H.—ls

20

Building Houses, Stables, Sfc- —At Tauranga the roofs of the gymnasium and stable have been repaired, and the barrack-room verandah and building repaired and painted, and a partition erected for the purpose of forming a room for the use of non-commissioned officers. The mess-room has had new blocks put under it, the kitchen repaired and newly roofed, and a brick chimney built. At Opotiki 400 feet of timber has been sawn, and used in repairs to stable and in slabbing a new well that has been sunk (the old one having fallen in). A large boat-house, 60 feet by 20 feet, with walls 5 feet high, has been built for the protection of the whale-boats, and securely fenced, and a boat-way with rollers has been made from the shed to the water's edge. At Onepoto the forage-store and boat-house have been re-shingled and the roof ofthe cook-house repaired. Fencing Paddocks and Laying Down in Grass. —-At Te Kapu the paddocks have been securely fenced with a substantial wire fence, and dividing fences have also been erected on account of the different crops. Altogether about 77 chains of wire, 11 chains of post-and-rail, and 5 chains of manuka fence have been erected. The whole of the paddocks have been laid downingrass. Thirty-three chains of post-and-rail fencing at Onepoto has also been erected, the posts and rails being split at the station. At Opotiki Station 200 posts have been split and carted into the station for repairs to fences. At Tauranga a new line of fencing has been erected on west side of paddock, and the remainder repaired. The cemetery has been cleared of grass and weeds, and the fence repaired ; the soldiers' and sailors' grave-fences, head-boards, &c , have been repaired. Erecting and repairing Telegraph Lines. —Nil. Building Sea-walls —Nil. Eemarks. The following changes have taken place in the district during the year:—Eight constables have been discharged at their own request; 1 inspector, 1 sub-inspector, and 31 non-commissioned officers and men have been transferred from the district ; and 1 sub-inspector and 10 non-commissioned officers and men transferred to the district. The behaviour of the force under my command during the year has been very good, only a few offences of a very trivial nature having occurred. TAEANAKI DISTEICT. Military Duties. Average Strength. —The average strength has been 81, all ranks, except for the latter two months. Owing to the recent Native occurrences the force has been considerably increased, and at present date numbers 285 in all. Parades and Drills. —The usual parades for inspection and drills have taken place. Field Operations. —No operations in the field have been necessary. Patrols. —A daily patrol has been despatched from Waihi to Normanby as hitherto, and armed patrols were sent out to intercept lliroki, who escaped by an inland track. A daily patrol is also established from Okato to mouth of Stoney Eiver. Scouts. —At AVaihi the men have been occasionally practiced in bush-skirmishing and scouting by Sub-Inspector Marshall, which will no doubt prove a benefit should their services be required in the field. Carrying Mails. —Mails have been regularly conveyed between White Cliffs and Waitara twice a week ; between Hawera and Normanby daily, until completion of telegraph to Waihi; and three times a week between Waihi and Opunake. Despatches are forwarded whenever it is necessary to do so. Escorts and Guards. —Escorts and guards have been furnished as usual when required. Target Ranges. —Target ranges have been kept in repair. Telegraph Duties. —Nil. Issuers and Storekeepers. —These duties are, as usual, performed by members of the force. Redoubts. —The stockade at Waihi has been put in repair and strengthened considerably; a trench, 8 feet deep by 6 feet wide, has been dug out round two sides of palisading on the outside, and the ground sloped off on a third side towards the creek. At Opunake a new redoubt, 120 feet by 130 feet, has been built, and about five acres of flax cleared in the vicinity. At Okato the redoubt has been rebuilt where required, and kept iv repair, and is now undergoing considerable alteration and improvement. At New Plymoutli the palisading around the barracks (now emigration barracks, but available at any time for defence) has been repaired several times by members of the force. The Pukearuhe Eedoubt has been reduced in size, having been pulled down and rebuilt, and put in thorough good order for any emergency. Civil Duties. Two men act as police at Oeo, and other men, when required to do so, assist the civil authoritiesAttending Civil Courts. —Members of the force have attended Civil Courts as witnesses, &c, whenever required. Agricultural Statistics. —These statistics were collected by members of the force detailed for the purpose. « Public and Useful Works: Nature and Extent of Road Work. —A road party from Pukearuhe Station was sent to Waitoitoi, a distance of eight miles from that post. They formed about twenty chains of road, partly side-cutting, and levelled about eighty chains of new road, to enable the traffic to pass over the Mimi Bridge and avoid the dangerous ford in the Mimi Eiver. The roads in the vicinity of Waihi, Opunake, and Pukearuhe Stations have been kept in repair, and new culverts put down where required. Building and repairing Bridges. —No important works of this nature have been done, but small bridges in the vicinity of the several stations have been kept in repair. Buildings, Sfc. —At Waihi Station the blockhouses and all other buildings have been kept in repair. A cart shed for two drays and a wagoii has been erected, and an addition to men's room of