THE ARMED CONSTABULARY.

5

D.—No. 7,

I will now proceed to show in detail where the various Corps have been stationed, and the nature of their employment. The Armed Constabulary, which in July numbered one hundred and twenty-three non-commissioned officers and men, had been gradually reduced till in October its strength was only fifty-one, exclusive of officers. During this month I moved a detachment consisting of one officer, "thirty-one non-com-missioned officers and men to Manawapou, on the sea coast, and about twelve miles north of Parea. After repairing the Eedoubt, the men were employed in cutting fresh approaches to the Manawapou Stream, and otherwise opening the road which had become almost impassable. The remainder of the Force at Patea were employed during this and the succeeding month in repairing the bridges known as the flax bridge and .Kakaramea, making fresh cuttings, repairing and making the road passable throughout for drays. In December, the positions at Waihi, Hawera, and Manutahi being occupied, Manawapou as a military post was no longer required ; its garrison therefore was withdrawn to Patea. The Force was now reduced to forty-seven, fifteen of whom were employed in forming the new line of road from Wanganui to Patea. Hitherto the Force had been wretchedly accommodated as to Quarters. Twenty-four acres was set apart on which a barracks was to be built for the Quarters for the men and officers. Tho men were called, upon to perform this work, and those who were not employed on the road works and the necessary garrison and patrol duty, were engage.d in preparing the ground for the Camp, cutting and splitting posts and rails for the fencing, collecting and preparing the material for building their huts. In January and February seven men only could be spared from the Camp, for building and fencing for the road works. In March I was reduced to forty-five men, sixteen of whom were employed on tho roads, the remainder not engaged in orderly police, hospital and other garrison duty, were on fatigue at the new Camp. In April sixteen men were on the road, the remainder had the mounted orderly duty from Wanganui to Waihi, the police duty of the township, hospital and other duties, and fencin in the Government paddock of about forty acres. The present month thirty are employed on the roads, the remainder engaged in moving and assisting to erect stables and hospital. The strength increased to fifty-four. In October I moved the Ngatiporou from Patea to Waihi, a post which had been abandoned some twelve months previously. This position is about twenty-five miles north of Patea, near and to the south of the Waingongoro river. The Ngatiporou muster about one hundred and forty men. They have done good service in scouring the country and destroying cultivations; they have kept Tito F"owaru from returning to his old haunts. Since they went to Waihi they have built a Eedoubt, Stockade, fenced in a paddock for the Government horses, built and made a bridge and laid out a new line of road. During the present month I have succeeded in employing thirty-seven on the general road work. Positions had been selected at Hawera and Manutahi for Blochouses for the use aud protection of those settlers who were desirous (and at that period adventurous enough) to re-occupy their lands. Hawera is five miles south of Waihi. Manutahi is equi-distant from Hawera and Patea. The settlers in the vicinity of these posts were taken on the strength of the Force of the District in the place of the Carlyle Volunteers, of which Corps the majority had been members. In addition to their forming a military defence of thess posts, the garrisons have been employed in preparing the ground for and. building the Blockhouses, erecting the Stockade and necessary earthworks, and assisted in surveying the ten-acre allotments. In addition to the above works and duties, they have been and are at work constructing the general line of road under the supervision and instruction of the Engineer. I now come to the Wairoa and Wanganui Veteran Volunteers. These Corps besides occupying important posts were during the months of active operations continually in the field. Under their indefatigable Commanders Captains Hawes and Kells they have obtained such a knowledge of the back country, the Native tracks and general features of the district, as will render comparatively powerless any similar attempt as the late outbreak on the part of the disaffected Natives, whose success mainly depended on their knowledge and our ignorance of the tracks and features of the country. From December to the present time, these Corps have been employed under the Eoad Engineer in making roads, at which they have worked as well as they before were zealous in the field. During the last six months every available man on pay in my command (after taking away the necessary strength for Guards, Orderlies, and other Camp or Garrison duties) has been employed in the construction of Eoads, Blockhouses, and Barracks. Officers, non-commissioned officers, and men have worked well. Two months from the time the road was decided upon it was laid off, punts built and placed on the rivers, cuttings and approaches to rivers made, and Cobb's Coach running from Wanganui to Patea. I had the pleasure of conveying the thanks of the Government to all concerned (officers as well as men) for the energy and perseverance evinced in accomplishing so important a work in so short a time. From personal observation I can with pleasure state that the eoergy then displayed has never flagged up to the present time. A greater result would however have been shown had the men had tools more suitable for their work, and similar to those recently issued. The extent and direction of the line of road, with the nature of work performed, I leave to be explained by the Engineer of the road, who has I have no doubt been called upon for his report. I have, &c, M. Noake, The Commissioner Armed Constabulary, Inepe3tor Armed Constabulary Force, Wellington. • Wanganui and Patea District. 2