THE POLICE.

Evening Star, Issue 4139, 2 June 1876, Page 3

THE POLICE.

The first of the departmental reports to hj published by the Provincial Government ii that of Mr Weldon, as follows . I have xpuch pleasuro in stating'that I think tbi department is-ln most efficient order, and .that al duty connected .therewith is executed with celeritj and harmony. Tho whole of the Province is nov accurately mapped off into districts, and these dis triots are formed into divisions, thus giving eighi districts and forty divisions. The police, ore s( placed that there is, aa it were, a net-work of sta lions throughout; and general supervision is so ex ercieed that but few offenders escape the ends ol Justice. VeTy much pains have been taken in so fai perfecting this system,, and, without going .into details, I bqlieve that the police organisation ol this Province is as. complete almost as need lx desired. - . ... . , Perhaps it may not he out ofplace here to xemarfl that pdssihly the time ’ has now arrived when the Government might with advantage adopt the course pursued elsewhere in escorting gold for the Banks •—that is, seeing the facility 'which coaches and railways afford, X would' stronglg .urge that in future the Government should not receive the on* tody of any such treasure, nor yet pay fov.its conveyance 1 hither and-thither over the.Piovinoe, but that the banka, retain the custody of their. oWs gold, and likewise pay for the carriage thereof, thjp Government still continuing to afloid the,necessary police protection. Thus, in a. business tffiiht ol view, I think this is only reasonable; and if carried out, a saving of something.like LI,COOa-yoar can be effected vritißiont withdrawing the necessary assist- , ancAta tendering such treasure less secure than at • *~ , Another subject, which I wish to bring promthently underffiptice, is the formation of an efficient revenue police, to cope with the ; evil effects result* ing from breaches of the Licensing Act; and I beg to add tbat it only requires a sum of money—say, os beginning, Lsoor*placed at the disposal of the head of the police department to' establish a system of revenue police that I and sura will confer incalcnIthlebenefiu upon the public by checking drunkenness and the miseries arising therefrom.. I have frqpn time to time brought under notice the necessity for some better legal provision feeing made to prevent the adulteration of articles of food anddriuk, and also, the necessity for seme provision beihg made whereby the police might be recognised in initiating and . conducting, prosecutions of a . public nature in Courts presided over by Justices cf the^Peoce; but, having previously gone into particulars on both tbese subjects, I now merely allude to them, so that they may not be overlooked.. As is usual on such occasions; as this,- I forward herewith the following returnslst. A return of the numerical strength and distribution of the force. 2nd. A return of 'police cases for the year ending the 31st of December last, which shows ,391' cases reported, and 8,949 prosecutions, etc. rd. A return of the district gaols, and persons, employed in connection therewith.—l have, etc.,. * T. K. Weldor, Commissioner of Police; Return No. 1 shows the, strength and distribution of the police force on March 31, 1870, to beln Dnnedin, fifty-six men supervised by the Commis--sidner of Police 1 ;' in Tokomalriro, six men supervised by a sergeant of police; in Waikonaiti, four nmu supervised bya sergeant of police; in Oaniarn, seven men supervised by a snb-lnspector of police ; in'Tnapeko, nine men supervised by,On inspector of police; in Mount Ida, four men supervised by a ser gednt of police; In Southland; sixteen men supe? - ■ vised by'an inspector of police; in Dnnstan thirteen men, supervised by au inspector of police. Total strength, 115 men, made up as follows: one commissioner/ one clerk, four inspectors, #ne subinspector, one sergt.-maJor,' seventeen sergeants, eighty-four constables, three detectives, three cooks." ' „ Return No, 2 shows the number of offences committed and persons arrested or proceeded against t>y summons for the year, ending- December 31, 1875. For abduction, one male, apprehended and disohorged- For absconding teem Industrial Schoo 1 , one" female; muntaarily coL vioted. Absconding one ditto; For. arson, three males committed for trial, two.summarily convicted, two -discharged. Sot assault and robbery; one male committed,‘one do discharged. For assault with intent: Three males oommlttedfortrial. For vio'eit assault: Qne male committed for trial, one do discharged. For indecent assmtdt: Three malea-coiu-mittod for trial, eno do discharged. For assaults: Five males committed for trial, seventy-four do aid tWo females summarily convicted, eighteen tholes and two females discharged.. >. For assaults on police: Forty-five males summarily v convicted, two do discharged. For beaatiolity: one male committed for trial. For bigamy: One female committed for trial. Breach of the peace: Eighty-one males snmmarily-convicted; fifteen do discharged. Burglary: Two males committed for trial; one do discharged. Brooking into shops 1 with intent to steal: One male committed for trial. Breach of carriage regulations ; One mole 1 (sumjnqrily convicted. Carrying ’naked lights in shipr holds: - Six males summarily convicted. Carrying' offensive weapons: Oue mole summarily. convicted; one - do.. discharged. Carrying on business on Crown lands without a license: One male.summarily convicted. Child desertion : Two females summarily - convicted. Coneeslment of birth; One female committed for trial. . Contempt of Court: Eight, males*snmmarily convioted, one female discharged. Cruelty to animals Seven males, summarily convicted. Cutting and wounding: Three males committed for trial. Breaches of Customs Act* One male summarily convicted. Damaging property ; Thirty-five males ana three females, summarily convicted, twelve stales and'two females discharged. Damaging police Uniform: Ffteen males snmmarily convicted. Disorderly conduct: Eighty-two males and eight females summarily convicted, seventeen males and four flutes discharged. Disobeying maintenance orders: Ten males summarily convicted, one do discharged. Disobeying summonses; Three males summarily convicted, three do discharged Discharging firearms Three males summarily convicted., Dog-stealing: One mole snmmarily convicted. Breaches of dog nuisance Ordinance: seven males and two females snmmarily convicted. Drunk - and d isorderly, l,4Bßmalcs and 174 feniales summarily iponvicted, 301' males and forty-one females discharged. Embezzlement: Five males committed for tfcJal* thri e ditto summarily convicted, three ditto discharged. Embezzling ship’s cargo and stores; Ten <males summarily, convicted, five ditto discharged. Breaches of Employment of Females Act: Four mates discharged. Escaping from legal cnstody: One male discharged.. False pretences; Six males committed for trim, twenty-four males and five females summarily convicted, eleven males and one female discharged; Attempted do: One male summarily convicted. Forgery: Four males committed for trial ; two do summarily, convicted; on* do discharged. Forgery ahd'mtraring; One nmle committed for trial; one do summarily con-; vlcted. Fraudulent insolvency: Three moles committed for trial. Furious riding: Eight males ■mamarily convicted. Gambling ': Six males rsnmmarily convicted. Breaches of Oldfields Act (summons cases).; Five males summarily convicted; two 'do discharged. Habitual drunkenness : Ten males and five females'summarily convicted; six males and One female discharged. Breaches Cf Hawkers’ License Ordinance ; One male summarily convicted. Harboring ship deserters: one ..mate,, summarily convicted; one , do, discharged. Horse-stealing i Two males, committed for trial. Illegally on premises: Twenty.one nmoles and one female summarily convicted; thirteen females discharged. Illegally detaining children • . One female, discharged, Indecency; Sixteen males md one female, summarily convicted; one male and one female discharged. Insulting language :' One male, summarily, convicted. Inciting to rescue prisoners t Oue male, snmmarily convicted. Inciting to resist police; One male, summarily convicted, Larceny; Fifteen mates and two females, . committed for trial; ninety-two mates and ten "females summarily convicted; forty-offeht inalc-s ;sUd ten females discharged. Larceny from dwel- ‘ lings: Four males and one fema e discharged; fifteen males and six females summarily convicted; - ten'Cteles sud ,four females discharged, Larceny from sG’di'SjTwo ft males committed for trial; • eight-males arid two females summarily convicted; foid females disobliged. Larceny from hotels: : Three males committed for trial; four males sum--tfarily convicted. Larceny from the, erson: Three committed for trial; one do summarily .. convicted; two males and o»s feihale dis''Charged- Larceny as balleeq* Two males committed for trial; two do snmmarily convicted. Larceny from tents; Four mates summindly convicted. Larceny from ships: Two males sampaarily convicted. Larceny from gardens: One male 'summarily convicted. Larceny from stores: One female discbarged."Attempt d lareenj from the person: Two nudes discharged, t Lunacy: •,- Forty-one mates and eight females summarily convicted; forty-six males and five females discharged Letting off fireworks: Eighteen males summarilj cojrtieted ; seventeen do discharged. Breaches o: Diseasing Ordinance; Twenty-gix males andsevei < females summarily convicted; twenty-two mnlei ujid two females discharged. Murder; Two male; . And Are female committed - for trial; two female; summarily convicted. Manslaughter: Throe male -'.-eosiwitted for, trial, two ditto discharged. Mali ciouslf killing cattle: One male committed fo: teial. MalieionSly maiming cattle; One mole eom niitted-for trlal. ene ditto disobarged. Breaches o 'Bye-laws: Twenty-seven males summarily .con victed, one ditto discharged. Mining withou licenses; Eleven males summarily convicted, on dittcr'discharged. Neglected and criminal ohfi - &&& : Fifty males and forty-five females summaril; eoAvicted, four males and two females dii charged. Obscene language; ’ Ninetyrfhrec male and forty-tme ' females - summarily oonrieted -. ten' inafea • and eleven females , discharged Obstructing thoreughfores i One male summaril f rioted. Abecoudmg from Ipyercargill Qiiam liUad t Nine males summarily 1 convictec tohes of Passengers* Act: Two mates summari! ’ mrir Ct dteohMged, fctiß f'ennlttteg e, t hj iieMmUe io hci|els Two. males discharged. Pei ■, TwO 'malte aunittasil V, One,mate ,discharged i -A' One male bummorU \ eonymlAt; - 'BriAimes of Frisen Aat r Qne male son Bapc; Twonmlcs committed fc ■ trial. Attempted dolour mMeftep|pnutfiM|estria - one do, summarily convicted. Brescmae of railwj bye.laws r Two males, snmmarily eoavioted; |e| do,dischargsd, 9«scn|ng prisoners: Four male

m $ ' •fimmirily"oonvioted. Attempted Msonburt Two aalw, zumiaarily convicted; om do, dlzobargad. Earirting and obztruotihg police t Twenty males, riuwjaanly oonrieted ; five do. discharged. Receiving stolen . property: One male, committed for trial,; two do, summarily convicted; . one ft male, discharged. Sheet stealing : Three males, committed for trial. Ship desertion: Tweafy-five males, summarily convicted-; three do, • discharged. Shipping Act: fifiSixty • seven males sumniarily convicted, fonrteenoo discharged. Sell|ng lottery tickets: one male summarily con* vioted, two do discharged. Soliciting dims: Two males snmmarily convicted. Soliciting prostitution: Five females summarily convicted. Breaches of Slaughter-house Ordinance; Three males discharged. ■ Surreptitlonßly obtaining .passaged by .ships: Three males summarily convicted, one do discharged. Breaches of Sunday Observance Ordinance : One male summarily convicted. Attempted ■nioide : One male committed ior trial, one female summarily convicted, two moles discharged. Threatened. suicide t One male discharged. Threatening language.; Sixteen males and one female summarily convicted,- one male discharged. Throwing;stones: Two females discharged. Trespass ; F.our males summarily convicted, one male and one female discharged. Breaches of Town and County Police' Ordinance (minor offences): Twentyone moles and one female summarily convicted, six males discharged. Unlawfully pursuing game: One male summarily convicted, two do discharged. Unlawful possession of game: Three males discharged. Uttering valueless cheques: One male summarily convicted. Vagrancy; Seventy-six nudes and forty, nine females summarily convicted: thirty-three males and thirty-seven females discharged. Wife desertion;'eleven males summarily convicted; three males discharged. Of a total of 4,891 offences committed during-the year, 3,919 persons were apprehended or proceeded against. There, toere three cases of infanticide, but the police were tumble to trace the crime. Of the three murder eases sent for trjal two were convicted of manslaughter, and thp jury acquitted the prisoner in the other case. Of the three manslaughter oases two were acquited at theSapreme Court;and the’ hill was ignored in the ether case. 3eturn.No. 3 shows the number and distribution of district gaolers, and .Matrons on March 31 last At Oamara there were one gaoler and one. matron; at Lawrence, two gaolers and- one matron; at Naseby, one gaoler and one matron; at Queenstown, one gaoler and one matron. The « ommiaaiouer reports that the Oaumrn Gaol has been so much shaken by earthquake as to require immediate repair : at Lawrence a reduction wap effected by dispensing With the servicesof the Sergeant Overseer of Works; at Naseby and Clyde, new gaols are being erected; and at Arrow tow a a new gaol is being erected; which, when completed, will obviate the necessity of continuing the Gaol at Queenstown.