H.—9b

12

PORTION OF NOETH CANTEEBUEY DISTRICT. Eangiora Eifles. —2nd March, 1893. Present: 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 4 sergeants, 40 rank and file. Absent: 7 rank and file. Uniform. —Scarlet; black helmets, in fair order. Arms and Accoutrements. —Snider rifle ; buff belts. Officers. —Captain Helmore : A good commanding officer. Lieutenant Torlesse : A good officer. Lieutenant d'Auvergne : Wants confidence. Non-commissioned Officers. —Sergeant Jones and d'Auvergne drilled the company. They, with the other sergeants, are capable, but do not sufficiently appreciate the responsibility of their positions during the company drill, and especially during the firing exercises. Men. —Generally of very good stamp. The recruits, however, were not of good physique. Drill. —Company drill fairly well done. Manual exercise very good. Firing exercise showed want of fire discipline. This company is in a good state, and on the whole I was well satisfied. Hon. Surgeon Clayton was on parade. Kaiapoi Eifles.—3rd March, 1893. Present: 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 colour-sergeant, 4 sergeants, 75 rank and file (22 recruits). Absent: 6 rank and file. Uniform. —Khakee ; black Glengarry caps. Arms and Accoutrements. —Snider rifles ; buff belts, black pouch. Officers. —Captain Wilson : A very good commanding officer. Lieutenant Millar : A very good officer. Lieutenant Simpson (acting) : Likely to be a good officer. Non-commissioned Officers. —Colour-sergeant Blackwell: A very good non-commissioned officer of great value to his corps. The other non-commissioned officers appeared to be quite capable. Men. —Very fine body ; excellent physique. Turn-out. —The khakee uniform was clean and well cared for, but the cut and make of the frocks leaves much to be desired. The belts and pouches were remarkably well cleaned throughout, probably more so than in any other corps I have inspected. Drill.—The company drill was fairly well done under Captain Wilson and Lieutenant Millar. Lieutenant Simpson and Colour-sergeant Blackwell also drilled the company; the latter in physical drill. This is a very excellent company, with good esprit de corps, and much thought of and helped by the inhabitants of the town. This is very satisfactory. Kaiapoi Cadets.—3rd March, 1893. Present: 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 colour-sergeant, 4 sergeants,43 rank and file. Absent: 8 rank and file. Uniform. —Eed serge frocks ; Glengarry caps. Arms and Accoutrements. —Snider artillery carbines; brown leather belts. Officers. —Captain Alexander: A very good commanding officer. Lieutenant Garrard: Good ■officer. Lieutenant Lynskey : Good officer. Non-commissioned Officers and Cadets. —A very good body of lads, well set up and clean in appearance. Drill. —Company drill, manual and firing exercises, well done, but rather slow in movement. Physical drill very well done, the boys going through the first five exercises without even standing at ease. The corps is chiefly composed of boys belonging to the school, with a few belonging to the town. This is a very satisfactory cadet corps, well deserving of support. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,550 copies), SI 15s.

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