H.—l6.

The murder case above recorded as undetected occurred in Courtenay Place, Wellington. It is one of those unfortunate occurrences in which the culprit may be known to police, but lack of evidence has prevented a prosecution. A reward has been offered, but thus far without result. The number of indecent and sexual offences dealt with during the year under review was 323, being 128 less than during the previous year. The majority (267) were cases of indecent exposure or behaviour. The exemplary punishment inflicted for outrages on girls of tender years has apparently had the desired result. Drunkenness. There has been an increase of 140 in the number of persons prosecuted for drunkenness during the year as compared with the previous year. "From the following table it will be observed that 41-57 per cent, of the males and 70-25 per cent, of the females had previous convictions recorded against them, and 8-99 per cent, of the males were not permanent residents in the Dominion. Return showing the Number of Persons charged with Drunkenness during the Year 1908, and the Number of Previous Convictions against them, so far as is known.

The number charged with drunkenness in 1907 was 10,203 (9,368 males and 835 females), whereas in 1908 the number was 10,343 (9,637 males and 706 females). Return showing the Number of Persons arrested for Drunkenness within each Principal Centre during the Years 1907-8, the Number convicted, the Number discharged or withdrawn (Males and Females shown separately), and the Total Decrease in Arrests.

Total decrease, 341. Return showing the Number of Persons arrested for Drunkenness on Sundays within each Principal Centre during the Years 1907-8 (Males and Females shown separately).

3

Not 1 VioU! Oonvi I'resly cted. One F vious ( victi< 're- Two 3on- vious Dn. victit Pre- Three Pre- Four Con- vious Con- vious ins. victions. victii Pre- Five 3on- vious me. victii ?re- Over Five Don- Previous Totals. his. Convictions District. I M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. It. F. M. P. M. F. M. F. l|sii — to Auckland Thames .. Napier Wanganui Wellington Greymouth Christchurch Dunedin Invercargill 917 216 647 ■ 897 1,533 172 590 535 123 36 4 10 65 32 6 45 12 200 49 209 127 358 45 197 122 15 15 .. 4 VI 17 1 17 4 1 106 19 92 49 313 12 97 53 14 12 2 7 19 2 9 4 74 18 44 24 I 269 8 53 40 4 12 3 16 1 5 4 51 14 20 13 148 2 58 27 2 9 2 80 1 4 3 52 7 32 12 53 8 44 11 1 6 13 1 36 305 11 70 21 119 7 172 127 19 83 9 8 58 1,705 329 1,114 1,143 •2,793 249 1,211 915 178 173 4 38 93 208 11 114 64 1 237 55 1 290 18 88 168 10 3 3 31 34 5,630 i 210 1,322 71 755 55 529 41 335 49 215 62 851 218 9,637 706 867

Number arrested, 1907. Number Number arrested, 1908 convicted, 1908. Number discharged or withdrawn, 1908. Total Increase in Arrests. Total Decrease in Centre. Arrests. M. F. M. P. M. F. M. P. M.andP. M.andP. Auckland and suburbs ... Wellington and suburbs Christchurch and suburbs Dunedin and suburbs ... 1,311 2,299 811 581 180 245 146 86 1,348 2,091 651 708 165 1,341 185 2,091 108 648 62 706 165 185 106 61 7 ... 3 2 2 ! 1 22 268 198 103 Totals ... 5,002 657 4,798 520 4,786 517 12 125 466

Number arrested, 1907. Number arrested, 1908. Number convicted, 1908. • Number discharged or withdrawn, 1908. Centre. M. P. M. F. M. F. M. F. Auckland and suburbs ... Wellington and suburbs ... Christchurch and suburbs Dunedin and suburbs 12 14 104 4 2 3 1 19 26 18 7 ■2 4 2 1 19 26 18 7 2 4 2 1 Totals ... 40 10 70 70