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Cost of Police, etc. A return is herewith annexed (Appendix D) giving proportion of police to the population and the cost of police per inhabitant in each of the Australian States and in this colony. Inspectors' Reports. Extracts from the annual reports of the Inspectors in charge of districts are hereto annexed. I have, &c, W. Dinnie, Commissioner of Police.

EXTRACTS FROM ANNUAL REPORTS OF OFFICERS IN CHARGE OF DISTRICTS. Inspector J. Cullen, Auckland, Waikato, and Bay of Islands. The authorised strength of the district on the 31st March was 142 of all ranks, an increase of 7 over that of the preceding year. Newmarket, Newton, Ponsonby, and Waihi Stations have benefited by the increase in the strength. The casualties during the year were as follow : 2 sergeants and 2 constables retired on superannuation, whilst 8 constables and 1 district constable resigned. I am pleased to be able to report that less sly-grog selling is carried on in the King-country at the present time than has been the case for many years past. New cells are being erected at Cambridge, Te Awamutu, and Taumarunui, and the old Brigade Office, Auckland, has been converted into a residence for the Inspector. The proposed new central station at Newton, near the reservoir, needs to be taken in hand at once, in order to provide accommodation for the increased staff that is required to give proper police protection to Newton, Grey Lynn, and Arch Hill districts. A new station and office are very urgently needed at Kihikihi, where a most unsanitary house, situate over a quarter of a mile from the lock-up, is rented and occupied by the constable in charge. The Department has a very fine reserve at Kihikihi, whereon, as early as possible, a residence should be erected in proximity to the lock-up. New stations are also required at Raglan, Waiuku, Avondale, Karangahake, Taumarunui, and Helensville, new cells being (in addition) required at the two last-named stations, and at Whangarei. With the exception of some of the junior members, the conduct of the Force in this district during the past year has been fair, and the numerous duties outside ordinary police-work have been satisfactorily performed.

Inspector E. Macdonell, Napier and East Coast. The return of crime for the year ending the 31st December, 1904, shows that 1,898 offences of various kinds were reported to the police, as against 1,907 during 1903, a decrease of 9. Of these 1,837 were arrested or summoned, there being only 66 undetected offences. The following offences show the principal increases over last year, viz. : Burglary, 25 ; drunkenness, 89 ; indecent exposure, 7 ; obstructing and resisting police, 10 ; sly-grog selling, 10 ; theft, 7 thefts from dwellings, 8. The principal decreases are —abusive language, 14 ; assaults, common, 22 ; assaults on police, 6 deserting wives and children, 10 ; false pretences, 9 ; gaming offences, 27 ; malicious injury to property, 18 ; obscene language, 19 ; refusing to quit licensed premises, 23 ; thefts of cattle and horses, 7 ; sheep-stealing, 6 ; vagrancy, 19. Re the increase shown in drunkenness, Gisborne, Hastings, and Dannevirke show or account for the principal portion of it, while in Napier there was a slight decrease. For the first time I have to report unusual trouble with the Natives in the Bay of Plenty—viz., two serious assaults on the police, and also on several Europeans; in each case the offenders were promptly and well dealt with by the Court, which I hope will tend to prevent a repetition of such offences. Forty-eight informations were laid during the year ending the 31st March, 1905, against licensees for breaches of the licensing laws, resulting in 16 convictions, 28 dismissals, and 4 withdrawn. Besides the above breaches by licensees, 77 informations were laid against members of the public for minor breaches of the same laws —viz., breaches of prohibition orders, supplying prohibited persons, and persons found on licensed premises during prohibited hours, &c. —resulting in 63 convictions and 14 dismissals. Eleven informations were laid for sly-grog selling, resulting in 8 convictions and 3 withdrawals. Fines amounting to £30 were imposed. There were 89 fires reported during the year, as against 83 the previous year. A number of them appear suspicious and give considerable trouble. One man was convicted of arson and sentenced to three years' hard labour.