H.—l6

12

Fencing Paddocks and laying down in Grass. —At all the stations in the district the paddock fences have been repaired. At Onepoto, 5 acres dense bush and scrub have been cleared and sown with grass seed. At Te Kapu and Ohuka, fresh quantities of grass seed have been sown with most beneficial results. Sixteen tons of hay were cut and stacked at Te Kapu Station for food during the winter months for the Constabulary horses, troop and draught, the pack horses being turned out to grass during the winter. Ferrymen. —One constable acts as ferryman over the "Wairoa Eiver at Te Kapu Station. At Opoiti one man is stationed to keep the ferry over the Maungapaiki Stream, on the inland Poverty Bay Road. During the floods a constable was temporarily stationed at Makahuea from 18th January to Bth March, to act as ferryman over the Waikare Taheke Eiver. Remaeks. Remarks. —One dray and 2 draught horses are employed between Clyde and Te Kapu in carting stores, such as clothing, tools, ammunition, <fee, arriving at the former station for the Armed Constabulary ; also in conveying forage to head quarters, shifting road camps, &c. The district is rapidly progressing, great benefit being already felt from the road works now in progress, communication throughout the entire district being improved. Native affairs are quiet. The Government having lately acquired a valuable estate of considerably over 150,000 acres, the settlement and prosperity of the district is now certain. Since the establishment of road works, the men have worked cheerfully and perform a fair amount of work. Sub-Inspector Maclean is the superintending officer of road parties, and I have received no complaints from him on this head. Assistance was also rendered to the Trigonometrical Survey Party, under Mr. Smith, by the Onepoto detachment, in the formation of station at Pane Kiri, &c. Guides and horses were furnished to a deputation of intending immigrants (German) who inspected the district, with a view to settlement, last March. During the months of January and February floods of an unprecedented height occurred, and communication with the outposts of Ohuka and Onepoto was completely cut off for some considerable period. To reestablish this communication was at first a matter of some little danger and a great amount of labour, for which I brought under your notice the names of several members of the Porce who rendered good services. Since Ist June, 1875, 5 men were discharged at their own request; 4 men were discharged for misconduct; 2 men were enrolled by order of Lieut.-Colonel St. John on his inspection of this district in December last; 3 sergeants and 2 constables have been transferred from, and 1 probationary sergeant to, this district. With respect to the projected abolition of the province, it might not bo ont of place in this report to advert slightly to the difference that will thereby be made in this district. At the present moment, the police arrangements in the district are divided, and such division of authority might, by clashing at an inopportune moment, be injurious to the public welfare. This district is about equally divided between the Auckland and Hawke's Bay Provinces; in the former, the Armed Constabulary perform police duty, while in the latter the sole control is vested in the provincial constable, who has, however, to apply periodically for Armed Constabulary assistance. This will be more and more required as the population of the district increases, and it is with a view to amalgamate this divided authority into one harmonious whole that I introduce this subject into my report. Again, the out-settlements of Mahia and Mohaka are now absolutely without any police supervision whatever; at each place there are two publichouses ; at each place the floating population is considerable ; in both places the two races, Maori and European, are living in close contact, and although disturbances are perhaps few and far between, there are often arising breaches of the peace that now have to pass unnoticed. At the Mahia, too, there is a very rough element consisting of whalers, mostly half-castes, who really require supervision. As both these outlying settlements are situated in the Hawke's Bay Province, if the Armed Constabulary exercise police duties in them, such should also be the case throughout the whole district, and I would, therefore, respectfully solicit your attention to this important subject. The conduct of the men under my command has been exemplary, but few and trivial offences having been committed. In conclusion, I would bring under your favourable notice the assistance afforded me by the officers of the district, who, together with the sergeants and constables, have shown the utmost zeal and diligence in the faithful discharge of their respective duties. I have, &c, "W. A. Richaedson, Inspector A.OF., Commanding "Wairoa District. The Commissioner, Armed Constabulary, Wellington.

Enclosure 9 in No. 1. Inspector Titbneb, Patea District, to the Co_u.missio_eb, Armed Constabulary Force. Sic, — Armed Constabulary, District Office, Patea, 30th May, 1876. In accordance with instructions contained in Circular Memorandum No. 181, of 25th April, 187(3, I have the honor to forward the following report of the duties performed by the Armed Constabulary Force in the Whanganui and Patea District during the past twelve months ; — Militaey Duties. Average Strength of Officers and Men in District. —1 inspector, 3 sub-inspectors, 1 assistant surgeon, and 70 non-commissioned officers and constables. Nature of Parades and Drills. —Divine service parades have been held regularly at every station; marching order parades usually every Wednesday or Saturday.