WAIKATO POLICE RETURNS FOR 1887.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8949, 13 January 1888, Page 6

WAIKATO POLICE RETURNS FOR 1887.

[iBOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Hamilton, Thursday, The police returns for this district have now been prepared, and show a great decrease in crime when compared with those of the previous year. On analysts, however, this decrease, though very satisfactory, is not so much matter for congratulation as would at first appear, for it consists altogether in the one offence of drunkenness, and may be attributed largely to the depressed state of the times. The offences of all kinds reported in 1887 were 264, as against 339 in the preceding year, and the drunks for 1887 were only 57, as against 129 in 1886. Of the 264 charges made against 236 several persons in 1887, 7 were committed for trial, and 175 were summarily convicted ; 54 being either dismissed with cautions, etc., or discharged. Next to drunkenness that of larceny stands most numerous on the roll— there being 27 cases of petty larceny, and 21 larceny from dwellings, etc. There are only nine cases of cattle and horse-stealing ; the vigilance of the police having rendered this once so prevalent a orime in the Walkato extremely hazardous. There have been 16 cases this year under the Licensing Act, and 12 under the Public Works Act. Inspector Kiely deserves every credit for the admirable arrangement of the small force tinder his command in so large and scattered ft district, and for the vigilance with which crime has not only been detected but repressed,