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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4979, 8 March 1877, Page 2

It is reported that the Armed Constabulary and police will be At once amalgamated; but at first the latter will only be sworn in till the 30th -of June-next,-so -that • those -who have been engaged ' under provincial Ordinances may, if, they think fit, retire after that'date. From the Ist of July-the whole force will be enrolled for one year certain, four divisions of which, numbering 350 men, will be held as ;a reserve, and stationed in the native districts. They will receive the Bame pay as the present Armed Constabulary, and will do similar duty; the remaining divisions, numbering about the same as the aggregate of the present several provincial police forces, will form the police for the whole colony. They will be liable to serve in any part of it, and may be concentrated in case of emergency, to defend any point of threatened attack until other forces are organised ; but they will not be required te take the field. Their pay will'be-about the same as that now' received by the Christchurch police. Inspectors will be : moved from Btation to station, with a view to their acquiring local knowledge in each district. Possibly one superintendent-inspector will be appointed* but there will be no special inspectors for each island. The proposed changes,'it is believed, will-effect a saving of about £30,000 per annum.