584
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

battalion, which will be entitled to a Major, a Sur-
geon, Assistant-Surgeon, Adjutant, Sergeant-Major,
and Quartermaster-Sergeant, and a Drum-Major.
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,
provided they are efficient musicians.

Naval Volunteers.

FOR A COMPANY.
| | Captain. | 1st Lieutenant. | 2nd Lieutenant. | Petty Officers. | Privates. | Total enrolled. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum.................. | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 89 | 100 |
| Minimum.................. | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 30 | 36 |

FORMATION OF CORPS.
6. 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 Inspector of Militia and Volunteers, Wel-
lington.

7. In considering the offer of the services of a new
   corps, regard will be had to the number and descrip-
   tion 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 Volun-
   teer 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 can 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.
8. In the Volunteer Force, the different arms rank
in the following order, viz:—
Light Horse Volunteers. ditto
Artillery ditto
Engineer ditto
Rifle ditto
Naval ditto.

9. 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.

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

11. 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.

12. 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.

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
13. Applications for the appointment of Commis-
sioned Officers must be made in accordance with
clause 13 of "The Volunteer Act, 1865," and
forwarded through the Adjutants of the Permanent
Staff, and Officers Commanding Districts.
14. A candidate for a commission or promotion
will be required to pass satisfactorily the following
examination before his appointment is confirmed,
viz.:—

For first Commission under the rank of Captain.
The candidate will be examined as to his know-
ledge of squad drill, the manual and platoon exercise,
and his ability to put his company through both.
He will further be required to tell off and prove his
company.

For appointment or promotion to Captain.
The candidate will be called upon to put his com-
pany through squad and company drill, rifle exercise
and skirmishing drill. He will also be examined as
to his general knowledge of the Acts and Regulations
relating to Militia and Volunteers, according to
which of the Forces he belongs.
Candidates may, however, while qualifying them-
selves for the duties of their respective ranks, receive
acting appointments, and, while holding such, shall
exercise the same authority as though they were per-
manently 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.

15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. The appointment of an Honorary Colonel to
    a corps under the command of a Field Officer is
    permitted.
19. The appointment of Honorary Chaplains is
    allowed.
20. No Officer holding an honorary commission
    can, in virtue of it, take precedence of any Officer
    holding a substantive commission of the same rank.
21. Every Officer is expected to give a proper
    attendance at the drills and parades of his corps, and
    any Officer who does not attend the number of drills
    prescribed for the enrolled Volunteers to qualify
    them for certificates of efficiency will not be allowed
    to retain his commission, unless it shall be repre-
    sented by the Officer Commanding the District that
    there are special reasons for a relaxation of this
    regulation.