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68. Permanent Fortifications and Works. No new fortifications or works have been constructed during the past year; those existing are in good order, and well cared for. The main magazine at Auckland, which formerly was badly ventilated, has had a new system of ventilation installed, and is now an excellent magazine. The Wellington main magazine, finished in 1908, has given a good deal of trouble owing to dampness, and is now being overhauled. Intercommunication in the different forts is being improved. A large building, formerly belonging to the Defence Store Department, was moved to Dorset Point, and re-erected for the accommodation of the Garrison Artillery Territorials at that fort. Dorset Point is very exposed, and the shed was found most useful during camp. The work was carried out entirely by the R.N.Z.A. artificers. Many small improvements, too detailed for report here, have been effected at the various forts during the year. 69. Ordnance. (a.) Field Guns and Howitzers. All the 18-pr. Q.F. field guns have arrived and are now in use. Six of the eight howitzers have arrived, four for Palmerston North, which have been issued, and two for Dunedin. When the remaining two howitzers arrive our field-gun equipment will be complete. 15-pr. B.L. oi' 6-pr. Q.F. field guns have been issued to certain colleges and schools. It is hoped that the training thus given to Cadets will be the means of providing good artillerymen in the future. (b.) Mountain Guns. The mountain guns received from England last year were returned, not being up to date. The latest advice received is that we are to be provided with the new 2"75 in. B.L. mountain gun now being issued to the British Mountain Artillery This gun fires a 12i lb. shell, and is mounted on a carriage which embraces all the latest ideas and requirements of modern field guns. The mountain battery is located at Wellington, as it is considered desirable to have mobile Artillery for the defence of the capital. Field Artillery is unsuitable for Wellington owing to the very hilly nature of the peninsula on which Wellington is situated, and to the fact that the only communication, except by rail, between the peninsula and the surrounding country is over steep hills and passes. (c.) Maxim Guns. During the past year thirty-six "303 Maxim guns, Mark 111, with Mark IV tripod mountings, packsaddlery, and stores complete, were received from England. One gun, with packsaddlery and stores complete, has been issued to each of the twenty-nine regiments of Mounted Rifles and Infantry. A supply of tripods is now under order, to be utilized for the conversion of the Maxim guns on carriage mountings previously in the Dominion. When these arrive the Department will be in a position to equip each regiment with two Maxim guns complete. (d.) Ordnance Stores and Ammunition. The annual indents have been put forward and the necessary reserves maintained. I have reported to you separately and confidentially on this subject. 70. The Colonial Ammunition Company. The Colonial Ammunition Company (Limited) is under contract to supply the Defence Department with 4,300,000 rounds '303 in. Mark VI ball ammunition, also 250,000 rounds '303 in. blank ammunition per year. The supply of this ammunition has been well maintained throughout the past year. The company is now in a position, and has machinery and plant available, to turn out 7,000,000 to 8,000,000 rounds ball ammunition annually should that quantity be required, the former-mentioned number of rounds being as stipulated in clause 22 of contract, the maximum supply. All the ammunition supplied during the past year lias passed satisfactory proof test. The question of uniform delivery of cordite, size 3|, for small-arm ammunition has been adjusted during the year, whereby the High Commissioner will place the annual order for 12 tons at one time, instead of ordering quarterly in batches of 3 tons each. By this arrangement it is hoped to ensure a supply of cordite being always on hand, and thereby obviate the difficulty of short supplies, as experienced in the past. 71. Artillery Ranges. No permanent artillery ranges exist in New Zealand. Field batteries shoot over land lent by station-owners or leased by the Defence Department. Fair ranges have hitherto been obtained by these means, but where temporary arrangements of this sort are made, no very elaborate system of targets is possible, and it is not always easy to ensure adequately the safety of the ranges. As the country becomes more closely settled, it will be increasingly difficult to obtain safe ranges. During the past year good ranges were obtained as follows : — Auckland District. —At Morrinsville, on ground lent by J. Starkey, Esq. Canterbury District. —At Springfield, on ground lent by Major P. Johnson. Otago District. —At Sutton, on ground leased from Messrs. Murray,, Roberts, and Co. In the Wellington District an indifferent range was available at Oringi. The manoeuvreground being absolutely flat, provided little instruction in the occupation of positions, and gave a poor idea of Artillery tactics.