7

H.—l6,

At Alexandra the redoubt has required constant care and attention to keep it in repair, owing to its great size. Several loads of ti-tree were cut and carted for the purpose of repairing the banquette the revetement of which has been entirely renewed. In June, 1875, two men were employed shingling the Resident Magistrate's Court, and otherwise completing the re-building of it, it having been previously removed by members of the Force from its position at the rear of the redoubt, where it was used as a Maori hospital. The barracks have been painted inside and out, and two large gates made and painted for the Government paddock: the fences have been kept in repair, for which several hundred posts have been split and carted. At Cambridge, posts and rails have been split in the Pukekura bush for fencing in the officers' quarters and general repair of 'the several fences at the station. A new flag-staff was cut, brought in, and erected. The barrack-rooms and building used as a Magistrate's Court have been re-painted, and the stable has been re-floored. At Rotorangi, the detachment was employed on the Patrol Road between Cambridge and Kihikihi, the flood caused by the heavy rains on the 10th of last December leaving the road nearly impassable. Many culverts had to be repaired, and several chains of fascining done over again. A five-acre paddock has been ploughed, harrowed, and sown with oats, which have been made into hay and stacked, ready for winter use. At Kihikihi, the officers' quarters have been completed, aud a three-rail fence put round; a ten-acre paddock has been re-grassed, and a station garden fenced and cultivated; the redoubt has undergone thorough repair, and a new bridge thrown across tho entrance, the front levelled, and fifty loads of gravel carted a distance of three miles and spread upon it ; six hundred fascines have been cut and laid down on the road into the Government bush, where a new saw-pit has been built, and constables are at present employed sawing timber for a stable at Te Awamutu. At Hamilton, 19,398 feet of timber have been sawn, and 29,000 shingles split, for station purposes ; the gymnasium, a building 40 x 20, has been floored with tongued and grooved boards, and is now used as a school-room for the children of Hamilton West ; the blacksmith's shop has been re-shingled and painted ; the stable and forage-rooms, 80 x 20, have been re-shingled and re-floored; the non-commissioned officers' quarters, 20 x 15, have been re-shingled; and a new floor put in verandah. The large barrack building has been painted inside and out, and the mounted constables' quarters lined with sawn timber. Thirty arms chests have been made to forward arms to Wellington, and for the use of the Sub-Storekeeper here. A flag-staff, 70 feet long, has been cut, carted three miles, and erected in the redoubt. A picket fence, 300 feet long, has been put up round the barracks, containing 2,992 feet of sawn timber, and has also been neatly painted. Two large and four small gates have been made, painted, and hung. Forty chains of fencing have been split, carted, and erected round the Government paddock, and the remainder of the fences about the station put in thorough repair. A constable has been emyloyed to shoe the horses in the district, also doing any ironwork required for the repairs of wagons, drays, &c. The soldiers' graves at Waiare, Te Rore, Te Awamutu, and Rangiawhia, have been kept in proper order. Remarks. In conclusion, I may add that I only arrived in this district from Wellington on the 6th instant. Major Clare, who has been in command during my absence on duty at that place, informs me tho general conduct of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and constables has been good; offences few, and of a trifling nature; and that his orders have been always carried out expeditiously and cheerfully. I have, &c, Wm. C. Lyon, Lieut.-Colonel, Inspector Commanding Waikato District. The Commissioner A. C. Force, Wellington.

Enclosure 6 in No. 1. Sub-Inspector Gudgeon, Poverty Bay District, to the Commissioner, Armed Constabulary Force. Sic, — Poverty Bay District, 15th May, 1876. In accordance with Circular No. 181, of the 25th April, 1876, I have the honor to forward, for your information, the following report of duties performed by the Armed Constabulary in this district from the Ist June, 1875, to the 30th April, 1876 :— Militaey Duties. Average Strength of Officers and Men. —One sub-inspector, 1 sergeant-major, 1 first-class sergeant, 4 second-class sergeants, 3 mounted constables, 24 foot constables. Names of Stations Occupied. —Ormond, Gisborne, Te Awanui. Nature of Parades and Drills. —Inspection parades once a week in marching order; Divine service parades on Sundays ; inspection of saddlery once a week. The annual course of musketry was commenced at Te Awanui on the 14th October, and finished on the 23rd. At Ormond, the musketry course commenced on the Ist November, and terminated on the 24th. The mounted men commenced on the 11th, and finished on the 20th March. The shooting was unusually good throughout—very superior to last year's; and as the men had but little practice, I can only attribute their success to the new rifles. Out of 24 men who passed through the course, 19 are marksmen. Carrying Mails and Despatches. —On three occasions a mounted constable was sent with urgent despatches to Waiapu, and the usual police duties, carriage of despatches, &c., have been performed by the mounted men of the Force.