H.—lo.

14

Table No. 3. OTAGO DIVISION OF CONSTABULARY. RETURN of Local Distribution of the Police; also of all Crime reported, Arrests, and Prosecutions in the respective Districts of Otago Division of Constabulary during the Year ended on 31st December, 1879.

Enclosure 3 in No. 1. Superintendent Broham, Christchurch, to the Commissioner Armed Constabulary, Wellington. New Zealand Constabulary Superintendent's Office, Sib, — Christchurch, Ist April, 1880. In accordance with the request contained in your letter of the 19th February (No. 77), I have the honor to report upon the Constabulary of this division for the year ending the 31st ultimo. Attached is a comparative return of the crime of the division for the years ending the 31st December, 1878 and 1879; and also a return showing the strength and distribution of the police of the division at the present time. On reference to the statistics of crime it will be seen that there is scarcely an offence known to the law which has not been brought under the notice of the police during the last two years, though the various offences reported do not show any extraordinary increase either in number or gravity as compared with the offences of former years, but seem to bear a proportionate increase to the growth of population. During the year 1878, 3402 offences were reported to the police, and 3190 persons were taken into custody ; while for last year 3800 offences were reported, and 3467 persons were apprehended. Crime arising from party feeling has heretofore been rare in New Zealand, and until the 26th December last had never once occurred here. * On that day, however, an attack was made on an Orange procession in the streets of Christchurch, by some five and thirty men armed with pickaxe handles, and twenty or five and twenty of the processionists were more or less injured. On the same day and about the same hour an attack was also made on an Orange procession in the streets of Timaru, by some hundreds of men unarmed, who prevented the procession from taking place. Nineteen men were arrested in Christchurch for taking part in the riots, and nine in Timaru. The offences, however, are not noted in the Statistics now furnished, as the cases were not disposed of until January of this year. Owing to the amount of popular indignation which the disturbances have evoked on the side of law and order, it is very improbable that any such outrages upon the public peace are likely to occur here again. The estimate as to the number of men and cost of police for the ensuing year, which has lately been submitted to you, has been prepared with every view to economy, and shows but a very slight increase as compared with the present strength and cost. Four years ago, when the population of the provincial district of Canterbury was at most thirty-five thousand less than it is at present, the entire strength of police was one hundred men, and such is its present strength. An increase of two constables at Timaru is all that has been asked for. In connection with the estimate of cost for next year, I would beg to bring favorably under your notice the case of constables in charge of stations who have served ten years and upwards in the police. In several places, as you are aware, there is but one constable stationed; in many instances such constables have served for many years, and when acting thus independently and removed from the supervision of a sergeant, occupy a position of some trust. Owing to the slowness of promotion an efficient constable so situated may continue for years in the force without advancement. In the Colony of Victoria, I understand, that all constables of ten years service and upwards receive sixpence per diem extra pay.

Districts. Population. Number of Police Sations. Total Number of Police of all Ranks. Offences Reported. Arrests and j Prosecutions. Remarks. I )unedin ... 63,000 17 62 3038 2389 louthland... 23,427 10 20" 520 466 * In addition to this, 1 Districl Constable is stationed ai Stewart's Island, ?uapeka ... 19,086 10 17+ 169 154 + Including 1 Gaoler. Xmstan .. 10,125 9 18J 202 151 -t This includes the Gaolers al Clyde, Naseby, and Queenstown, and excludes the Chinese Interpreter who alsc acts as District Constable among Chinese. 426 14,300 4 13|| 441 |j Including 1 Gaoler. lamaru Totals ... 130 4370 3586 129,938 50