ARMED CONSTABULARY FORCE. (ANNUAL REPORT OF COMMISSIONER.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1877 Session I, H-11

H.—ll

1877. NEW ZEALAND.

ARMED CONSTABULARY FORCE. (ANNUAL REPORT OF COMMISSIONER.)

Presented to both Souses of the General Assembly hy Command of Sis Excellency. The Commissionee, Armed Constabulary Force, to the Hon. the Native Minister. Sie, — Armed Constabulary Office, Wellington, 18th July, 1877. In compliance with clause No. 159 of the Armed Constabulary Regulations, I have the honor to submit the following report for the year 1876-77. At the close of the last financial yea..1 the Force consisted of G76 of all ranks. During the year there have been 507 enrolled, including the officers and constables of the Provincial police, making a total of 1,183. From that number is to be deducted 395 who have become non-effective in consequence of reduction and other causes, leaving the strength at the close of the year 788. {Vide tables 1, 2, 3.) In the early part of January last it was decided by the Government to amalgamate the Provincial police with the Armed Constabulary, and this has been carried out as follows: — The provincial districts remain very nearly as before, except that the officers and men of the local police have been sworn in under " The Armed Constabulary Act, 1807," and their total number increased by transfers from the Armed Constabulary from 318 to 427, the present strength. The pay and allowances of the non-commissioned officers and constables has also been fixed at a uniform rate, instead of being as formerly in some districts double that of others. By this arrangement the pay of the men in most districts is slightly increased, though in a few cases a reduction had to be made. The Armed Constabulary has been reduced from 67G to 350, and distributed as follows:—Four divisions, called " Eeserve Divisions," have been formed, each consisting of 80 of all ranks, and a depot at Wellington numbering 30, making a total as above, these divisions being stationed as follows:— One division, Waikato District; One division, Taupo District; One division, Taranaki and Patea Districts; One division, Opotiki and Wairoa Districts. The "Reserve Divisions" are trained and equipped for field service, and are essentially a field force, which in case of emergency would be assisted by the police divisions, the men for which receive a short training in company, rifle, and skirmishing drill at the depot before being transferred to the police. The new Constabulary Bill provides for a retiring allowance, which will be a great boon to the Force, and will, I trust, induce men to remain, as the difficulty of replacing well trained and efficient constables can only be fully understood bj those versed in police matters, who are aware that a constable's knowledge of his duty is only acquired after many years of experience. There are at present in the Districts of Auckland, Napier, and Nelson some special or district constables, the majority of whom are of little or no service for the prevention or detection of crime, and who, from their almost sole dependence for a livelihood upon the community amongst whom they reside, cannot be expected to act independently or impartially. The police protection they afford is very inadequate to the growing wants of the sub-districts where they aro respectively stationed, which are rapidly increasing in population and importance; it is therefore intended to replace these men by efficient constables as soon as the change can be conveniently carried out. It is satisfactory to learn that a comparison of the criminal statistics for the past twelve months with the preceding year show that, while there is but slight variation in the character of offences, the total number of arrests has diminished, notwithstanding the increase of population. With regard to aboriginal criminals, I regret to say the number is increasing, no less than sixteen Maori offenders having been convicted at the Supreme Court, Auckland, during the year 187G, the majority of the convictions being for breaking into stores and dwelling-houses, and for horse stealing. The distribution of the police, as shown in Table No. 4, is such that very general protection is afforded throughout the colony, and with the facilities of telegraph communication, which extends to nearly all the places where police are stationed, together with the speedy means of travelling by railway, tends greatly to expedite the general working of the service, and to economy in departmental expenditure. The Naval "Training School " and " Industrial Schools " are (each in its own way) steadily and satisfactorily doing the work of reclaiming the little " waifs " of society, who, now forcibly rescued

H.—ll

2

from the haunts of vice and misery, would, in the majority of cases, have inevitably become thieves or prostitutes but for the efforts thus put forth for the amelioration of their condition. A considerable amount of public and useful works have been executed by the Reserve Divisions during the past year. In "Waikato the whole of the men that could be spared from station duty have been employed on the Cambridge and Taupo Koad, where fifteen miles have been opened over a. rough country, a large portion of which has been fasciued and well covered with ballast, twenty culverts put in, and ten bridges built, for which the timber was cut by members of the Force. The Napier and Tauranga Road, for a distance of 100 miles, has been kept in repair by the men of the Force stationed at Taupo, except for a short time in March, when, on account of the damage done by the heavy rains and floods, twenty civilians were employed by the District Engineer to assist and enable the roads, then closed, to be opened for traffic in as short a time as possible. In other districts all available men have been employed on the following works : —Making a road between Opotiki and Ormond, improving road between Wairoa and Grisborne, maintaining road between Whakatane and Ohope, repairing roads between Te Kapu and Waikaremoana and Tauranga and Ohincmutu, besides a number of other works. In consequence of all men of the Force who could possibly be spared from station duties having been employed during the past year on road works in the Armed Constabulary districts, the annual course of musketry had to be suspended, and it became necessary to alter the conditions of the competitions for the prizes allotted to the Force out of the sum voted for rifle shooting during the year. Similar amounts had in past years been awarded to the marksmen in the annual course of musketry practice, hut the sum was this year distributed in prizes to be competed for with as little expenditure of time as could be. The result is shown in Table No. 5, and the firing may, I think, be considered good. As regards the competition for colonial prizes, I would observe that the Force was at a great disadvantage, from the fact that the reduction I have referred to took place immediately before the colonial firing, and very few members of the Force went to the meeting as compared with former years ; nevertheless, these succeeded in obtaining a fair amount of prizes. The detectives have experienced more than average success in the detection of all serious cases of crime reported. In conclusion, it gives me pleasure to state that the officers, non-commissioned officers, and constables have displayed very commendable zeal in their efforts to preserve the peace and good order of the colony, and, by their generally careful attention to their duties, together with their respectable demeanour and conduct, have aided much to raise the Police Force in the estimation of the public. I have, &c, W. Motile, Lieut.-Colonel, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Commissioner, A. C. Force.

Table No. 1. RETURN showing the MONTHLY STRENGTH of the ARMED CONTABULARY FORCE, from 1st June, 1876, to 30th June, 1877.

ITS. Nw i-coi imissi ioned Officere. Hoi •ees. Year. Month. B q c I I •gig J ■S H - 1 I a 1 I I —I 2 ■■/' I s I 3 o 5 o s QQ ! to I 6 a H a ■ 1 I s C3 o -13 r-1 1 I o CO 3 Q Q <N I CD 1 I ■ es O I | CD S3 5 1—1 bo" I u I o I R tn 5 CO I V Q p J3 i a i m I i t u T. in 3 00 I 1876 June 11 16 8 2 8 33 42 549 676 76 36 10 122 July 16 2 9 30 40 525 648 76 36 10 122 )) August ... 16 2 10 29 42 516 641 77 34 10 121 September li, 2 10 29 42 514 639 79 34 10 123 )> October ... 16 2 10 28 41 509 631 79 34 10 123 )) November 1.-, 1 10 29 41 496 617 77 34 j 10 121 December L6 1 10 30 41 489 611 76 34 [ 10 120 1877 January ... 15 1 10 28 41 462 582 70 33 6 109 f) February V2 1 7 29 31 406 496 28 51 10 89 i) March \-J 1 6 29 31 398 4S7 46 29 10 85 )} April 1] 1 4 19 21 307 370 29 41 10 80 )} May 1!) 16 8 57 46 11 ■1. 5 2 625 799 159 38 9 200 )> June 9 56 46 12 4 6 1 614 788 160 38 9 207 1! 15

Table No. 2. RETURN of MEN ENROLLED for the ARMED CONSTABULARY FORCE, from 1st June, 1876, to 30th June, 1877.

Cause of becoming Non-effective.

Table No. 4. RETURN showing STRENGTH AND DISTRIBUTION of the ARMED CONSTABULARY FORCE, also the STATIONS occupied by them, on the 30th June, 1877.

3

H.—11.

Year. Month. Number of Men enrolled. Remarks. 1876 ... » j, jj ... 1877 '.'.'. Juno July August September October November December January February March April May June 4 4 5 8 5 8 6 2 3 451 11 J) ••• Including 434 transferred from Provincial Police. Total 507

Table No. 3. RETURN showing the Number of Officers, Xo'-commissioned Officers, and Constable; struck ofE the Strength of the Abmed Constabulary Force, from 1st June, 1876, to 30tl June, 1877.

Discharged at own Request, or on Completion of Service. Dismissed for Misconduct. Deceased. On Unattached List. Transferred to Police. Medically Unfit. Discharged on Reduction. Total. 142 42 Hi lfi 109 7:i 395

Stations. I jo i5 ?5 i — z o c 1st i-Ins: !lass. 2nd Class. ■ectoes. Seeg: JlAJ BABTOBS. 1st Class. 2nd Class, ■a id I 8 I 1 SEEOKANT8. 3rd !lass. Constables. I p I s ■s i i 11 J I 5 a It IN «l I I ■a I H | S —i B o q 3 1 O S no ■_ I 5 a I I 1 h I r, I Punedhi Kensington Anderson's Bay... Caversham Green Island Linden Mornington Port Clialmers ... Mosgid Outram Waihola Milton Balclutba Clinton Blueskin Pahnerston Waikouaiti Macrae's Lawrence Waitahuna Waipori Tapanui Svvitzer's Eoxburgh Invercargill a'... 1 2 1 2 28 1 1 1 1 1 1 9 1 1 i 2... ...... i ...... 1 1 1 i "2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i i i I i 1 "2 ... to b i... i 4

H.—11.

4

FDSAFD

Stations. 1 B s I — ■x. I ■ 1—1 77 C h-1 ■ I 5 T3 C M I ■ en Q n a 1st Class. Sttb-Ini 2nd 'ECTI >HS. i3 Serc Mi IOES. 1st 'lass lEKOEANTI 2nd Class. 3rd !lass. CONS' CABLES. B t r. 5 — 1 i Si Jlj 1 H v< O 3 i IT* g § I 1 1 o 19 I § c ■d I I a o 9 5 Q I o I i & 43 o 5 ■- 1 Mataura Riverton Campbelltown ... Winton Lowther Orepuki Clyde Alexandra Black's Cromwell Cardrona Arrowtown Queenstown Naseby St. Ba'thans Oamaru Hampden Maheno "i i i 2 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 i l l l i 1 1 1 1 1 l l 2 i 5 i Totals ... 5J 1 l l 8 2 3 31 56 ] L> 11 Christchurch St. Albans Phillipstown Lincoln Ly ttelton Akaroa Little River Head of the Bay Timaru Temuka Waimate Opawa Waitangi Geraldine Pleasant Point... Ashburton Bakaia Kaiapoi Rangiora Leithfleld Hurunui Oxford Malvern Courtney Bealey Southbridge Lce9ton '2 1 1 4 1 1 4 28 1 1 1 2 2 i i •t i 4 1 1 i 1 i 1 1 1 5 2 1 1 i I i 1 i i 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 l l 1 "i 1 i i 1 i 1 3 i l 5 1 ■1 Totals ... ■1 1 8 1 3 2 17 50 I w v^ Blenheim Haveloek Kaikoura Picton 1 l 1 2 i i Totals ... 2 1 3 Auckland Newton Parnell Freeman's Bay ... Onehunga Otahuhu Papakura Mercer Panmure Helensville Russell Kawakawa ... Mongonui ...] Northern Wairoa Mercury Bay ... Sliortland Grahamstown ... Coromandel 1 1 1 2 2 1 22 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i i "i ... ■" ■■■ ... ... : i ... 1 "i\ i 2 1 1 1 1 4 5 1 ... u i 1 1 '" I i "' i 1 ... ...

H.—ll.

5

towing Itb gth am iiste: irTioN o: 1MED Ci •NSTABtr: ;AHT FOHCE•L led. Sfb-Ins: "EOTOES. SERJEANT! i I Stations. 00 O I q M j 5 d i 1 o Id 'lass. 2nd Class. Seeg: iANTSros. 1st !lass. 2nd Class. 3rd !lass. Constables. ■ft I 5 o ■ 5 J CO J "8 J a I o I m B o l o q I T5 o q I T3 0 a I a id o o d o Newcastle Taupiri Hamilton West.. Hamilton East .. Te Awumutu .. Eaglan Mackay Town ... Paeroa Alexandra Cambridge Tauranga Ohinemutu Opotiki 1 i 1 i a i i 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 3 1 2 i Totals ... 2 l 5 9 G6 90 ... . r § «1 Nelson Westport Charleston Lyell Keefton 1 1 1 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 ! Totals ... 1 3 13 ... o H 1 i Wellington Lower Hutt Upper Hutt Featherston Greytown Carterton Masterton Whareama Otaki Porirua Foxton Palnierston Feilding Bull's Marlon Turukina AVanganui 4 13 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 i Totals ... i 4 33 39 f ■ Hokitika Grey mouth Maori Gully ... . Dungarville ... . Ahaura No Town Greenstone ... . Kumara ... . Waimea ... . Stafford Kanieri Ross ... . Okarito ... . Arawata 1 1 "i 1 1 1 5 4 1 1 1 1 4 ... ... 1 1 1 l 1 1 1 i Totals ... 1 l 2 2 2 2 19 33 New Plymouth ... . Waitura ... , Inglewood ... , Hawera ... . Manutahi ... . Carlyle ... . Waverly ... . Waitotara ... 1 5 1 1 I a "i "i 1 1 1 1 i Totals ... 1 1 1 11 I 15 ■

H.—ll.

6

DFSAFSDFSAFSAD

Stations. II S.I If I? D Q D O -, 1st Sub-Inj ilass. 'E0TOES. 2nd Class. Seeg Ma. eantroES. 1st Class. iEBGEANT! 2nd Class. I.3rd Class. Constables. _ o-' CD tu ; t> b "■£ o o <D 43 rt IN 1 p 5 I 1 d T3 O I 9 g I 4 q I I ll ill Jl 5 O ! Ii— Napier Taradale Havelook Waipawa Danevirk Spit Wairoa Gi-borne Ormoud 1 1 1 i ... 1 1 1 1 4 I ... i 3 ... ... 1 1 1 1 2 Totals 1 1 ll I 1 7 9 ... 20 EE' 'URN showing OT • I SI" rHIBUT] ling 30 :on i >f ti LAHT for tl le IS' Aem: '7. on: ' IB' ONTH >ll<i th Ji INE, Stations. i o I 3 M 5 H I 9 H I 3 | -5 o 1 a H DQ I 5 r—I o I a E o GO I & 5 OQ 9 D M I m 3 re a i Co: b: rSTAiES. Natives. 1 "8 I ft J g § o CO C3 if a O I S o O i < •A Hamilton Alexandra Cambridge Road Party 1 "i 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 3 2 1 4 14 20 12 l 1 2 1 4 4 Pukearuhue Ureunui New Plymouth Okato Opunako Waihi 8 50 70 1 1 1 3 2 2 1 1 27 < t < 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 15 1 1 i 1 2 1 1 3 l 8 6 8 52 75 Taupo Napier Opepe Road party 1 1 1 l 1 1 1 1 1 4 3 1 17 4 9 1 13 2 11 i 1 1 2 l 4 1 8 30 1 26 75 o Tauranga Opotiki Wlmkatane Te Teko Te Kapu Onepoto Obuka Roada 1 i 2 i 2 1 i l 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 8 9 18 11 2 1 1 6 l 16 1 3 4 7 48 23 93 Dep6t 1 1 1 42 48 1 3 Total 788

Table No. 5. EXTRACT from the ANNUAL RETURN OF MUSKETRY PRACTICE of the ARMED CONSTABULARY FORCE for 1877, showing the Distribution of Prizes for the Year. MOUNTED.

7

H.—11.

Points at District. J 33 Id's Rank and Name. | $ 4 kH [H |m o o © o o o N CO ># o 6 to a I Remarks. 1 £ Depdt ... Opotiki ... Taupo ... Opotiki ... Waikato ... 1975 1096 1394 1964 326 1st Class Sergeant E. E. Edmunds 23 17 21 61 Mounted Constable G. Taylor ... 22 21 17 60 „ W. Brady ... 18 17 21 56 J. Finnucane... 18 22 14 54 J. T. Steel ... 23 17 11 51 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th £8 5 3 2 1 Carbine ... £1! Badges ... £1! Foot. lints at District. il Rank and Name. ~ > ID -3 |H 8 m s 9 I Remarks. I a o I Opotiki ... H Taupo Taranaki ... Taupo Opotiki ... Dep&t ... ft ... j> ... Taupo ... }y ... Taranaki... 5 1684 1458 1773 38 1703 1180 2017 1836 1835 2090 1822 1790 627 226 1837 1680 2016 2142 1223 1499 1787 2120 1559 2176 1st Class Sergeant A. Smith Foot Constable B. Reed „ J. Gallagher „ W. A. Ryan „ Wm. Ebbett „ Jno. O'Kane Provost Sergeant R. Langtry Foot Constable T. Sewell Provost Sergeant J. Ellison 2nd Class Sergeant A. Black Foot Constable McCullum „ G. Crosswell 2nd Class Sergeant Q-eo. Morley ... Foot Constable "Wm. Elder Sergeant-Major H. Dundas 2nd Class Sergeant A. G. Withers Foot Constable D. .Strickland A. Todd Provost Sergeant C. O. Hawke ... Foot Constable W. H. Roberts ... 1st Class Sergeant I. H. Green ... Foot Constable J. Pellew „ Fred. Loose 2nd Class Sergeant A. Mathias ... Foot Constable F. Arden M 25 IS 88 25 88 22 86 25 21. 22 16 88 25 22 20 16 19 22 18 20 18 20 20 21 86 17 22 21 23 8] 21 21 19 81 25 22 IS 16 19 18 16 16 16 20 20 tfl 18 It 21 IS M aa 19 15 18 L7 18 15 14 12 SO 18 16 14 16 81 IS 15 KS 11 Lfl 17 L6 8 67 65 63 63 63 62 60 60 59 59 59 58 57 55 55 54 53 53 52 51 51 50 50 50 50 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th £15 10 9 8 7 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rifle ... £96 £130 Taupo Dep6t ... Opotiki ... Taupo Opotiki ... Taranaki... Taupo Taranaki... Opotiki ... >» )j ... By Authority: Geoeg:: Didsbuet, Government Printer, ■Wellington.—1877. ice 6d.