&.—No.' 5,

10

ANNUAL REPORT ON THE

these buildings, a Mess-room, 30 feet by 18 feet has been erected at Opepe with slab walls and bark roof, and one at Tapuaeharuru of raupo, 20 feet by 8 feet, each outside redoubt. Two boat-sheds, each 35 feet by 6 feet have been erected at Tapuaeharuru, with Manukau poles and raupo roofs, and so placed as to admit the whale-boats being floated into them. Cook-houses, Bake-houses and ovens have been built at each post; the whole of the bread used by the Force being of their own baking. No buiscuit is drawn except when flour is not procurable. 4. Fencing Paddocks and laying down in Grass. —At Opepe, two paddocks one containing nine acres, and the other about forty acres have been enclosed with a three-railed fence ; about 20 acres of bush and scrub have been cleared in these. In the former, four acres of bush land have been stumped and ploughed, and the whole paddock laid down in grass-seed. In the latter, about ten acres of bush land has been stumped and ploughed. No grass was sown in this paddock, owing to the early setting in of the wet season, which also retarded the burning of the fallen timber. At Tapuaeharuru five acres have been ploughed and laid down in grass, rye grass, white and red clover. About ten acres more are ready for ploughing, and twenty-one chains of post and rail fence erected. This fencing is carted from Opepe. At Runanga, about 30 acres have been enclosed with a post aud rail fence, ten of which have been cleared of bush and partially burned, the wet season setting in prevented the total clearing as well as the sowing of the seed. The open portion has been sown with grass-seed. At Tarawera 6 acres, 3 of which were bush, have been fenced in with posts and rails ; the bush portion has been cleared, burned and sown with grass seed; the open portion ploughed and sown with grass seed. At Te Haroto, over seventy acres have been enclosed with a post aud rail fence, and laid down with grass seed. The whole'of the posts and rails were split, carried to the ground, and put up by men of the force ; they had in most cases to be carried a long distance, especially at Te Haroto, where the bush is a mile from the paddock. Grass seed sufficient for the portions not yet laid down is at each of the posts ready to be sown in the Spring. 5. Erecting and repairing Telegraph line. —No work of this nature has been done, except that already mentioned under the head of " Linesmen." 6. Sea Walls. —No work of this nature performed. Remarks. In addition to the duties already enumerated in the foregoing Report, two drays, in charge of members of the force, were employed up to the 20th November by the Telegraph Department, and since in drawing oats from Runanga, for Armed Constabulary horses, to Opepe and Tapuaeharuru, thirty miles ; also, sawn timber and fencing from Opepe to Tapuaeharuru, twelve miles. Two other draught horses, in charge of a constable, have been employed ploughing the paddocks at the different stations. The whole of the clothing, blankets, stationery, tools, nails, windows, camp necessaries, horse shoes, farriers' tools, &c, &c., have been conveyed from Napier to the several posts in the district by pack-horses, in charge ot the members of the force. A non-commissioned officer and constable are stationed at Napier, who receive aud forward all stores sent from AVellington, as well as other articles requisitioned for by the officer commanding the district. A constable is also stationed at Napier, as orderly to the General Government Agent. The Government whaleboats at Tapuaeharuru are (when required) manned and worked by the Armed Constabulary force at that post A constable of the force acts as farrier, and, until the beginning of the month, another has acted as saddler. Before the regular road works commenced tbe old road was generally kept in repair by the Armed Constabulary, when none of the men under Mr. Bold were available—the cuttings requiring constant attention, especially after heavy rain. A large portion of the men's time at Tapuaeharuru and Te Haroto is occupied in supplying the stations with firewood, the only wood available at the former being manuka scrub, and the nearest point at which this is procurable being from two and a-half to three miles distant from the redoubt; latterly the drays have been employed to bring it in when cut. Firewood at this post is getting very scarce, and the Natives to whom the ground belongs are beginning to grumble at the consumption, and request payment, although they have not stopped the cutting of it. At Te Haroto, firewood is a good distance from the block-house, and has to be carried by the men. Vegetable gardens, containing from two to four acres, have been cultivated (by a good deal of labor) during the past year at each post; they have proved a great benefit to the men, and the medical officer attributes the healthy condition of the force in a great measure to the supply obtained from them. A'egetables of any description cannot be purchased of the Natives. I have, &c, J. M. Roberts, Inspector A.C. The Commissioner Armed Coustabulary Force, (Late) Commanding Taupo District. AVellington.

Enclosure 3. Armed Constabulary, Poverty Bay District. 30th June, 1871. Sir — In compliance with the instructions contained in Circular No, 47,1 have the honor to report as follows:— Military Duties. 1. Average strength of officers and men in District. —Two officers, four non-commissioned officers, and twenty-five men. 2. Nature of parades and drills. —lnspection parades at 10 a.m. on Sundays. Parades at 9 a.m. on Saturdays, for instruction under arms. Fatigue parades, 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily.