H.-19

20

Shooting. The practice this year was better than the previous year, two batteries qualifying for first class, two for second class, and one third, while one battery did not classify. A Battery. The attendance of this corps was not very good, and a great many of the non-commissioned officers and men absented themselves from the gunnery examination, consequently the marks for gunnery are very low; in addition, the standard of general knowledge in gunnery is only fair. The signallers are particularly good, but have not been trained in field-sketching, &c. The range-takers and layers are good and well trained, but the drivers are not as efficient as in other batteries. There were two new officers in the battery, and the corps was not efficient before the camp commenced, but improved very much as a result of its annual training, and obtained a second-class figure of merit for practice, and qualified for B grade. B Battery. This battery has greatly improved since last year. It has the full complement of officers, and fifty-eight all ranks attended the camp. Discipline during camp, excellent. The gunners are smart, and drill well. The battery is below the strength in drivers, and consequently the marks awarded for driving are not high. Gun-layers are good. Range-takers are very good. A telemeter is on issue to this battery. The signallers in this battery are the most efficient of any Field Artillery signallers in the colony. One trumpeter was not trained in semaphore signalling. The shooting of this battery was first class, and the general efficiency of the corps is of a comparatively high standard. D Battery. This battery has been awarded the Challenge Shield for 1905-6. It has the full complement of officers, and sixty-six all ranks attended the camp. The discipline of the corps was very good. . . „ The gunnery was not of such a high standard as in B Battery, the junior non-commissioned officers being weak in imparting drill. The drivers are good. The signallers are efficient, but instruction in field-sketching has been neglected. The gun-laying was particularly good, both at the examination and at the service practice. The battery qualified for first class. E Battery. This battery is efficient, but owing to its practice being so bad it only qualified for B grade efficiency. The attendance was good. Owing to this corps having no drill-shed during the past year its training was necessarily carried out under difficulties, and its efficiency suffered. In all subjects the battery was below its usual standard of efficiency. Signalling instruction had not been systematically carried out. Range-takers failed badly at service practice, although they did fairly well at the examination. The gun-laying was not good. This battery has usually very efficient drivers, but this year they were not up to the standard of former years. . . The discipline of this corps is excellent. The battery was very smart in turning out, and its battery drill was good. .-'.,. It is hoped that now the drill-shed is available for instruction for this corps it will receive more training than hitherto. H Battery. An efficient corps. Discipline good, but battery was penalised for stable routine not being properly carried out, late falling-in on parade, &c. The attendance at camp was very good. The men drill well, but, as in nearly all the batteries, the non-commissioned officers require more training in imparting instruction. If officers were to instruct their own sections more in regard to gunnery, __~ the percentage in this subject would be higher. ' This battery had neglectled signalling previous to the camp, consequently the marks are very low in this subject, otherwise the battery would have qualified for A grade. The range-takers passed a good examination, and were most reliable at service practice (mekometer). ____._____.-• The gun-layers of the corps are very good, although, as the guns are not fitted with telescopic sights, gun arcs, <_c, their examination is very much easier than in 15-pounder B.L. batteries.