H.—l9

13

Inspection of Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland, District.

Medical Depaetment. A numbee of gentlemen of the medical profession give their time and frequently spend their money freely for the benefit of the Volunteer Force. In many of the companies and corps a proportion of the men are instructed in ambulance work, but in others nothing of the kind is attempted. There is no system of organization, and none is attempted except during Easter Camps. Surgeon-Major De Latour, Principal Medical Officer, Otago District, does more in the way of organization than I have found in other districts. There was no medical officer at the camp at Kaituna, in the Canterbury District. It is fortunate that no serious consequences resulted. No artillery practice should be carried out unless a medical officer is present. It has been reported to me that medical officers attending camp and taking medical comforts for the benefit of the men in camp have frequently to bear the expense thereof, being unable to recover the amount. This is not right, and very possibly was the reason why no officer went to the Kaituna Camp. They are justified in arguing that it is useless their going without medicines, and, although perfectly willing to go, they do not feel called upon to expend their own money in supplying medicines. Cadet Coeps. The following return shows the various cadet companies in the colony, with their strengths, and the amount of allowance paid to each during the past year. The Wanganui Collegiate School Cadets, the Wellington College Cadets, the Nelson College Cadets, the Kaiapoi Eifle Cadets, the Queen's Cadets, and the Dunedin High School Cadets are very good companies.

'elson, Marlborough, and Westland District. •a is © a a c3 ■i-a ■ <M CO a co o M CD CD h cfi :a 3 "3 43 O EH d o CD & CQ a M c3 O ©•a © 43 ca "3 a <y 13 © 9 "3 a en a P Remarks. CO © o o Mounted Eifles— Marlborough Mounted Eifles 48 51 32 51 Moderate; shows signs of improvement. Naval Artillery— (B.) Nelson Navals Greymouth Navals 3 3 60 52 63 55 56 42 61 55 2 A very good infantry company. This company has gone back; there was no drill-shed. A very good infantry company. Westport Navals ... 2 64 66 47 58 8 Total ... 8 176 184 145 174 10 Field Artillery— H Battery Eifle Companies — Westland Eifles Nelson City Eifles Stoke Eifles ... Blenheim Eifles Waimea Eifles Kumara Eifles 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 52 70 49 47 71 48 57 55 73 52 49 74 51 60 42 61 52 38 63 48 50 52 63 44 35 70 43 57 3 10 8 14 4 8 3 Fair knowledge of theoretical work; no practical knowledge. The guns are useless. Fairly good; has improved slightly. Much improved. Much improved. This will be a very good company. Much improved. Has improved. The subaltern officers never have a chance of drilling the company. There was no drill-shed. I was obliged to inspect in the dark. The company did fairly well. No officer; only one sergeant present at inspection. This company is in a very unsatisfactory state. No improvement. No improvement; a bad spirit exists in this company. Greymouth Eifles 55 57 51 57 Blenheim City Eifles ... 48 51 34 51 Brunnerton Eifles Totara Eifles ... 3 1 51 49 54 50 36 20 54 49 i Total ... 26 545 571 453 523 48 Grand total 40 821 861 672 749 112 87 per cent, capitated.