H.—l9.

18

to be replaced by an up-to-date boiler (preferably of the Babcock and Wilcox typo) which will give much Jgreater efficiency and an immense saving in fuel. In the meantime the present boiler is being repaired in the hope that same will last out until prices become normal. An Anderson oil-engine and a 22 kw. generator : This set is now working satisfactorily, but consumes too much fuel for the power generated. A 6-horse-power Tangye oil-engine : This is too small to be of much use, as the load is always too large for this set to cope with. Were an accumulative battery installed in place of the auxiliary engines mentioned above, and an up-to-date boiler erected, the power-station could be run efficiently and economically. Featherston. —The plant at this camp is composed of two three-cylinder Westinghousc internalcombustion engines and generators, which are in good order and giving very fair satisfaction ; also a 25-horse-power National gas-engine and generator. This generator is not capable of carrying a full load, but the engine is in good running-order. The amount of current required at this camp is not so great as at Trentham, and the plant is easily able to carry it. Small-arms Ammunition. The Colonial Small-arms Ammunition Company has maintained contract supplies. Mark VII ammunition for new rifles returning to the Dominion with the division can now be supplied. It has been very difficult, owing to the war, to obtain even quality of materials, making it very hard in the past year to conform to specifications laid down. With a return to normal conditions there will be no difficulty in this respect. Small-arms and Small-arm Components. The Dominion has been handicapped as regards components for repairs owing to the impossibility of obtaining same from England. The rifles, M.L.E., on issue to camps and districts show superior condition to the long rifles (M.L.M., Mark 11, and M.L.E., Marks I and I*), the latter type having been obsolete for some years. For this reason rifles, M.L.E., have been converted to charger loading and sighted for Mark VII ammunition. The machine guns throughout the Dominion are in good order owing to a better supply of components being available and the better general supervision in camps. Six hundred rifles, M.L.E., short, -22, have been received and distributed to districts, and three machine guns, Hotchkiss, -303, with spare parts and pack -saddlery, have been issued to the Trentham Machine-gun School. The rifles on issue to the two camps have been distributed to the four districts in accordance with the requirements of the Training Branch as under : Auckland, 753 ; Wellington, 2,163 ; Canterbury, 2,126 ; Otago, 958. Artillery Storks. Garrison. —The equipment of the Garrison Artillery throughout the Dominion is practically complete. The material is in good order, and the armament in a satisfactory state. The accounting for stores is becoming more accurate, and returns are rendered promptly. A large number of B.L. cordite cartridges have been destroyed owing to deterioration, but same can be replaced from stocks of material in hand. The annual indents upon the War Office are now due, and, when indication as to the new scheme of coast defence is given, can be submitted almost immediately. Field. —Accounting is satisfactory except for the fact that indenting officers continue to indent, in excess of schedules laid down. The whole of the Field Artillery equipment at Featherston Military Camp has been distributed to the four districts. About 3,000 rounds of Q.F. ammunition have been made up during the year, and 1,000 rounds altered to conform with later specifications. The annual proof of percussion fuzes, friction tubes, &c, has been successfully carried out. Defence Electric-light Storks. Demands to complete equipment of Defence lights at the four centres were made on Woolwich in 1918, and most of the equipment demanded has been received and issued. The equipment as authorized for each set of Defence lights is now complete with trifling exceptions, and is of service pattern, except that some of the electric-light generators are run by means of steam-engines instead of oil — i.e., internal-combustion engines. The, electric-light projector and reflector on issue to the Dunedin Station is of old type, and should be replaced by the latest pattern of Fortrose Electric-light projector and reflector if it is decided to retain a Defence light at this station. The Electric-light Stores Ledgers of the R.N.Z.A. Detachments are, kept in a satisfactory manner, the annual audit of these ledgers calling for few observations. Engineer Stores. As pointed out in last year's report, the store accommodation provided for Engineer Territorial units in each district is inadequate and unsuitable, and the care of the stores on charge is not satisfactory. The provision of suitable buildings for stores on sites clear of drill-halls, and the appointment of storemen for care of the stores on issue, must shortly be dealt with. Divisional Signal Companiks (Four). Owing to the closing of the Reinforcement Signalling Instruction School at Featherston a large; quantity of signalling stores became available, and have been distributed between the four Signalling Companies for training purposes. Each company is now supplied with the latest pattern of field telephone and field telephone equipment, but is handicapped in its training for want of cable-wagon