9

H.—l6

Some transfers of members of the service were made during the year, which I have no doubt were beneficial to the service. Ormond Station was closed as unsuitable, and a station opened at Te Karaka, the present terminus of the Poverty Bay Railway ; this undoubtedly is an improvement. I am pleased to say that, with few exceptions, the conduct of the Force as a whole in this district was satisfactory. The return of crime for the year will show that they were attentive to their duties.

Inspector N. Kiely, Wanganui and West Coaj3T. Since my last report a new station has been handed over to the Department at Hunterville. Extensive repairs were carried out at the Palmerston North and Hawera Stations. The lock-up at Palmerston North has been added to; several new cells have been built, including separate cells and yard for female prisoners. The offences returns for the year 1905 show an increase of 135 offences on the year previous. The increase was chiefly in drunkenness, 122 ; arson and attempted arson, 7 ; disobeying orders of Court, 19 ; failing to support relatives, 18 ; game, illegally shooting, 11 ; illegally on premises, 12 ; indecent exposure, &c, 24 ; obscene and profane language, 13 ; obstructing and resisting police, 17 ; opiumsmoking, &c, 12 ; perjury, 3 ; rape, 3 ; receiving stolen property, 10 ; sly-grog selling, 3 ; vagrancy, 31. The decreases in offences are as follows : Assault, common, 49 ; cruelty to animals, 18 ; gaming offences. 15; obstructing thoroughfares, 19 ; theft, undescribed, 34; theft by servants, 26; trespass, 15. Offences reported, 2,792 ; detected, 2,720 ; undetected, 72. Several serious cases of breaking and entering occurred, but with the exception of one or two cases the offenders were all arrested and convicted. In former years large quantities of liquor was consumed at Maori tangis, particularly in the New Plymouth and Hawera subdistricts, causing considerable trouble among the Natives and endless worry to the police, who were powerless to put a stop to it. Thanks to the legislation of the past year or two such drunkenness is now at an end. Several prosecutions have taken place during the year for introducing liquor into Maori kaingas, which had a very beneficial effect. Complaints of sly-grog selling have been less frequent than in the year previous, though I am inclined to believe it is still carried on to some extent. In many of the licensing districts under my supervision the hotelkeepers have formed an association which has for its object the better management and conduct of hotels. This, together with the amendment of the licensing laws of last session has greatly improved the conduct of hotels. At the present time there are very few breaches of the Licensing Act in this district. The strength of the Force in this district on the 31st March was as follows : 1 Inspector, 4 sergeants, 56 constables, 3 detectives. The conduct of the members of the Force in this district has been very good during the past twelve months. On the whole, the men are sober and attentive to their duties.

Inspector J. W. Ellison, Wellington and Marlborough. During the last year the district has been fairly free from crime of a serious nature. The case of murder referred to in last year's report which was undetected on the 31st March, 1904, was successfully followed up during the past year and the offender brought to justice. There has been a general decrease in the more serious class of offences, but the year 1904 showed an increase of 354 arrests for drunkenness as compared with 1903. This increase arose entirely in the Mount Cook district of Wellington, other stations showing a small decrease. Out of a total of 4,629 offences reported in 1904, only 185 remain undetected, and many of those are doubtful and trivial. The decrease in undetected offences and crimes of a serious nature tends to show that the detectives and uniform police have exerted themselves for the public good, but I also attribute these decreases in a great measure to the firm manner in which the Magistrate at Wellington has dealt with idle, lazy, confirmed criminals who have been brought before him under " The Police Offences Act, 1901." The Act in question has had a most salutory effect in deterring idle criminals from congregating together and hatching crime. The increase of arrests for drunkenness is due in a great measure to the class of persons addicted to drink who have had a prosperous year and plenty of work, and in some measure to the activity of the constables on duty. The Infant Life Protection Act continues to receive a great deal of attention, and has been productive of much good. A very great drawback in this district is the want of accommodation at the head station in Wellington. As I have previously reported, very great difficulty is experienced in carrying out the various duties for want of proper office accommodation and room. I beg to seriously urge that substantial addition may be made to this police building during the ensuing twelve months. I also strongly recommend that a house and land for a station should be purchased at Newtown (South Wellington), and the same at Petone ; both places are in urgent need of better accommodation. The Department is now paying very high rents at these places for very indifferent houses, and the police requirements are quickly increasing with the increase of population. During the past year a sergeant has been added to Manners Street Station, a constable to Lower Hutt, and another to Lambton Quay Station, in order to keep pace with additional work and increase of population. I beg to ask for an additional detective and two constables for Wellington, another constable for Carterton, and one for Petone. 2—H. 16.