,11—16

2

consists principally in cases of drunkenness (993), and other minor offences. The increase in the strength of the Police Force no doubt accounts to a degree for the increase in the number of arrests shown. The proportion of offences to the population was 2-37 per cent. The principal increases during the year as shown by the statistics were as follows, viz. : — Assaults, common ... ... ... 112 False pretences ... ... ... 62 Breach of the peace ... ... ... 165 Gaming offences ... ... ... 52 Burglary, breaking into shops, dwellings, &c. 35 Indecent exposure or behaviour ... 114 Cruelty to animals ... ... ... 45 Malicious injury to property ... ... 37 Deserters and absentees from merchant Opium, smoking or being in possession of 55 vessels ... ... ... ... 48 Sly-grog selling ... ... ... 38 Disobeying orders of Court and summonses 136 Theft (undescribed) ... ... ... 165 Drunkenness ... ... ... 993 Theft by servants . . ... ... 30 Failing to support parents and near relatives ... ... ... ... '48 The principal decreases were : — Assaults on police ... ... ... 33 Theft as a bailee ... ... ... 37 Illegally on premises ... ... ... 67 Theft from dwellings ... ... ... 27 Offensive publications ... ... ... 41 The percentage of arrests or summonses resulting from all offences reported during the year under review is 95-86, the figures of the preceding year being 95-65. The following return shows the number of offences reported in each Police District during the year, the number of cases in which arrests or summonses resulted, and the number in which no prosecution followed : —

Serious Crimes. From the following return it will be observed that there has been a slight diminution (10) in the total number of serious crimes reported during the year as compared with the previous year. Burglary cases show an increase of 35, but there is nothing abnormal in this, as all offences reported vary considerably in number from year to year, and on a five-years-average basis the present number (350) is 22 below the average yearly number reported. The following is a return of the number of serious crimes as compared with the preceding year: —

District. Number of Offences Number of all i in which Arrests Offences reported. ; or Summonses resulted. Number in which no Arrests or Summonses resulted. Auckland Thames Napier Wangantri Wellington Greyrnouthi . ... Christchurch Dunedin Invercargill ... 4,995 783 2,161 2,626 5,739 561 3,651 2,029 659 4,781 762 2,095 2,547 5,564 526 3,488 1,853 625 211 21 66 79 175 35 163 176 34 23,204 22,244 960

• 1906. 19i 17. s Crimes. Number of mber ? f all Offences P?? n ° eS * "*«"• Wh rtuHer S Number of Offences reported. Number of Offences in which Arreats resulted. Arson ... ... ... ... Assault and robbery ... Burglary (breaking into shops and dwellings) Forgery and uttering Murder ... ... .... . ■■ 17 55 315 103 6 7 10 41 4 14 48 231 86 5 7 9 41 4 12 47 350 98 5 1 4 29 2 12 43 242 87 5 1 3 29 2 „ attempted ... ... Rape Receiving stolen property Shooting with intent 558 445 548 424