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Excellency the Major-General Commanding, and for favour of transmission to his Excellency the Governor.
Establishment,
2. It will be seen by Enclosure 7, with the corresponding document for the training 1897-98, that the total strength of the corps is now 181 of all ranks, as against 176 of all ranks at the former date. This is the greatest strength to which the corps has yet attained since its reorganization in 1893.
During the past season 3 members have died, 12 have been struck off the strength for non- efficiency, and 26 have resigned. Of the resigning members 12 have left the Colony, and 1 has been discharged on medical certificate. 46 new members have been enrolled.
The Field Battery now numbers 117, and the "A" Machine-gun Company numbers 58 as compared with an establishment of 80 and 51 respectively.
The new draft Regulations submitted to you under this Office No. 3 of the 4th instant make provision for 3 machine-gun companies (the requisite guns for them are all in stock), and also a small Engineer company. Immediately on the approval of the Governor-in-Council to these Regulations I shall proceed to raise the Engineer company, and every endeavour will be made to raise the other 2 machine-gun companies during the ensuing drill season.
3. The fife and drum band of the corps is making great effort to obtain proficiency and the draft Regulations submitted allow of its existence, and give substantial rank to the Non-Com- missioned Officers employed with it.
The thanks of all ranks of the corps are especially due to the Officers Commanding the King's Own Royal Lancashire Regiment and the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers for so kindly lending their bands to the corps on the many occasions found necessary and also the services of their sergeant drummers as instructors, who have brought the fife and drum band of the corps up to the standard of efficiency it has reached.
4. The changes among the officers of the corps during the season have been
His Excellency Sir W. Robinson, G.C.M.G., Honorary-Colonel of the Corps, vacated his appointment on the 31st January last, and not as stated in the last training report of the corps.
His Excellency Sir H. A. Blake, G.C.M.G., Governor and Commander-in-chief of this Colony and its dependencies, has very kindly accepted the appointment of Honorary-Colonel to the Corps.
Captain L. A. C. Gordon, Royal Artillery, Adjutant of the Corps, resigned his appointment on the 10th April last, on proceeding to England on leave. This officer during his services as Adjutant to the Corps extending over a period of 4 years, has done much good work for the corps, and his departure is much regretted by all ranks.
Captain W. St. C. Bland, Royal Artillery, took over the duties of Adjutant of the Corps from the 11th instant.
Surgeon-Lieutenant F. O. Stedman, M.D. (Lond.), was promoted to Surgeon-Captain on the 15th February last.
Mr. A. H. Lee-Norman was appointed Supernumerary Lieutenant in the Field Battery on the 25th November, 1898, and was appointed Aide-de-Camp to his Excellency the Governor; this officer resigned his commission on the 4th February last, on leaving the Colony.
Captain E. D. Sanders, "A" Machine-gun Company, was appointed an Honorary Aide-de- Camp to his Excellency the Governor on the 9th instant.
Discipline, Training, &c.
5. The discipline of the corps has been exceptionally good throughout the season.
6. The usual squad, carbine, company, gun drills, and practices have been well attended. Musketry drills have been performed, but no musketry practices, as by Home Volunteer Regula- tions these are not now required to enable Artillery Volunteers to become efficient, although every effort has been made, and with good success, with the several carbine competitions held by each unit during the season.
Under the head of drills the figures for the two existing units are as follows:-
Field Battery-
68 have become efficient with more than 40 drills. 25 have become efficient with less than 40 drills. 24 are non-efficients.
117
"A" Machine-gun Company-
26 have become efficient with more than 40 drills. 17 have become efficient with less than 40 drills. 15 are non-efficients.
58
Of the 24 non-efficients of the Field Battery, 14 are absent from the Colony without leave,
2 are on medical certificate, and the remaining 8, although in the Colony, have not completed the requisite number of drills, and will be called upon to show cause of non-efficiency.
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