WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2549, 8 March 1877, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

Wednesday.

. : It is reported that the Constabulary and the police will be at once amalgamated, "but at first they will only be sworn in till the 30th of June next, so that those who have been engaged under the 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 three hundred and fifty men, .will.be held as a reserve, and stationed in native districts. These will receive the same pay as the present A.C., and will do similar duty. The remaining divisions, numbering about the same in the aggregate of the several police forces, will form the police for the whole colony, and 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. But they will not be required to take the field. Their pay will be about j the same as that, now received by the Christchurch police. Inspectors will be moved from station to station with a view

to their acquiring local knowledge in each district. Probably one sub-inspector will be appointed, but there will be no special inspectors for each island. The proposed alteration will, it is believed, effect a saving of about £30,000 per annum.

;•■■■■ The ; s.sV Hiriemoa, with 'the -firing representatives,.leaves for Taranaki and the.|Manukau at eight o'clock, this evening, and will arrive at Onehunga on Friday morning.