H.—l9.

6

(3.) Field Aetilleey Volunteees. The batteries of this branch of the service are armed with different field guns, some being good, some serviceable, and others quite unserviceable. The 6-pr. E.B.L. guns and the 12-pr. E.B.L. guns are useless, and the batteries armed with them are therefore not to be relied on. The officers, noncommissioned officers, and men of such batteries are trained theoretically, but can have no practical training. No battery has its complement of service ammunition in charge, nor the means of carrying it. Hitherto the instruction has been in pure drill and in theoretical work. Taking them all round each battery has shown very great interest in that work, and a very great improvement has been made. The batteries armed with guns with which it is safe to practise are in a perfectly fit state to have regular practice, provided that it is carried out under supervision. A start has been made in this direction. No attempt has been made in training the batteries in field movements. This is wise. The role of the field batteries will be that of guns of position, only requiring horse-power to move the guns from one selected position to another. The batteries have suffered very much from the want of a handy manual of drill and equipment. Staff Sergeant-Major Eichardson, who is an excellent instructor, is now preparing such a book.

Distribution.

(4.) Gaekison Aetillbey. There is only one battery of garrison artillery in the colony—the N Battery, at Lyttelton. The work required from this battery is of the same nature as that required from the A Branch Naval Artillery Volunteers, and it should be absorbed into that branch of the Volunteer Service. The Naval Artillery uniform is popular, inexpensive, and well adapted for coast-defence work. District and Corps. Officers. Men. Proficient. Capitated. Unqualified. Remarks. Canterbury— N Battery ... ... ...- 2 52 13 32 22 Improving.

District and Corps. CO © I o ■a . 0 !Xj ccCD jtj -g a '§• | o t> Guns. CO u CD £ *3 CO a o 60 cS Remarks. mckland — A Battery 80 81 2 4 9-pr. E.B.L. ... Nil Very good. 3 Vellington— D Battery F Battery ... 2 3 58 45 59 42 1 6 4 6-pr. Nord. 4 6-pr. E.B.L. ... 4 4 Personnel good; materiel useless. // U Total ... 5 103 101 7 Janterbury— C Battery E Battery ... 2 2 56 57 50 46 8 13 3 9-pr. E.B.L. ... 4 9-pr. E.B.L. ... 3 4 tt Good. tt Total ... 4 113 96 21 )tago— B Battery G Battery 3 3 57 52 49 52 11 3 4 9-pr. E.B.L. ... 4 12-pr. E.B,L. ... 4 Very good. Personnel good; materiel useless. Good. It It I Battery 3 48 40 11 3 9-pr. E.B.L. ... 3 Total ... 9 157 141 25 Jelson — H Battery 3 6-pr. E.B.L. ... Personnel good; materiel useless. 3 52 52 3 Grand total, 9 batteries ... 24 505 471 58