H.—l6.

The principal decreases were— Abusive, insulting, or threatening words or Cruelty to animals .. .. 64 behaviour .. . . .. .. 02 Deserting from merchant vessels . . 48 Assaults, indecent .. .. . . 32 Failing to maintain wives, &c. . . 87 Breaches of the peace .. .. . . 73 Malicious injury to property . . .. 44 The percentage of arrests or summonses resulting from all offences reported during the year 1914 was 96T2, the figures of the preceding year being 95-86. 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. The following is a return of the number of serious crimes as compared with the preceding year : —

During the last ten years the number of serious crimes as above described has varied from 548 to 759, the present total (711) being somewhat above the average. Indecent and sexual offences were as under :—

2

Dia District. strict. Number of Number of Offences in which Arrests or Summonses resulted. Number in which no Arrests or Summonses resulted. 1J1S strict. Oi Number of all Offences reported. iffences repc Auckland lamilton Napier Wanganui Wellington Jreyrnouth christehurch Dunedin nvercargill ... 5,535 1,992 2,214 2,611 6,564 893 4,259 2,482 1,013 5,324 1,925 2,119 2,513 6,374 852 4,108 2,305 974 211 67 95 9H 190 41 151 177 39 I — Totals 27,563 26,494 1,069

1913. 19: 14. Crimes. Number of j Number of Offences I ? B ™T S m . „ _j..j which Arrests reported. regultod> Number of Offences reported. Number of Offencos in which Arrests resultod. Arson Assault and robbery ... Burglary, breaking into shops, dwellings, &c. Forgery and uttering Murder Murder, attempted ... 23 26 365 107 9 8 9 59 8 20 24 283 102 6 8 7 58 8 16 29 443 149 9 4 6 53 2 16 27 328 135 7 4 6 53 2 Rape Receiving stolen property Shooting with intent Totals ... 614 516 711 578 I

Offences. 1913. 1914. • Assaults, indecent ... Bestiality Carnally knowing girls Carnally knowing, attempted Concealment of birth ' ■ • Incest Indecent exposure or behaviour Rape Rape, attempted ... Sodomy ... Sodomy, attempted 89 3 35 5 2 4 282 9 12 4 8 57 2 27 12 1 2 301 6 5 1 4 Totals 4,53 418