A.—4.

year and 1-98 per cent, for the year 1922. The percentage of arrests or summonses issued out of the total number of offences reported was 98-5 per cent., the figure for the previous year was 96-93 per cent. Police. At the close of the year the strength of the Police Force was thirty-three of all ranks, being the same number as at the 31st March, 1924. These totals comprised the following : European police — Commissioner of Police and Prisons, 1 ; Sub-Inspector, 1 ; Sergeant, 1 ; mounted constable, 1 : total, 4: Native police —Senior Sergeant, 1 ; sergeants, 3 ; corporals, 5 ; constables, 20 : total, 29 : grand totals, 33. The proportion of police to population was Ito 1,137, and the cost per head of the Police Force to the population was 2s. ll|d. Prisons. The total number of prisoners received at the gaol during the year was 237, as compared with 420 for the previous year—the total remaining in gaol at the end of the year being twenty-three. The total cost of maintenance of prisoners per head per day was 2s. 6d. The prisoners have been employed during the year in cleaning and keeping clean departmental offices, premises, and grounds, and Government properties generally. Towards the end of the year arrangements were made whereby a certain area of land at Yailima has been set aside for cultivation by good-conduct prisoners. It is intended that the prisoners should grow all the taro required for the gaol and hospital, and also grow sugar-cane for use in the making of thatches for the Samoan fales at the hospital and Other Government institutions. A small area of this land has also been set aside for cotton-cultivation with the idea of showing its possibilities to the prisoners, who will, later on, when they return to their villages after discharge from gaol, be in a position to demonstrate the cultivation there. Mental Patients. The total number of patients at the close of the year was two—both Samoans —one male and one female. This compares with a total of four as at the close of the previous year. During the year three patients were received and five discharged.

Return showing the Number of Offences reported, the Number of Offences for which Persons were apprehended or summoned, the Number of Persons convicted or dismissed, and a Comparison of Crime during the Year ended 31st December, 1924.

24

1923. 1924. Offences reported. Nnmhpr Number . . Offences Offences nr Number dismissed « « reported, reported. convicted. or § g withdrawn. 3 9. _ S a Misleading justice— [ [m. 6 f. f m. j. f. Bribery, attempted .. .. .. .. .. 1 X !*!;••[ .." .. £ 1 Perverting course of justice .. .. .. 1 .. .. .." .A .. .. 1 Seditious words .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 1 .. l Escape from legal custody .. .. .. 1 10 10 10 £ .. 9 £ Offences against morality—tAdultery .. .. .. .. .. 15 1 IS it 11 6 4 1 .. 4 Abduction to carnally know .. .. .. 30 20 [20 17 .. 3 .. .. 10 Aiding abduction .. .. .. .. 4 1 1 1 3 Bigamy .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 1 .... 1 Offences against the personAssault, common .. .. .. .. 72 60 [60 50 7 3 .. 12 Assault, indecent .. .. .. .. 3 10 110 6 4 7 Assault causing bodily harm .. .. .. 4 7 7 7 3.. Carnal knowledge .. .. .. .. 1 1 1 1 Rape .. .. .. .. .. 3 1 1 1 ...... .. 2 Rape, aiding .. .. .. .. 3 .. .. 3 Manslaughter .. .. .. .. 1 1 1 1 .... Threats to kill .. .. .. .. 3 .. .. 3 Conspiring to murder .. .. .. .. 4 4 4.. .... 4 Offences against rights of property— £r. Burglary .. .. .. .. .. 12 9 9 8 1 3 Thefts from dwellings .. .. .. 18 17 16 14 2 .... I Unlawful entry .. .. .. .. 2 2 2 2 Theft .. .. .. .. .. 88 108 101 84 5 12 .. 20 Forgery .. .. .. .. .. 2 3 3 3 1 B Uttering forged documents .. .. .. .. 3 3 3 3 t Trespass .. .. .. .. .. 20 32 32 31 .. 1 12 i Wilful damage .. .. .. .. .. 2 2 2 2.. [. Wilful mischief .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 1 1 1 Receiving stolen property .. .. .. 7 .. .. 7 Gaming offences .. .. .. .. 2 .. .. 2 Breach of arms ordinance—• Unlawful transfer .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 1 1.. Unlawfully in possession of .. .. 2 .. .. 2 Unlicensed firearm .. .. .. .. 1 3 3 3 2.. Presenting a gun at another .. . . .. 1 .. .. ]