Feb. 8.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 403

30. The O.C. the District is responsible for the prompt promulgation of all orders or instructions emanating from headquarters. Such orders or instructions should be so promulgated by district order, or such other means as local circumstances may prove most convenient and expeditious.

31. In the absence of the O.C. the District, the senior combatant officer resident at headquarters, unless otherwise ordered, shall assume the command and perform all duties attached to that office.

32. The O.C. the District shall, before the first day of May in each volunteer year, forward a report for the previous year on the Defence Forces in his district, to the Commandant, in which the efficiency of each unit and company, and of the officers and N.C.Os. thereof is to be specially dealt with. At the same time he shall forward a confidential report on the officers and N.C.Os. of the Permanent Staff.

33. The O.C. the District shall at all times have access to the muster-rolls and other official documents of all companies and units in his district. A muster-roll of each company or unit shall be kept in each district office.

34. The O.C. the District shall keep a record of attendance at all parades, which he shall from time to time compare with the muster-rolls and records of attendance kept by the various companies.

35. The O.C. the District shall frequently visit and inspect units under his command, and for this purpose shall order such parades as he may think fit. He shall forward on the first of each month to headquarters the parade states of the units and companies so inspected.

36. The O.C. the District shall report annully on all drill-halls and rifle-ranges belonging to Permanent Force, Militia, Volunteers, or Cadets, such report to be forwarded to headquarters before the 1st May in each Volunteer year.

37. The O.C. the District shall have on charge to him all Defence stores on issue to units and companies in his district, and shall supervise the issue and return of all such stores and their treatment and preservation.

38. The O.C. the District shall exercise supervision over all claims submitted against the Defence Department.

39. The O.C. the District shall cause all accounts to be rendered to him for settlement monthly. This particularly applies to expenses incurred in advertising in newspapers, and in the carriage, freight, or cartage of arms and stores.

40. No unauthorised expenditure shall be incurred by the O.C. the District, units, or companies, without authority being first obtained through the Commandant from the Minister.

41. Every officer to whom forage allowance is granted shall keep a horse and appointments, which must be his own bona fide property, and be suitable for and used for military purposes.

42. The O.C. the District shall, prior to the 1st May in each Volunteer year, submit to the Commandant a return showing the estimated cost of maintaining or improving existing Government ranges, drill-halls, and other buildings in his district under the control of the Commandant, or for the providing of such new ranges, drill-halls, or other buildings as may be necessary for the ensuing year.

43. The O.C. the District shall at once advise headquarters of the decease of any officer in the district. He shall also report the absence of any officer from the colony without leave of absence.

N.C.Os. of Permanent Staff.

44. All N.C.O. Staff instructors not belonging to the Imperial service shall be enrolled in the New Zealand Militia, and the attestation forms shall be kept in the office of the district in which they are stationed.

45. All vacancies on the staff of N.C.O. instructors may be filled from N.C.Os. of Permanent Force or the Volunteer Force who may have passed through the School of Instruction.

46. N.C.Os. of the Staff shall be posted to districts and duties and transferred as occasion may require by the Commandant.

47. The O.C. the District shall at once report, when necessary, any irregularity, incompetence, or want of attention which he may observe on the part of any N.C.O. instructor.

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