D.—No. 7.

EEPOET OX AEMED CONSTABULAKY. Armed Constahulary Office, Mount Cook Barracks, Sir,— Wellington, 15th June, 1870. In accordance with the instructions contained in your letter of the 7th August, I proceeded, after the close of the last Session of the Assembly in September, to re-model and re-organise the Armed Constabulary Force mainly on the basis of tho Eoyal Irish Constabulary system, as it has been modified and altered in Victoria, to adapt it to the Colonies. The first and most indispensable preliminary in carrying out this object was the formation of a Depot of Instruction ; but there was no suitable building available, and some considerable time elapsed before Mount Cook Barracks were altered and made suitable for the purpose. During the time the alterations were being proceeded with, a temporary Depot was established for the accommodation of recruits as they joined. Steps were then taken to divide the Island into Districts, and to appoint but one Officer to the command of the Forces (i.e., Armed Constabulary, Militia, and Volunteers) in each; thus dispensing with the numerous officers who, under the name of "Staff," had been theretofore attached to the Armed Constabulary. The Officer commanding each District (a Constabulary Officer) was required to pay the Men in his Districi, and to supervise, with the assistance of his Subordinate Officers, the Men's messing, clothing, and all other internal arrangements of the Department. I then considered it advisable to visit the several stations throughout the Island, for the purpose of making myself acquainted with the members of the Force, their state, discipline, &c. I had not proceeded far, before I speedily became aware that an uneasy, unsettled feeling pervaded all ranks. In their Camps, there was an entire absence of any attempt on tho part of the men to make themselves comfortable, and they appeared to take little interest in the service, which they considered afforded them but temporary employment. Finding that the best men in the Service were desirous of leaving, dissatisfied with the prospects it held out to them, I considered it advisable personally to explain, both to Officers and Constables, the intentions of the Government with regard to the future of the Force. Those intentions I explained to be : — Ist. To organize a small but highly trained Force, which, by superior intelligence and discipline, would, in the course of a reasonable time, supply the place of numbers. 2nd. That in order to induce the really good men at present in the Force to remain, and with a view of attracting a fairly intelligent, respectable class to its ranks, the Force would not only afford permanent employment, but would also hold out and open up a career for men who, by their own exertions and meritorious conduct, might reasonably hope to reach the highest grades, promotion to which (i.e. Commissions) were, by the Eules and Eegulations of the Force, confined, except in very special cases, to the ranks ; and, that the pay would be increased to such a reasonable rate as to induce such men to join the Service. I have now every reason to believe, that those explanations in a very great measure had the desired effect. I next proceeded to dispense with the services of such members of the Force as I considered it unadvisable to retain ; the principle adopted being to select for discharge— Ist. Those whose defaulter's sheets proved them to be bad or indifferent characters. 2nd. Those reported by their Officers as entirely useless. 3rd. Those who were physically unfit, whether from disease or otherwise. Besides the above, many men were discharged who, notwithstanding my explanations, were still dissatisfied with the prospects the Force held out to them. These reductions having been gradually carried into effect, the strength of the Force, which in July numbered 1460, was reduced to 542,* but this remnant, so to speak, consisted of the best and most reliable of the men. In the meantime, I was gradually forwarding to the temporary Depot, from the various towns and districts I visited, suitable candidates, who were anxious to join the Force under its new organization. Having completed my tour of inspection, I returned to Head Quarters in March, and found tho buildings at Mount Cook completed; but previously, a necessity had arisen for urgently reinforcing the Taupo district, and the recruits, amounting to about fifty, together with their Drill Instructors, were hastily forwarded to that district before their training or equipment had been perfected. It was only at this period that the Depot might be said to be in working order; an experienced staff of Drill Instructors was appointed, and no difficulty was experienced in obtaining suitable recruits. The rules at the Depotf with regard to the admission of candidates for the Force are, that each makes application in his own handwriting, and encloses references and testimonials as to character, sobriety, and trustworthiness. If these are found satisfactory, and after undergoing the usual medical * 234 enrolled since at Dep6t, making total present strength 776, vide Return No. 1. f In the Irish Constabulary the Depdt is formed for two main objects, i.e., the instruction of recruits for the Borce generally, and the establishment of a Reserve Borce, of which it is Head Quarters.