Appendix, E. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 2, 2 May 1874, Page 3

Appendix, E. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE.

Sir, — Police Office, H Wellington, 9th April, 1874. ■ I HAVE the honor to submit the following Report on the state of the PoliqHJ Department of this Province for the year ending 31st March, 1874. The numerical strength of the Force on the 31st March last was as follows :-JB Inspector, two first class Serjeants, three second class Serjeants, and twenty-frwH Constables. The past year has not been marked by any increase in offences,, of a seriot^H nature. The total number of cases sent up to the Supreme Court at Wellingto^B and Wanganui for trial during the year amounted to twenty-two. Out of these onlfl| ten convictions were recorded, the Native race furnishing five cases of the whaflH number. - I cannot, however, congratulate your Honor on the paucity of minor offence^H such as breaches of the Merchant Seaman Shipping Act, petty assaults, and varioJH other breaches of the Police Force Ordinance. I v regret to have to state that offenc^H coming within that category have greatly increased over previous years. The increase has, however, been chiefly, if not altogether, confined to the tow^B of Wellington ; yet, when the increase to the population caused through the? steadH stream of immigration now setting into this Province is taken into consideration, anH[ allowance made for that percentage of offences incidental to a seaport town, the resuß| is not worse than might reasonably have been expected. The country districts during the past year have furnished very few cases f(^| investigation. This fact may be taken as a pretty certain indication of the prosperity existing in the out settlements of the Province generally. H It is now a matter of much congratulation that the Police are enabled tH execute warrants for the arrest of offenders of the Native race, in any of the NativM .districts of this Province, with as much facility and safety as in any of the districjH inhabited chiefly by Europeans. • The want of a lock-up at Wanganui, conveniently situated, is much felH In my report of last year mention is made of this matter, and a site at the back (J the Court House was suggested as very suitable. , H A police station and lock-up has been established at Master ton during the pafl| year. A similar building at Greytown is much needed. H Owing to the extraordinary and rapid expansion which has taken place in thai city of late, I think that it would be a prudent step to strengthen, the Force in towß by at least two or three men. It is almost impossible, with the present strength JH the Force, to exercise that watchfulness over the city which is so necessary to tbß preservation of peace and the protection of property, a task which is not always casH where there is a large floating population, as has been the case here lately. H Owing to the great demand for labour and the consequent difficulty of obtaininH suitable men for the Force, I feel bound to recommend your Honor that a sliglfl increase be made in the pay of the Force, as recommended in my return of the estfl mated expenditure for the forthcoming year. H I have, &c, H Feedeeick Atchison", .H His Honor the Superintendent, . Inspector of Police. H Wellington. ' H