ARMED CONSTABULARY EOECE.

G.—No.*

13

Remarks. In addition to the foregoing, the force in this district have been engaged watching Hauhau prisoners, upwards of sixty of whom are now in the several pas under surveillance, thirty-three have been sent to Napier, under escort, since my taking command. Drains from the redoubt to the river have been cut, slabbed, and covered in. But the principal duties of the force in this frontier district are, scouting, patrolling, and carrying despatches ; road making has only recently commenced. I have, &c., George J. Gumming, Inspector A.C., The Commissioner Armed Constabulary Force, Commanding Te AVairoa District. Wellington.

Enclosure 6. Inspector Noake to the Commissioner Armed Constabulary. Armed Constabulary District Office. Sir,— Patea, Bth July, 1871. In compliance with the instructions contained in Circular, No. 47,1 have the honor to forward my report on the duties performed by the Armed Constabulary iu this District, from Ist June, 1870, to 30th June, 1871, as follows: — Military Duties. 1. Average strength of Officers and Men in District. —Ninety (90). 2. Nature of Parades and Drills. —lnspection parades, and mounted and foot drills. 3. Operations in the Field. —Nil. 4. Patrolling and Scouting. —-A dailypatol from both mountedand foot Constabulary at WaihiStation, up to April, 1871, the former for the country around the AVaingongoro river and the bush clearings inland of AVaihi; the latter for the bush in the neighborhood of the working party from Waihi. Constant communication by patrols has been kept up almost daily, between Patea and AVaihi stations by the mounted men, who called at Hawera and Manutahi for letters or despatches. The two constables stationed at AVereroa, up to March, IS7I, were employed in patrolling the country in the neighborhood. A force of one officer and thirty-six men from AVaihi, patrolled the country inland of Otapawa for two days during the month of February, and one officer and twenty-six men, the country towards Te Ngaire for three days during the month of March. 5. Conveying Mails and Despatches. —Up to January. 1871, the mounted orderlies carried the mail to and from Patea, Manutahi, Hawera, and AVaihi; and on occasions, when found necessary, they have carried despatches to Wairoa, Wereroa, and Wanganui. 6. Escorts, Guards, Sfc. —Escorts furnished from the mounted men to attend the Hon. the Defence Minister from AVanganui to Rangitikei, and the Hon. the Premier through the district on two occasions. A mounted sergeant was sent to New Plymouth with the Storekeeper, A. C, and a mounted constable accompanied Lieut.-Colonel Gorton from AVaihi to AVanganui. An ammunition escort proceeded from Patea to Waihi in July, 1870. Foot constables, employed on town police duty, have on four occasions escorted civil prisoners to AVanganui, AVellington, or New Plymouth. A guard consisting of one non-commissioned officer and six men has been posted daily at AVaihi, from July, 1870, to date, and one constable from Patea was placed on guard over the magazine, from June to December, 1870. 7. Making and improving Target ranges. —At Patea, during the month of November, 1870, nine men were employed four days in making a new range; in December, 1870, two men were employed three days improving the same, and in January, 1871, three men were employed three days in erecting butts. In June, 1871, on account of the swampy nature of the ground on the range, it was found necessary to provide another, which has been completed, taking five men about three days. At AVaihi, a range of 600 yards was cleared, butts erected, and wood targets fixed, during January, 1871. 8. Telegraph Linemen. —Mounted constable P. Fortescue was appointed to this duty in July, 1870, and it will be seen hereafter in this report, the number of times he has been called upon to act in this capacity. 9. Issuers and Storekeepers. —Foot constable W. Finley has been doing duty in charge of A. C. stores for the 12 months, ending 30th June, 1871. 10. Erection of Redoubts and Stockades. —The force at Waihi, with the exception of those engaged on guards, patrols, &c, have been employed felling, splitting and sawing timber for a Stockade around the blockhouses, which when complete, will be a substantial bullet proof enclosure. Civil Duties. 1. Steps taken for the prevention of crime. —An average of four men from Patea have been engaged in town and country police duty, and one man at AVairoa, during the twelve months. 2. Attending Civil Courts. —Members of the force have always been in attendance at the monthly sittings of the R. M. Court, Patea, and on one occasion, two men attended the Supreme Court, Wellington, during the months of August and September, 1870. 3. Attending Lands Courts. —Nil. 4. Taking Census. —Sergeant King, AVanganui, was engaged taking the census, from Wanganui town to Patea river, eleven days, and mounted constable H. Black, from Patea river to AVaingongoro river, eighteen days. Public and Useful Works. 1. Nature and extent of Road Works. —During June, 1870, a side cutting was made at Oika, abou' thirty chains in extent. 2. Building Bridges and Culverts. —One culvert at Oika, during June, 1870. 3. Building Houses, Stables, Sfc. —Two commodious block-houses have been built at Waihi, capable 4