May 14.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1879

FIELD AMBULANCES.

Organization.

Regulation 123. (1.) The existing field hospitals and bearer corps shall hereafter be called “field ambulances.” They shall be numbered in order of their seniority.

(2.) In action, each field ambulance shall be organized in two sections:—

(a.) The bearer section;

(b.) The tent section.

Establishment.

(3.) The establishment of a field ambulance shall be as follows:—

Efficiency.

(4.) Non-commissioned officers and men enrolled in field ambulances shall be deemed “efficient” if they carry out the conditions embodied in paragraph 124, (2), and shall be granted capitation accordingly.

Promotion of Members.

(5.) No private shall be promoted to be a non-commissioned officer in the corps unless he has passed the senior proficiency examination in such military and professional subjects as may be laid down from time to time in General Orders, and no man shall continue to be a member of the corps if he has not passed the junior examination for proficiency within two years from date of enrolment, and the senior examination within four years therefrom.

(6.) Non-commissioned officers for distinguished service may, on the recommendation of the Director-General, be promoted to be quartermaster with the rank of lieutenant, and shall be either attached to a field ambulance or be posted to the Reserve of Officers as such. Not more than one such officer shall be appointed to each field ambulance.

CAPITATION.

124. (1.) To earn capitation each officer must during the year deliver six lectures on ambulance-work, with demonstrations and stretcher drill, to members of the Defence Force, two of which may be at a manœuvre camp, or camp of his unit, or, if unattached, to some unit in his district, or perform other services as may be deemed by the Director-General equivalent to these duties.

Camps and Parades.

(2.) To earn capitation each detachment must go into the “company” or “manœuvre” camp of such company or corps as may be ordered by the Principal Medical Officer of the district, and each man must sleep in camp the same number of nights as laid down for the company or unit. Each man must attend at least twelve parades during the year, at which at least one-half of the strength of the detachment must be present, three of these being afternoon parades; and, in addition, each man must earn a certificate on being examined practically by a board consisting of the Principal Medical Officer of the district, the officer commanding the company, and another officer to be named by the Principal Medical Officer, in the drills, &c., laid down in the “Manual for the Royal Army Medical Corps” and in use in the Imperial service for the time being: Provided that men detailed to attend at hospitals for the purpose of gaining practical experience shall be allowed, when recommended by the Director-General, to count such attendances as six parades for the purpose of qualifying for capitation.

Capitation, Management of Funds.

(3.) Capitation earned by all medical officers, except as herein-after provided, shall be the property of the New Zealand Medical Corps, and is to be paid to the Principal Medical Officer of the district in which such officers shall reside, and shall be used by him for the general expenses of the New Zealand Medical Corps in his district, and for this purpose a committee shall be formed, composed of the Principal Medical Officer and two officers, for the management of all such funds. A balance-sheet shall be forwarded annually on or before the 31st March to the Director-General for his information.

(4.) Capitation earned by the Director-General and his staff shall be paid to him and used by him for office expenses, and that earned by the officers and men of the field ambulances shall be paid to the officer commanding the company and used by him for company purposes.