H.—l6,

1876. NEW ZEALAND.

ARMED CONSTABULARY FORCE. (ANNUAL REPORT OF COMMISSIONER.)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. The Commissioneb, Armed Constabulary Force, to the Hon. the Native Minister. Sik, — Armed Constabulary Office, Wellington, 9th June, 1876. In compliance with clause No. 159 of the Armed Constabulary Regulations, I have the honor to submit the following report for the year 1875-76 : — At the close of the last financial year, the Force consisted of 737 of all ranks. During the year there have been 54 enrolled, and 115 struck off the strength through resignations, discharges, deaths, and desertion, leaving the strength at the close of the year 676. {Vide Tables 1, 2, 4.) During my absence in England on leave, the Armed Constabulary, and stations in the Districts of Auckland, Tauranga, Taupo, Poverty Bay, and Wairoa, were inspected by Lieut.-Colonel Lyon and the late Lieut.-Colonel St. John, —whose reports are attached, —showing that the arms, accoutrements, equipments, the appearance of the men and horses, and the drill and discipline of the Force continue to be satisfactory. Colonel Lyon, in the concluding part of his report, says, " I consider the Force in a most efficient state, and a credit, in every way, to the colony." The number of men at some of the posts is very much reduced, in consequence of the numerous parties employed in making and repairing roads and bridges, over one-third of the Force being so engaged, as shown by the attached reports from officers in charge of districts. The good resulting from the continued annual course of musketry appears in the Instructor's report, by the steady increase in the number of marksmen. At the Colonial Prize Firing, the Force was not so successful as in the previous year. However, eleven prizes fell to the share of the Armed Constabulary. The blue tweed cloth now being made at the Mosgiel Woollen Company's Works, Dunedin, having been adopted for the uniform of the Force, it will add considerably to the appearance of the men, as the serge lately used, from its faded look after being worn for a short time, was scarcely suited for uniform. The Police Force in the Province of Auckland, which forms a part of the Armed Constabulary, continues to discharge its various duties in a highly satisfactory manner. Enclosed are reports from officers in charge of districts, showing the civil and military duties, also the public and useful works performed by the men of the Force. In conclusion, I have much pleasure in stating that the conduct of all ranks has been good, offences against discipline few in number, and, considering the way in which the force is cut up into numerous small detachments, it is more efficient than could be expected. I have, &c., W. Moule, Lieut.-Colonel, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Commissioner A. C. Force.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. Inspector Lyon to the Commissioner, Armed Constabulary Force. Sic,— Wellington, 24th April, 1876. I have the honor to report that, in accordance with instructions from the Hon. the Native Minister, I visited in December last the Districts of Auckland, Tauranga, and Taupo, and inspected the several stations therein. The men of the Armed Constabulary doing duty as police in the City of Auckland, are in a high state of efficiency. They have arduous duties to perform ;in fact are overworked owing to their small number in proportion to the population, and the size of the town ; much credit is due for the manner with which they perform their work, and is attributable in a great measure to the zeal and energy displayed on all occasions by Inspector Broham. I—H. 16.