64
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

Two or more companies may be formed into one
corps under the command of a Captain-Commandant,
and such corps will be entitled to an Assistant
Surgeon.

A battalion, or regiment, of four or more com-
panies, will be allowed, in addition to the establish-
ment due to each company, a Field Officer, Surgeon,
Assistant Surgeon, Adjutant, Sergeant-Major, and
Quartermaster-Sergeant.

Naval Volunteers.

FOR A COMPANY.

Two or more Companies may be formed into one
corps, under the command of a Captain Commandant.

6. Bandsmen may be returned on the strength of
   a corps, and be in excess of the numbers fixed as the
   maximum entitled to receive capitation allowance.

7. If a corps (enrolled under previous Acts) be in
   excess of the maximum strength allowed by these
   regulations, and tenders its services under "The
   Volunteer Act, 1865," the reduction to the authorized
   strength need not take place at once; but vacancies
   must not be filled up until the strength of such
   corps is reduced within the maximum.

FORMATION OF CORPS.

8. Persons wishing to form Volunteer Corps
   should place themselves in communication with the
   Officer commanding the Militia district, who will
   submit the offer of their services for the consideration
   of the Government. If there be no Officer appointed
   to command the district, they will communicate
   direct with the Defence Office.

9. In considering the offer of the services of a
   new corps, regard will be had to the number and
   description of the corps already existing in the same
   district, to the circumstances of the locality, and to
   the limits imposed by the amount placed at the
   disposal of Government by the General Assembly in
   the Volunteer vote. It is therefore desirable that in
   forwarding such offers of service it should be stated-

a. The circumstances which may appear to render
it advisable to sanction the formation of the
proposed corps.

b. The place proposed for the head quarters of the
corps.

c. The number of persons who are prepared to
enrol themselves.

d. For Artillery-Where it is proposed that the
Artillery practice of the corps shall be carried
on, and whether such practice will interfere
with the safety or convenience of the public.
For other Arms-That the use of a rifle practice
ground may be secured; the situation of the
proposed ground; the extent of range afforded
-which must not be less than 300 yards;
and what arrangements are required to secure
the safety and convenience of the public.
For Naval Volunteers it should, in addition, be
stated where, and by what means, it is pro-
posed to carry on evolutions afloat.

e. That a safe storehouse and magazine for any
arms and ammunition which may be issued
can be provided.

PRECEDENCE.

10. In the Volunteer Force, the different arms
    rank in the following order, viz.-

Light Horse Volunteers.
Artillery
Engineer
Rifle
Naval
ditto
ditto
ditto
ditto.

11. In every district the relative precedence of the
    different corps of any one arm is determined by the
    date on which the Governor has accepted the offer of
    service of each such corps.

12. The relative precedence of Officers in the entire
    Volunteer Force is determined solely by the rank
    and date of their commissions in that force.

13. The relative precedence of Officers of different *
    corps, holding commissions of the same rank and
    date, is determined by the relative precedence of the
    corps to which they respectively belong.

14. The relative precedence of Officers of one corps
    bearing commissions of the same rank and date, is
    determined by the order in which the appointments
    are inserted in the Gazette.

15. The relative precedence of Medical Officers in
    the Volunteer Force is regulated by the same rule as
    that prescribed for medical officers in Her Majesty's
    Army.

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

16. Applications for the appointment of Commis-
    sioned Officers must be made in accordance with
    clause XIII. of "The Volunteer Act, 1865," and
    forwarded through the Adjutants of the Permanent
    Staff, and Officers commanding districts.

17. Every Officer is required to possess a competent
    knowledge of his duties, and a certificate of such
    competence, signed by the Officer commanding the
    district, or Adjutant of the Permanent Staff, will in
    each case be required before he is commissioned.
    He may however, while qualifying himself for the
    duties of his rank, receive an acting appointment,
    and, while holding such, shall exercise the same
    authority as though he were permanently appointed,
    provided always that no person by virtue of such
    acting appointment shall be competent to sit on any
    Court Martial or Court of Inquiry; and that no
    person shall hold an acting appointment for a longer
    period than six months.

18. All proposed resignations are to be submitted
    for the Governor's acceptance by the Officer com-
    manding the district, or in his absence by the
    Adjutant of the Permanent Staff.

19. When any officer resigns his commission, and
    at the same time receives another, not involving pro-
    motion, he is allowed to retain the date of his former
    commission.

20. A fee of one guinea is to be paid by every
    Officer on receiving his commission into the general
    fund of the corps to which he is appointed, and is to
    be appropriated in such manner as the Finance Com-
    mittee of such corps may direct.

21. When a corps consists of more than one troop,
    battery, or company, and is not under the command
    of a Field Officer, the senior Captain is allowed to
    bear the designation "Captain Commandant." The
    title does not confer any additional rank, and no
    separate commission will be issued on account of it.

22. The appointment of an Honorary Colonel to
    a corps under the command of a Field Officer is
    permitted.

23. The appointment of Honorary Chaplains is
    allowed.

24. The appointment of Honorary Assistant Sur-
    geons is allowed to every corps which is not entitled
    to a medical officer of substantive rank.

25. The appointment of an Honorary Veterinary