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29. "D" Infantry Company.--A. R. Grieve, Esq., was appointed Lieutenant, dated the 31st May, 1900.
30,"
E" Engineer Company.-Lieutenant R. Mitchell was granted leave out of the Colony for twelve months from the 1st March, 1901, to the 28th February, 1902.
31. Sergeant J. W. Graham was appointed Lieutenant, dated the 25th February, 1901.
Discipline, Training, &c.
32. The discipline of the corps has been exceedingly good throughout the season.
33. 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 no musketry practices have been carried out in consequence of no rifle range being at the disposal of the corps. Several rifle and carbine competitions have, however, been held by the several units during the season on the Association range at Kowloon, with good success.
34. Gun practices have taken place, both over land and sea ranges, as shown in inclosures Nos. 8 and 9.
35. Revolver practice has not been carried out in consequence of no range being available. 36. The new rifle range for the corps and the police force, situated on the hills above Causeway Bay, was reported as ready for use in November, 1900. On inspection, however, several defects were discovered in it, and consequently it was not taken over. These defects are now being made good, and it is hoped that in a few weeks' time the range will be ready for
37. Under the head of Drills the figures are as follows:---
use.
105
Field Battery.
"A" Machine-gun Company.
"B" Machine-gun Company.
333
"C" Machine-gun Company.
"D" Infantry Company.
"E" Engineer Company.
Have become efficient with more
than thirty drills
61
43
26
36
38
17
7
Have become efficient with less
than thirty drills
17
11
Are non-efficient...
13
14
11
1000
10
6
10
Total
91
68
39
49
54
29
9
38. Of the 63 non-efficients, 6 are absent from the Colony on leave, 7 are absent from the Colony without leave, 9 have not had time to complete the necessary drills, and 41 have not completed the requisite number of drills, and will be called upon to show cause why they failed to become efficient. Many of these are out of the Colony, but have failed to notify their departure to head-quarters and will now be struck off the strength accordingly.
Camp of Instruction.
39. From the 22nd to the 29th October, 1900, a camp of instruction was held under canvas at Kowloon.
40. The corps was much indebted to the Honourable C. P. Chater, C.M.G., and Mr. J. H. Cox, for their generous kindness in allowing the corps to have the use of the site.
41. The use of the Rifle Association range was kindly placed at the disposal of the corps during the holding of the camp.
42. The camp was fairly well attended and much practical work was performed, including battalion, company, carbine, and rifle drill, extended order practice, out-post duties, musketry instruction, fire discipline, gun drill, belt filling, and lectures and instruction in gun-laying and fuze-boring. Gun practice took place over sea and land ranges.
43. The General Officer Commanding inspected the corps on parade on the 28th October, 1900. On that occasion there were present 224 of all ranks.
44. While there can be no doubt that the holding of the camp conduced materially to the efficiency of the corps, I am yet of opinion that in several respects Kowloon did not prove so good a site for it as Stonecutters' Island.
[894]
Services.
45. Captain C. G. Pritchard, Royal Artillery, before assuming his duties as Adjutant, had acted as Special Instructor in Gunnery while the corps was in camp. In both capacities he has
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C
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Band.
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