AEMED CONSTABULARY FORCE.

9

G.—No. 5.

Tapuaeharuru, on the evidence of men of the Force, was convicted and fined £5. Two men of the Armed Constabulary were apprehended at Opepe in September, for stealing meat from the contractor ; other charges of having stolen property in his possession were preferred against one of them ; both were convicted and sentenced, one to two months and the other to seven months imprisonment, and both dismissed the Force. ' Thomas Ellis, charged with having obtained a watch under false pretences at Napier, was apprehended at Tahiti, on the road to Tauranga, by two mounted men despatched from Opepe, who escorted him from thence to Te Haroto, over one hundred miles, and handed him over to the civil authorities. In December last, Constable Motley, whilst on duty for the Government Agent, Napier, met and captured a man named Hammond, one of three prisoners who had escaped from the gaol at Napier, and for whose apprehension a reward of fifty pounds had been offered. 2. Attending Civil Courts. —On the 24th October a court was held at Tapuaeharuru by S. Locke, Esquire, R.M. • Constable Read acting as Clerk to the Court. On the 10th February a Court was held by J. M. Roberts, Esq., J.P.. and J. M. Gibbes, Esq., J.P. ; Sergeant Talty acting as clerk. And, on the 24th February, a Court was held by the same Justices, Sergeant Leslie acting as clerk. A constable was in attendance during each sitting. 3. Attending Land Courts. —No Land Courts have been held in the district during the past year. 4. Taking Census. —Sergeant-Major Bennet, Sergeants Talty and Noble were employed on the 27th and 28th February, at and around Opepe, Runanga and Tapuaeharuru in collecting agricultural statistics, taking census, &c. - Public and Useful Works. 1. Nature and Extent of Road Works. —Opepe.—One non-commissioned officer and seven men were employed in March last, in making approaches to Rangitaiki Bridge, 12 miles distant. These consisted of a solid cutting 208 feet long, averaging 16 feet broad and 51 feet deep, through pumice soil, and the filling up of two spaces of a capacity of 149 cubic yards, for which the earth removed from the cutting was made available. No regular road-work except the above was commenced at this post till the 9th instant. Since then, seven men have been employed for 16 days, and have completed 68 chains of road 20 feet wide, including improvement of 5 cuttings, which entailed the removal of 714 cubic yards of earth, the remainder consisted of formations over level country, partly through thick and high ti-tree scrub. Soil, formerly light, but latterly stony. Tapuaeharuru. —Road-work from this post was commenced from Ist of April last. One non-commissioned officer and eight men being employed daily ; the amount completed up to this date is 243 chains, 20 feet wide, principally formation on the old line of road, made by natives in the beginning of 1870 ; the cuttings have been improved, embankments made where required, and the crown of the road raised from 12 to 15 inches. This party is encamped nearly two mile3 from the redoubt. Runanga. —Road-work commenced at this statiou in the beginning of December last; the average number of men employed during the year is 16 ; the work performed up to this date is 89 chains heavy bush, cut and cleared, 66 feet wide, 24£ chains side-cutting, averaging 16 feet wide and 9 feet deep ; 201 chains side-cutting, 9 feet wide and 5 feet deep, and 20 chains of road widened from 9 to 16 feet deep, averaging in depth 10 feet. Of this work, 44 chains have been through heavy bush, 19 chains through burnt bush, and the remainder through flax land. Nature of soil —pumice drifts, overlaying stiff red clay, the latter most tenacious and difficult to work. The party from this post are encamped over three miles from the Stockade. Tarawera. —Road-work commenced as this'post about the beginning of December ; average number employed daily, 22 ; \3\ chains of road, 20 feet broad, have been completed ; the whole of this work was block and side cuttings, containing over 3,000 cubic yards; the removal of the earth often requiring to be done by barrow-work, and two or more shifts with shovels. Soil, generally pumice. Sixteen chains of bush were also cleared by this party. Te Haroto. —Road-making commenced at this post in the beginning of January ; average number of men employed daily, 10; 164 chains of road-work, 20 feet wide, have been completed, the whole deep side cuttings, and the greater portion heavily timbered. 2. Building Bridges and Culverts. —Eight culverts have been built by the Runanga Road Party : three of squared timber, supplied by Mr. Bold, District Engineer ; the remainder of rough timber. Six culverts have been built by the Tarawera Road Party; and three culverts for the repair of the old road by Opepe detachment. 3. Building Houses, Stables, eye. —The following buildings of sawn timber have been erected at the different posts, the whole of the work being performed by members of the Force. Opepe. —Rarrack-room 50 feet by 18 feet, with sleeping accommodation for 46 men; 20 feet by 18 feet, wing to the above. Reading-room, 20 feet by 18 feet. District Office, 16 feet by 12 feet wide, lined. Officers Quarters, 20 feet by 12 feet, lined. Tapuaeharuru. —Barrack-room, 40 feet by 20 feet, with berths for 32 men. Officer's quarters, 20 feet by 12 feet. The timber for these buildings was cut at Opepe, and carted nearly 12 miles. Runanga.—Mess-room, 24 feet by 16 feet. Reading-room, 22 feet by 16 feet. Barrack-room, 58 feet by 16 feet, with berths for 50 men. Store and Office, 16 feet by 10 feet. Guard-room, 12 feet by 10 feet. Tarawera. —Mess-room, 30 feet by 16 feet. Officers' Quarters, 16 feet by 12 feet, and Officers' Quarters, 10 feet by 8 feet. Te Haroto —Mess-room, 30 feet by 16 feet. Store and Office, 20 feet by 14 feet. Guard-room, 12 feet by 10 feet. Porch to Block-house also completed. The Timber for Te Haroto was carried by the men over a hill a mile long, and that for Tarawera and Runanga by the men, from distances varying from 300 to 1000 yards. Stables with slab walls and shingled roofs have been erected at Opepe, 32 feet by 20 feet; at Runanga, 20 feet by 12 feet; and atTe Haroto, 30 feet by 14 feet. In addition to 3