23

H.—lo.

At each of the two road camps, two guards, one of a sergeant and fifteen men, the other of a sergeant and six men, and a picquet of twenty constables and a sergeant, were detailed daily for duty. Special covering parties, of not less than a sergeant and twenty constables from each camp, were sent out daily for protection of the men working (who also took rifles with them.) The whole being placed under charge of an officer at each camp. Escorts have been supplied when required to arrest native prisoners and convey them to Wellington, for protection of Public Works' Corps on the march, and to protect ammunition waggons from station to station. Orderlies. —Plave been detailed as required for attendance on the Hon. the Native and Defence Minister, and on the Royal Commission for Native Affairs. Rifle Ranges. —Ranges have been made and kept in good repair during the year at Waihi, Opunaki, Oakura, and Bayley's Farm. Telegraph Duties. —Parties have been detailed to assist the Telagraph department in erecting and connecting the line with the road camps on the several advances of the force, and a sergeant has been detailed for duty as operator at Okato, and one constable at each road camp. Storekeepers and Issuers. —A sergeant at New Plymouth, and a constable at Waihi, and one at Opunaki, have performed the duties attached to the store department. A sergeant is stationed at Patea for the purpose of fowarding goods received from Wellington, and is also engaged drilling the volunteers and issuing arms from the Militia Store assisted by a constable. Redoubts. —At Waihi the ditch round two sides of the redoubt has been deepened, and a ditch dug in the front, a banquette has been erected inside, and the level of the square lowered. At Waingongoro a redoubt was erected on a position commanding the bridge. At Oakura a strong bastioned redoubt, capable of holding 300 men, was erected for the defence of the inhabitants if required, and a strong square redoubt was also built at Bayley's Farm. The redoubts at Opunaki, Okato, and Pukearuhe have been kept in good order and repair. Small temporary redoubts and earthworks have been thrown up at the various camps as the road parties have advanced. Civil Duties. Steps taken for the Prevention of Crime. —During the months of July and August, 181 Maories were arrested for illegal trespass and ploughing on European land. A number of these prisoners were tried at New Plymouth and sentenced to two months' imprisoment, and to find surieties to keep the peace for 12 months, the remainder are awaiting their trial. A constable has been employed at Normanby on police duty, also one at Okato. Attending Civil Courts. —Members of the force have attended Civil Courts as witnesses whenever required. Taking Census. —Agricultural statistics were partly collected by members of the force. Public and Useful Work: Nature and Extent of Road Works. —At Waihi a road has been made from the station to Normanby Main-road, 38 chains long, principally side cuttings. A bridge has been placed over the Waihi Stream, 22 feet span ; the timber being cut and prepared in the bush by Constabulary. A road 50 chains long has also been made leading to the Hawera Main-road, and two culverts built and placed in position. Waimate Plains. —The following works have been completed by the road party, under Inspector Goring, since the 26th January : —South of the Kapuni Bridge, 2J^ miles of road have been formed 24 feet wide and 12 feet each side of the roads have been cleared of flax for 100 chains. Round the Inaha and Kapuni Bridges the scrub was cleared for 20 feet, and about 200 cubic yards of earth shifted from the sides of the road to fill up the hollows. sH miles of road, 24 feet wide, were formed between the Kapuni and Otakeho bridges, an embankment 30 yards long over a swamp close to Otakeho was made r chain wide, 176 cubic yards of earth were shifted on to the embankment to complete a road on top 24 feet wide, ditches 4 feet wide 4 feet deep were dug each side of the embankment, and a culvert 18 feet by 4 feet built at one end. At three bridges in this section the scrub was cleared all round for a distance of 20 yards. 350 cubic yards earth were shifted in this section to fill in hollows. 4% miles of road, 24 feet wide, were formed between Otakehi and Oeo, and 1 mile metalling dressed, water tables and culverts cleared. 12 chains cleared of heavy flax and toitoi, 1 chain on each side from centre of road, and the remainder of road cleared of flax 12 feet on each side. 600 cubic yards of earth were removed from cuttings, and several embankments made, taking 250 cubic yards earth. Nearly 13 miles of road were completed. The detachment under Superintendent Tuke, which started to work at Stoney River the beginning of March, has completed 6 miles of road formed in a direct line towards Opunaki, including 2 miles of old road repaired. The rather numerous streams and swamps encountered during the execution of this work have unavoidably retarded its progress, and necessiated much extra and unforseen labour. Difficulties are however in a fair way to be overcome, and judging from the general appearance of the country immediately in advance, little delay is likely to occur should the weather prove favorable. At Pukearuhe a road has been completed to the rear of the station, across a gully into the ranges, for the purpose of obtaining firewood ; this work included a very heavy side cutting. A bridge has been constructed at this station for camp purposes. Building Houses, &>c. —At Waihi the following buildings have been erected : —District office, 30 feet x 18 feet, with a double chimney; clothing store (of iron), 24 feet x 16 feet; forage store (of iron), 16 feet xl 2 feet; bathing shed, 14 feet xlO feet; two urinals and four sentry boxes. Alterations have been made to the telegraph office, officers' quarters (one chimney rebuilt and part of another), saddle and harness rooms and the latrines. A chimney has been built to the station office, and a screen built round the latrines. Nearly all the station buildings have been painted. At Opunaki the undermentioned buildings have been erected : —An addition of 15 feet to barrackroom, and a stone chimney built to it—the timber for the addition was sawn in the bush ; 2 raupo huts,