H.—l4

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a swamp ; 2-| chains of road approaching the same swamp has been formed. At Opotiki, 118-2- chains of the Opotiki and Ohiwa road formed 12 feet wide, containing 2,658 eublic yards of cutting, 271 cubic yards draining, and 6 chains of ti-tree cleared; also, 146| chains of the Waioeka road, 96 chains being 20 feet wide, the remaining 50 chains had to be increased to 38 feet, owing to the swampy nature of the land. Building Bridges and Culverts. —At Tauranga, on the Kati Kati road, one box culvert 12 feet, 4x4; and at Opotiki, on the Opotiki and Ohiwa road, one box culvert 12 feet, lxl, one 16 feet, 4x4, and one 18 feet, 4x4. Building Houses and Stables. —At Tauranga a sawn timber building, 50 feet long by 20 feet wide, with walls 14 feet high, roofed with corrugated iron, has been erected for a gymnasium. A stable 30 feet long by 18 feet wide, with walls 8 feet high, built of weather-boards with a paling roof, with a yard attached, has been constructed. A corrugated iron building 12 feet by 10 feet, used for storing forage, has been removed from the Monmouth Redoubt, and re-erected close to the stable. The cells within the redoubt have been lined and altered, to prevent the escape of prisoners. The chimney of the messroom being considered unsafe, was pulled down and rebuilt. Fencing Paddocks and laying down in Grass. —At Opotiki, six acres have been laid down in grass and clover. Members of the force cleared the land, but were unable to do the ploughing, &c. (which was done by contract), for want of the necessary implements ; 400 yards of bank and ditch made round it, and 250 yards of ti-tree wattling fence. The ti-tree had to be carted about three miles. At Tauranga, three men were employed eight days in repairing the fences inside and round the cemetery ; and eight men were employed ten days in cutting Scotch thistles about tho settlement, on Government lands. A number of men were occupied from time to time in mending the fence and ditch, eradicating docks, putting up gates, Ac, in the Government paddock. At Whakatane there is only a small detachment, consisting of one non-commissioned officer, one mounted constable, and five foot constables. As many of them as could be spared from military duties were usefully employed in keeping the AVhakatane and Ohopi Road open for travellers, by widening it and removing land slips, fencing and clearing a paddock, building three new huts, repairing the old ones, and keeping the redoubt in repair. Remarks. Consequent upon the numerous civil duties done by members of the force at this station, apart from those already specified, and which have greatly interfered with the progress of other works, but which I cannot sufficiently well enumerate in the body of the report; I append it in the form of a return, which will give an adequate idea of the nature and duration of such duties. The Natives are quiet and industrious, having planted extensively and taken large contracts in various places for roads, the Urewera being among the number. I have, &c, The Commissioner, J. M. Roberts, Inspector A.C., Armed Constabulary Force, Wellington. Commanding Tauranga District.

Enclosure 8. Captain Stack, Instructor of Musketry, to the Commissioner, Armed Constabulary Force. Sir,— Armed Constabulary Depot, AVellington, 12th July, 1873. I have the honor, in compliance with instructions contained in your Circular No. 122, of 21st April, 1873, and in terms of your circular No. 47, of sth June, 1871, to forward you a report upon the various duties performed by the Armed Constabulary at the Depot under my command during the past year, together with the annual musketry practice return of the whole force for that period. Military Duties. Average Strength. —During the year, the average strength was 56 of all ranks. Parades and Drills. —There have been three parades daily (Sundays excepted) for drill, each drill lasting not less than one hour, weather permitting ; and when the weather has not been favourable for outdoor instruction, tho squads have been invariably drilled in the gymnasium or barrack rooms. Once a week the parade has been in marching order. The men have been employed as follows : From morning roll-call until breakfast; from 10 am. to 12.45 p.m. ; from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.; rollcall and guard-mounting 4.30 p.m., and roll-call at 10 p.m. On Sunday an inspection parade at 10 a.m.; roll-calls at 7 a.m., 1 p.m., and 10 p.m. Escorts and Guards. —19th November, 1872, one constable with two horses was sent on escort with His Excellency the Governor to Rangitikei. An escort of one constable was sent with a deserter from H.M.S. " Dido " hence to Auckland on 29th January, 1873. A guard of 1 non-commissioned officer and 3 constables mounts daily on the magazine. A party of 1 non-commissioned officer and 3 constables are on duty every twenty-four hours at Government House gate ; also one orderly told off daily for His Excellency the Governor. Two constables are detailed nightly to keep watch on the barracks. Guards of honor for His Excellency the Governor have paraded on seven different public occasions during the year. Target Banges. —The range at the Adelaide Butts was slightly improved during tho year by the Armed Constabulary forming a causeway across a piece of swamp which was an impediment to parties passing up and down the range; also the platform for one set of targets was lowered some 8 feet, requiring considerable excavations, and has been found an improvement. Civil Duties. Prevention of Crime. —Assistance has been occasionally afforded to the civil police for the arrest of persons inebriate or riotous ; and on the strike of the Otago Police, a party of 1 sergeant and 12