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mine-fields in the defence, and to their extent, the Colonial Defence Com- mittee concur in the opinion of the Commandant, and trust that the Govern- ment will at any rate see their way to sanctioning the proposed increase in the militia.

6. The state of the Horse and Field Artillery Brigade then requires. attention. The Colonial Defence Committee dealt fully with its personnel and matériel in their Memorandum No. 65 M., dated the 12th June, 1896. Their recommendations would involve but a small increase in the peace establishment, while the suggestions with regard to matériel would, if acted upon, very considerably increase the efficiency of the force. The Comman- dant recommends, in the present as in past Reports, an annual camp of instruction of the Brigade, and he also proposes the appointment of a permanent Adjutant. In these recommendations the Colonial Defence Committee concur. They trust also that the efforts that are being made to obtain a suitable land range will prove successful.

7. The increase in strength of the Militia Field Company of Engineers, recommended by the Commandant, is desirable, but of less pressing impor- tance than the establishment of Reserves, the increase in the Submarine Miners, and the improvement of the Horse and Field Artillery.

8. The Committee note that Major F. R. Reynolds, R.E., has returned to England on completion of engagement, and that Captain Parnell, V.E., has been made Staff Officer of Engineers in his place. Although they consider it satisfactory that it has been found possible to give to an officer of the local forces this appointment, involving the important charge of the mine-fields at Port Phillip and the superintendence of the submarine mining and field companies of Engineers, they would observe that there is now no officer of Royal Engineers employed in any of the Australian Colonies, and they would call attention to the recommendation contained in paragraph 7 of their Remarks, dated 21st November, 1895, on the Report of the Federal Military Conference of 1894, that an Inspecting Officer of Engineers should be appointed to see that the defences and Engineer personnel in all the Colonies of Australia were kept in a thoroughly efficient condition. This opinion was concurred in by the Inter-Colonial Military Committee of January 1896, who stated in their Report that "the Colonies of Australia will, in the opinion of the Committee, ensure by this plan a continuity and similarity in their defence works and Engineer services, which will prove of the greatest importance hereafter in carrying out the details of the Australian Federal Defence Scheme." The Colonial Defence Committee see no reason why the appointment for three years of a Royal Engineer Officer of experience for the duties suggested should await the final acceptance of a Federal Defence Scheme. The allotment of the expense connected with this officer between the various Colonies that he would assist would be a matter of very simple arrangement, and the Committee strongly urge the Government of Victoria to take action in the matter.

9. The Committee note that the engagements of a Warrant Officer of the Royal Engineers, acting as Regimental Sergeant-Major for Engineers, and of a Warrant Officer of the Royal Artillery acting as Brigade Sergeant-Major of Artillery, having been terminated, arrangements have been made to fill their places from the local forces. They also note that the Commandant reports that in the absence of an officer and a N.C.O., R.E., there is no staff to give lectures and instruction in such subjects as military topography, field engineering, &c., &c., and that he has therefore recommended the appointment of another N.C.O., R.E. It is scarcely necessary for the Committee to point out that without proper instruction in the subjects mentioned neither officers nor men can be expected to be proficient in them.

10. The Committee desire to point out the advisability of a complete revision of the Defence Scheme for the Colony. The figures given in the last detailed Scheme before them are not based on the present approved establishments or on the Mobilization Regulations of 1893. These Regula- tions should be embodied in the Scheme which, with regard to the organiza- tion, should follow generally the lines of the New South Wales Scheme, and provide for the garrisoning of the permanent works for the defence of Melbourne and the ports in the Western District, for small field forces for the protection of these places against raids, and for an offensive-defensive force

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