189
18 Lieutenant T. SKINNER was promoted Captain to command Left Half of No. 2 Company, H. K. V. A., on October 15th, 1903, vice Captain Underwood.
ENGINEER COMPANY.
19. Lieutenant J. W. GRAHAM resigned his commission on 30th September, 1903:
DISCIPLINE, TRAINING, etc.
20. The Discipline of the Corps has been exceedingly good throughout the
season.
Drill with the heavy guns as at Stonecutters' Island was carried out during the early part of the season, and drill with the 15-Pr. B L. Guns and Maxims at Head Quarters all through the year.
Maxim Practice was carried out frequently in Camp on January 9th, January 23rd (Competition for Sir W. J. GASCOIGNE'S Shield) and February 16th. (
(En- closure No. 6.)
15-Pr. B. L. Gun Practice was carried out on January 9th and on February 16th, 1904, with very good results. Practice Reports are attached. (Enclosure No. 7.)
His Excellency the General Officer Commanding was present on February 16th, 1904. On each occasion of Gun Practice the men were changed round con- tinually so as to test their efficiency to the utmost and the barrel targets were sunk in each case by the ranging rounds before fuzing so that the greater part of the practice had to be carried out at small pieces of wreckage and the reports clearly show that the accuracy of shooting was excellent.
During the coming season it is proposed to fire some of the series at longer
ranges.
21. Under the head of Drills the figures are as follows:-
Efficients with more }
than 30 drills,...
Efficients with less
than 30 drills....
Non-Efficients,
Total,
Staff.
No. 1 Coy. No. 2 Coy. Engineer Coy. Band,
7
46
50
12
44
22
1
3
17
17
7
107
89
23
Of the 41 Non-Efficients, 16 have been called upon to make good the loss to the Corps Funds, ¿.e., $25 each, 7 have been excused owing to the nature of their employment, 12 are absent (with leave) from the Colony, and 6 Recrnits have been unable to complete the necessary number of drills.
The number of Non-Efficients shows a distinct decrease on the number last year and I am of opinion that, although the numbers have again fallen, the effici- ency in proportion to the total is greater than in former years. I hope now that the heavy gun drills have been stopped that the decrease in numbers will be checked and every endeavour is being made to get more recruits to join.
22. Musketry was carried out during the Camp of Instruction and as many members as possible were put through the course. The members of the Engineer Company fired the full course laid down in the Musketry Regulations, 1903, the members of the Artillery Companies fired at 200 yards. 300 yards and 500 yards; the average was good, but according to regulations the latter are not classified.
23. The Officers of the Corps have practiced with revolvers on different occa- sions, with good results. Enclosure No. 5 shows the average obtained for service practice.