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for trial, 5 only of the latter being convicted; and 63 persons were discharged at the lower Court. thus leaving 43 offences undetected during the year, or something like 6 per cent, on the total cases reported. During the year there has been 33 prosecutions against publicans, resulting in 17 convictions, while fines amounting to £75 were inflicted for selling sly-grog, against 21 prosecutions and £66 fines in 1904. We continue to have a number of prosecutions under the Licensing Act Amendment Act of 1904, almost all resulting in convictions. This law has had a very good effect, and publicans and the" general public conform thereto fairly well. Inspector R. J. Gillies, Christchurch District. On the 31st March last the strength of the Force was 128 men of all ranks, made up as follows : Inspector, 1 ; Sub-Inspectors, 2 ; station-sergeant, 1; sergeants, 12 ; constables, 103 ; detectives, 7 ; acting-detectives, 2. The casualties were : Discharged, 5 ; resignations, 3 ; dismissals, 2 ; death, 1. The annual return for the year ending 31st December, 1905, shows a decrease of 353 offences compared with those reported for the previous year. The total number of offences reported during the year ending the 31st December, 1905, was 3,561. The total number of persons apprehended or summoned for the same period was 3,386. From the return it will be seen that the number of arrests made in respect of the offences reported during the year may on the whole be considered satisfactory. The work in thejietective office, Christchurch, is considerably increased by inquiries concerning bicycles which are reported lost or stolen, and it is safe to say that it takes a man going constantly on this duty alone. There were 444 bicycles reported lost or stolen, and of this number 433 were recovered and restored to the owners. The aggregate amount of fines imposed in sly-grog cases was £187. Prosecutions were instituted in 38 cases, 15 males and 3 females being discharged. These offences were committed mostly in wdiat is known as a " no-license district," and the usual difficulties in procuring evidence to prosecute were apparent among a large section of the community, who do not care to give the police any information or otherwise assist them in enforcing the law relating to sly-grog selling. So far as I am aware the police may claim to have succeeded in bringing these cases before the Court without having to procure informers to assist them New buildings are being erected at Christchurch and Bingsland. At the former station the accommodation when completed will be for the use of the single men, who will appreciate going out of the old building which was built some thirty years ago to accommodate the small Force of the city at that time. During the year the numerical strength of the district has been increased as follows: SubInspector, 1; station sergeant, 1; constable, 1. The conduct of the men in the district has on the whole been satisfactory, a marked improvement can be seen on the recruits who have been transferred from the training depot during the year. In my opinion the efficiency of the Force in my district has risen considerably during the year, which is mostly due to the appointments and changes made by your directions. A few undesirable men were removed, and their places filled to the advantage of the service. Inspector T. O'Brien, Dunedin District. The total number of offences reported during the year ended 31st December, 1905, was 1,798, showing an increase of 65 as compared with the preceding year ; and the total number of persons apprehended or proceeded against by summons 1,628, leaving 170 offences in which neither arrest nor summons resulted; it may be mentioned, however, that the majority of the cases remaining undetected are trivial matters —such as failing to pay fines, and petty thefts in instances where the stolen property was not indentifiable ; many of the former have been detected during the past three months. It will be seen that a substantial decrease has taken place in the following offences as compared with the preceding year, viz. : Assaults, common, 8; drunkenness, 144 ; obscene and profane language, 7 ; assault and robbery, 4 ; obstructing and resisting police, 9; and vagrancy, 11 : but, against that, it has to be stated some of the more serious class of offences—such as breaking into shops and dwellings, 40; cruelty to animals, 5 ; disorderly and riotous conduct, 17 ; illegally taking fish, 12 ; neglected and criminal children, 14; refusing to quit licensed premises, 9; sly-grog selling, 20; theft undescribed, 59; theft from dwellings, 33; trespass, 15; and being found on unlicensed premises for the purpose of illegally dealing in liquor, 8, show an increase : but on the whole, taking into consideration the large population, I consider the district may be congratulated upon its immunity from crime. The provisions of the Licensing Act of 1904, particularly sections 5, 41, 42, 43, 44, and 45, has materially assisted the police in enforcing the licensing laws. In one case—in the Clucha district—a conviction ensued against a sly-grog seller, where there was no evidence except the tracing of large quantities of liquor from time to time to the suspected person, and lie being unable to offer the Court any satisfactory explanation as to how such liquor was disposed of, a substantial fine was inflicted, the after-results being very satisfactory. The prevision making it an offence to be found in licensed premises after closing hours, and finding prohibited persons in possession of liquor, has been productive of good results. It would be idle to contend that sly-grog selling does not, to a limited extent, exist in the "nolicense " districts, and, indeed, in the city of Dunedin, but as regards the first-mentioned places