451
29. The usual squad, carbine, rifle, company, and gun drills and practices have been performed and have been well attended. Musketry drills have been performed, but beyond musketry practice for recruits at the Camp of Instruction, no musketry practices have been carried out, in consequence of practice at the Police Range having been forbidden for the rifles and carbines with which the Corps is now armed. Several rifle and carbine competitions have, however, been held by the several Units during the season on the Naval Range at Kowloon and Stonecutters' Island, and with good success. Grateful acknowledgments on behalf of the Corps are due to the Naval Authorities for allowing the Corps to have the use of these ranges.
30. Gun practices have taken place, both over land and sea ranges, as shown in Enclosures 8 and 9.
31. Revolver practice by the Officers and Staff Sergeants of the Corps have taken place, as shown in Enclosure 10.
32. Under the head of Drills the figures are as follows:
Have become efficient with
more than 30 drills,......
Have become efficient with
less than 30 drills,.....
Are non-efficients,
F.B. "A" M.G.Co., "B" M.G.Co., "C" M.G.Co.. D" INFTY. Co.
38
10
37
}
75
38
18
|
16
6
2
G
10
20
2
7
Total,..........101
64
40
42
31
ܕ:
E ExG. Co.
BAND.
Have become efficient with more than 30 drills,. Have become efficient with less than 30 drills, . Are non-efficients,
+
.....
......14
12
2
4
Total,
..20
1
13
Of the 47 non-efficients. 11 are absent from the Colony on leave; 10 are absent from the Colony with- out leave; 2 are on Medical Certificate; 3 have during the season become employed in positions the nature of which prevents them attending drills; 10 have not had time since joining to complete their drills; and the remaining 11, although in the Colony, have not completed the requisite number of drills, and will be called upon to show cause why they have failed to become efficient.
CAMP OF INSTRUCTION.
33. From the 20th to the 30th October, 1899, a Camp of Instruction was held under canvas on Stonecutters' Island East.
34. The use of the Naval Range on the Island was kindly lent by the Naval Authorities during the holding of the Camp.
35. The Camp was well attended and much practical work was performed, including company, carbine, and rifle drill, extended order practice, outpost duties, musketry instruction, fire discipline, gun drill, beltfilling, lectures, and instruction in gun laying and fuze boring. Gun practice took place over sea and land ranges.
36.. The Corps also took part with the Regular Forces in the defence of Stonecutters' Island during a night mobilization. On that occasion the Engineer Company of the Corps assisted the Royal Engineers in working the electric lights on the Island.
37. I am strongly of opinion that the Annual Camp of Instruction tends in a high degree to promote the efficiency and popularity of the Corps. Endeavours will be made during the coming season to make the rationing of the Corps at the next camp more in accordance with the scale and system in use by the Regular Troops whilst in Camp.
38. The Camp Allowance of $2 per caput per diem (vide Volunteer Regulations, 1899, para. 30 (4)) was, during the past season, found to be insufficient to cover the many expenses in connection with the Camp of Instruction. As the result of the experience gathered on the point, I beg to suggest that the allowance should be raised to $2.50 per caput per diem, and thus save to the Capitation Grant the large amount, viz., $817.13 which it was found necessary to disburse to cover the total expenditure, a sum, which had it remained to the credit of the Corps Funds, might have been spent in many ways to the advantage and benefit of the Corps.