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accompanied by Constable Hickman, I arrested Te Whiti, at Parihaka, on warrant for contempt of Court, and brought him up at the District Court here, when the District Judge severely cautioned him not to be guilty of a similar offence again, and discharged him. As will be seen by the annual " Offences Return " from this district, filed in your office, there has been an increase in some offences during the year, and a decrease in others, the chief increase being in cattle- and horse-stealing (in the early part of the year), false pretences, larceny from dwellings, and sly grog-selling; and the chief decrease being in common assaults, drunkenness, and vagrancy. A number of police constables within this district also discharge the duties of Clerk of Court, bailiff, and various other outside appointments. But in view of the rapid increase of settlement and population, and a consequent increase of police work, I anticipate that it will be found necessary in the near future to either increase the number of police in the district, or relieve the present members of the Force of a considerable portion of the outside duties in question, in order to enable the police-duty to be efficiently performed. The conduct of the Serjeants and constables throughout the district has been creditable to the department; and in the discharge of their public duty they have, on the whole, given satisfaction to the Magistrates and to the general public.

Inspector P. Pender, Wellington and Marlborough. The strength of the Force on the 31st March, 1894, was as per monthly statement, already forwarded to your office. There are twenty-five stations in the district, including Mount Cook, which has been recently opened. The conduct of the men throughout the district has, on the whole, been good; and several of them have received rewards for meritorious conduct during the year. A number of very young men have joined the Force during the year, having been transferred from the Permanent Artillery ; and they have, on the whole, shown themselves desirous of obtaining a knowledge of police-work. Several of the stations have undergone repairs, and are now clean and comfortable. • With respect to the married members of the Force in the city : in consequence of the high rents prevailing, they are compelled to live long distances from the Central Station, and are not available for duty in cases of emergency. I believe it would pay the department to build or purchase small cottages at some place convenient to the Central Station, and let them to the men at a small rental. The returns for the year ending the 31st December, 1893, show an increase in the number of cases of crime reported ; there is, however, a corresponding increase in the number of apprehensions and convictions. The increase is no doubt attributable to the influx of population from the Australian Colonies and other parts of New Zealand. About the beginning of the year 1893 the depression began to be felt very accutely in Sydney and Melbourne, and, as New Zealand was daily becoming more prosperous, every steamer brought men over, and amongst them, as might be expected under such circumstances, were a sprinkling of the criminal class, many of whom stayed in Wellington for a time ; they were not, however, long here before they became known to the police, and were closely watched. For several months past the city has been particularly free from crime; of any description. There can be no doubt that the city and district generally has been making great progress. During the year 1893, 6,458 persons arrived in Wellington from outside the colony, and 3,497 left; about 230 houses were erected in the city during the same period. The shipping has also increased immensely. In the out-districts settlement on the land has made great advancement. In my opinion everything points to a large increase in the population of the city during the current year.

Inspector F. McGoveen, Nelson and Westeand. The district as a rule has been comparatively free from crimes of a serious nature, and the number of petty crimes has decreased. In Nelson some suspicious fires occurred, the police inquiries resulting in one man being committed to the lunatic asylum and a second is now awaiting trial on a charge of attempted arson. The new police-station, Greymouth, was occupied in September last. At several stations slight necessary repairs have been effected. The police quarters at Hokitika are still in an unfinished condition, and I presume will not be ready for occupation until after the railway-station buildings, &c., have been completed. Taken as a whole, the police buildings throughout the district are in fair condition. The conduct of the Force has, with a few exceptions, been good, and the numerous duties have been satisfactorily performed.

Inspectoe T. Beoham, Canterbury and North Otago. The Offences Return furnished to your office, for the year ended the 31st December last, shows that during the year 2,654 offences of all kinds were reported, and 2,487 persons were arrested or proceeded against by summons; while for the year ended the 31st December, 1892, 2,594 offences were reported: last year's record showing an increase, as compared with the previous year, of a total of sixty. A decrease of eighty-three in the arrests for drunkenness last year, compared with the arrests for 1892, has occurred. During 1893, 1,169 persons were charged with this offence, while for 1892 1,252 persons were so charged. A comparison of the various kinds of crime committed during the last two years shows but a very slight difference in the totals for both years. No crime calling for special remark was committed during 1893.