2 2 3 1 2 2 2 2 65 48 60 62 63 77 74 47 48 68 50 62 65 64 79 76 49 50 52 45 65 40 38 63 54 38 29 62 46 61 53 50 64 73 43 46 6 4 1 12 14 15 3 6 4 Very good. Fairly good. Good. Good. Good. Very good. Very good. Fairly good. Fairly good. Total ... 19 544 563 424 498 65 Grand Total 37 : 1037 : 1074 811 906 168