THE ARMED CONSTABULARY.

7

D.—No. 7.

Opepe, about 83 miles from Napier, and 11 miles from Taupo.—A strong bullet proof Stockade, with crow's nest look-out in one angle, has been put up, capable of holding thirty men. Bark and slab huts, holding over 100 men have been built, and are occupied. Two pair of Sawyers of the Armed Constabulary are, and have been, employed cutting timber for men's quarters at Tapuaeharuru, and other buildings required at Opepe ; upwards of 4.000 feet of timber is already sawn, and 5,000 shingles cut; a post and rail fence properly morticed, enclosing about 7 acres, is being erected, the ground cleared and partly laid down with grass seed, and would have been finished if I could have got the necessary tools, but I have had considerable difficulty in obtaining them, and am now waiting for some which are daily expected. A fine slabbed well, 34ft deep has been dug through the pumice with considerable difficulty, and a plentiful supply of water obtained. A good deal of bush and scrub has been cleared away, and the ground levelled in the vicinity of the Stockade. TAPtrAEHARTjRU, about 104 miles from Napier by the road now used. —A formidable Eedoubt to hold 150 men in tents has been put up on the right bank of the Waikato, where it flows out of Lake Taupo. The cliff has been scarped, so that the crossing is commanded, and the boats and canoes all under the protection of the work. Much labor has been required of the men stationed here in carrying in firewood for the use of the Camp, in consequence of the distance from any bush, and they have also been employed on several expeditions, and done a great deal of Escort duty. Transport.—One Officer and an average of thirty men have been solely employed on Transport duty, and in addition to provisions and stores for the Force have conveyed up large quantities of Telegraph materials, and since the new contract for the supply of rations to the Force came into operation, they have been altogether employed for the Telegraph Department. As the Force serving in this District have been, since I assumed command, kept constantly on the alert, I trust the amount of useful work performed by them in addition to their legitimate duty of guarding the line of posts along the TJriwera frontier, will be considered satisfactory. I have, &c, J. M. EOBERTS, The Commissioner Armed Constabulary, Inspector Armed Constabulary, Wellington. Hawke's Bay District. Enclosure No. 4. Eeport of Inspector in Charge of the Tauranga (Bay of Plenty) District. (207—70). District Office, Tauranga, 21st May, 1870. Sir, — In compliance with instructions conveyed in your letter No. 349, of the 7th instant, I have the honor to transmit herewith a statement, showing the nature, description, and amount of public or useful work in which the Armed Constabulary have been employed (exclusive of their ordinary duties) in the Tauranga District, during the period from Ist July, 1869, until 20th May of the present year. In consequence of the decease of the Officer lately in command, I am unable to furnish anything more than what the records of the District show, and from enquiries made from the officers. 1. Earthwork done on the Judea Swamp Eoad, as follows: —Embankment, 1,838 cubic yards; road cutting, 3,616 cubic yards; total, 5,454 cubic yards. The men are now employed on this work. 2. About 300 tons of stone quarried at Mongonui, and conveyed to Tauranga for the purpose of building a sea-wall or breakwater round the Cemetery. Some sailors from H. M. ship Eosario assisted in this work 3. Eemoving 200 cubic yards of earth for foundation of sea-wall, and sloping the cliff above. 4. Making a new Eifle Eange at Tauranga. 5. Excavating a water tank at Tauranga, about 40 feet square and 6 feet deep ; also, enclosing the same with a sea-wall 5 feet high. H. M. ship Eosario was enabled to water from this tank. 6. The Durham Eedoubt at Tauranga pulled down and re-built. 7. Building a Eedoubt and surrounding it with palisading at Kopeopeo, Whakatane; also, the erection of five whares, bakehouse and oven. 8. Building a second Eedoubt near same place, with substantial whares for the Garrison. 9. Building a new Eedoubt near the Heads at Whakatane, and erecting suitable whares ; this work is not quite finished, but as soon as it is the men will be set to work on the road between Whakatane and Opotiki. In conclusion, I must state that no Public Work was performed by the Armed Constabulary in the months of July, August, and September, as the men were employed during those months in marching down from Fort Galatea, and going through a course of drill at Tauranga. I have, &c, .W. Motoe, The Commissioner Armed Constabulary, Inspector Armed Constabulary, Wellington. In charge Tauranga District. Supplementary Eeport from this Officer, showing the state of his District on the 16th June, is attached hereto. Enclosure No. 5. Eeport of Inspector in Charge of Tauranga, lately in Charge of Waikato District. (No. 206—70). District Office, Sir,— Tauranga, 21st May, 1870. In compliance with instructions conveyed in your letter No. 349, of the 7th instant, I have the honor to transmit herewith a statement shewing the nature, description, and amount of public or