H.—l9.

Since last report,, lathes have been supplied to the Permanent Force artificers, and if proper workshops were erected a large quantity of work could be performed by the artificers that has now to be put out or performed in England : a very considerable saving would be annually effected thereby to the country. The strength of the Permanent Force should on no account be allowed to fall below establishment. This is none too high for even peace requirements, and men for this work cannot be trained at short notice. The formation of a reserve, composed of those who pass to other employments from this Force, should be considered.

Volunteers. The strength of the Volunteer Force (exclusive of cadets) on the Ist July was distributed as follows:— Auckland [Officers and Men). 19 companies mounted rifles ... ... ... ... ... 1,506 1 field battery ... ... .. ... ... ... 86 2 naval artillery corps | oqo 1 garrison artillery corps j 1 submarine-mining corps ... ... ... ... ... 103 1 engineer corps ... ... ... ... ... ... 84 18 infantry corps ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,148 1 bearer corps ... ... ... ... ... ... 37 1 cycle corps ... ... ... ..■. ... ... 23 1 garrison band ... ... ... ... ... ... 25 Total officers and men ... ... ... ... 3,314 Wellington {Officers and Men). 22 companies mounted rifles ... ... ... ... ... 1,642 1 field battery ... ... ... ... ... ... 116 3 naval artillery corps ... ... ... ... ... ... 243 1 submarine-mining corps ... ... ... ... ... 71 1 engineer corps ... ... ... ... ... ... 70 38 infantry corps ... ... ... ... ... ... 2,321 1 cycle corps ... ... ... ... ... ... 26 1 bearer corps ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 1 garrison band ... ... ... ... ... ... 25 Total officers and men ... ... ... ... 4,546 Canterbury (Officers and Men). 14 companies mounted rifles ... ... ... ... ... 1,135 1 field battery ... ... ... ... ... ... 87 1 company naval artillery 1 ..„ 1 company garrison artillery J 1 engineer corps ... ... ... ... ... ... 82 20 infantry corps ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,276 1 cycle corps ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 24 1 bearer corps ... ... ... ... ... ... 52 1 garrison band ... ... ... ... ... ... 25 Total officers and men ... ... ... ... 2,829 Otago (Officers and Men). 13 companies mounted rifles ... ... ... ... ... 1,089 1 field battery ... ... ... ... ... ... 84 2 companies naval artillery ... ... ... ... ... 192 1 engineer corps ... ... ... ... ... ... 98 31 infantry corps ... ... .. ... ... ... 1,961 1 cycle corps ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 27 1 bearer corps... ... ... ... ... ... ... 50 1 garrison band ... ... ... ... ... ... 25 Total officers and men ... ... ... ... 3,526 Nelson (Officers and Men). 4 companies mounted rifles ... ... ... .. ... 357 1 field battery (four guns) ... ... ... ... ... 69 10 infantry corps ... ... ... ... ... ... 617 1 company garrison artillery ... ... ... ... ... 61 1 bearer corps ... ... ... ... ... ... 25 1 cycle corps ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 22 1 garrison band ... ... ... ... ... ... 25 Total officers and men ... ... ... 1,176

2