Lord Wolseley's hopes have been fully realized.

CHAPTER V

A TIME OF RETRENCHMENT

The term of office of General Owen began with the passing of the "Russian
scare." The finances of the colony were for the time being undergoing a
period of depression. Economy had to be enforced, and General Owen's
first instructions from the Government were to recommend ways and means
of effecting reductions to meet the decrease in the military vote. Major
Jervois's period of service as adjutant-general came to an end about this
time, and the Commandant was informed that it was not proposed to have
him replaced by another officer from England.

It was not practicable to carry on the administration without some
qualified officer to assist the Commandant with his duties. The
inspections of the country units by the Commandant at least once a year
were necessary under the provisions of the Defence Act. During the
periods of his absence on inspection tours the presence of a qualified
deputy at headquarters was necessary. To overcome this difficulty he
asked me if I would undertake the duties of adjutant-general in addition
to those as Officer Commanding the Permanent Artillery. My answer was
that I would do my best. So it came about that in some three years from
my first appointment I had reached the position of practically
Second-in-Command. The fulfilment of my vision seemed to be coming more
quickly than my wildest dreams ever expected.

To carry out retrenchment is ever an unpleasant and thankless job, and
the first six months of our new regime was no exception to the rule. If
you remember, the military forces of the colony comprised no less than
four separate systems--the Regulars or Permanent Artillery, the partially
paid force, the Volunteers, and the rifle clubs. Each of them was serving
under different regulations. Each also had its own interests to
safeguard, and each its staunch supporters. As the pruning knife began
its work, so, violent opposition arose from those to whom it was being
applied. Presently, as the knife kept on moving, dissatisfaction became
general. The supporters of each system wished for the retrenchment of the
others and the maintenance of their own. This, of course, was specially
the case with the partially paid and the volunteer forces. The first
claimed that, with their greater efficiency, if the numbers were somewhat
increased the colony would have a more reliable force than if the
Voluntee