5

H.—l6

single men ; Nelson—Police gaol, and gaoler's quarters ; Westport—Quarters for married man; Queenstown —Sergeant's residence ; Blenheim—Stable. Extensive repairs, additions, &c, have been carried out at Pukekohe, Mercer, Eawene, Dargaville, Ngaruawahia, the Spit (Napier), Dannevirke, Normanby, Marton, Eeefton, Ahaura, Greymouth, Christchurch, Culverden, Eangiora, Kaiapoi, Bingsland, Lyttelton, Kaikoura, Leeston, Glenavy, Timaru, Fairlie, Hampden, Oamaru, Alexandra, Otautau, and Tologa Bay. New stations are much needed at Mangaweka, Hamilton, Kihikihi, Masterton, Akaroa, King Street (Dunedin), Gore, Eoxburgh, Waikouaiti, and Arrowtown. New cells, watch-house, and matron's quarters are very much needed in Auckland. The present cells are entirely out of date, and, owing to their age, confined position, and frequently crowded state in consequence of the number being inadequate for the present requirements of the city, I have no hesitation in saying they are, especially in hot weather, a danger to the health of the prisoners confined therein. I strongly recommend that improved cells, a watch-house, and matron's quarters be erected without further delay in rear of the new barracks, and in accordance with the plans prepared about a year ago. A sergeant's residence is needed at New Plymouth, and new quarters for single men at Eeefton. Extensive repairs, renovations, and additions are required at many other stations throughout the colony. Cost op Police, etc. A return is hereto annexed showing the proportion of police to population, and cost of police per inhabitant, in each of the Australasian Colonies (except Tasmania, which, owing to decentralisation, cannot be obtained), from which it will be seen that New Zealand has one policeman to every 1,359 of the population, at a cost of 2s. lOfd. per head, while the other colonies range from one policeman to every 1,074 of the population at a cost of 4s. 1-J-d. in South Australia, to one to 364, at a cost of 12s. lOfd., in Western Australia. Strength and Distribution. Beturns are also annexed showing the strength and distribution of the Force on the 31st March last. I have, &c, J. B. Tunbridge, Commissioner.

EXTEACTS FBOM ANNUAL EEPOETS OF OFFICEES IN CHAEGE OF DISTBICTS.

Inspector J. Cullen : Auckland, Waikato, and Bay op Islands. The new police-station here was opened on the 3rd January last, and provides good office accommodation, and very comfortable quarters for about forty single men. A new stable was also erected here during the year. A new watchhouse and set of cells are badly required here, as the old ones are totally inadequate for present requirements, and are also in an insanitary condition. A report on this subject has already been furnished to you. The conduct of the men has been very satisfactory, very few having been punished during the year. There has been a substantial decrease in the number of the more serious offences, such as thefts undescribed, burglary, assaults and robbery, thefts from dwellings, &c, and the percentage of undetected crime in the district has also decreased during the year.

Inspector F. McGovern : Napier and East Coast. The return of crime for the year ended 31st March, 1900, shows that during that year 1,208 offences were reported as against 1,375 reported in the year 1898, a decrease of 167 cases for last year. Of the 1,899 cases, fifty-two were committed for trial, forty resulting in conviction in the Supreme Court. The decrease for last year is pretty evenly distributed over the various classes of offences. Only two serious crimes against the person were reported in 1899 —viz., one case of infanticide ; accused acquitted in Supreme Court—and a Maori shooting another with intent at Whakatane, the latter arising out of a personal quarrel between the two Natives, and accused was sentenced to two years' hard labour. Sly-grog selling in the district appears to have completely died out, not a single case having been reported during the year. The conduct of the men has been good and punishments rare.