H.—2B

4

I much regret to have to record the death, on the 21st February last, of Mr. J. M. Goldfinch, the accountant to the department, in which he had served well and faithfully since the 17th August, 1872, to the entire satisfaction of the various officers under whose supervision he had come. He was a thoroughly reliable officer, and his loss was deeply mourned by the Force. I have, &c, A. Hume, The Hon. the Defence Minister. Commissioner of Police.

EXTRACTS FROM ANNUAL REPORTS OF OFFICERS IN CHARGE OF DISTRICTS. Inspectoe J. Hickson, Auckland, Waikato, and Bat op Islands. During the year 2,814 offences were reported, as against 2,597 during the year ended the 31st December, 1894, showing an increase of 217. The principal increases were in the following cases :— Abusive and threatening language : Sixty cases were reported, showing an increase of thirtyeight. For these offences thirty-two persons were summarily convicted and twenty-eight discharged. Assaults, common : 154 cases were reported, showing an increase of fifty-four. 152 persons were prosecuted, of whom ninety-three were summarily convicted and fifty-nine discharged. Assaults occasioning bodily harm : Six cases were reported, showing an increase of four. Six persons were prosecuted; one of them was convicted at the Supreme Court, two cases were summarily convicted, and three discharged. Assaults on the police and obstructing and resisting police.: Sixty-six cases were reported, showing an increase of fifty-four. Sixty-six persons were arrested ; of these twenty-three were convicted at the Supreme Court and one discharged, forty were summarily convicted and two discharged. Assault and robbery : Twenty-one cases were reported, showing an increase of seventeen. Sixteen men were arrested; seven were convicted at the Supreme Court and two discharged, and seven'were discharged in the Magistrate's Court. Breaches of the peace: Eighty-five cases were reported, showing an increase of sixty-four. Eighty-five persons were prosecuted, and of these seventy-four were summarily convicted and eleven discharged. Burglary, breaking into dwellings and shops : 150 cases were reported, showing an increase of sixty-nine. Fifty-four persons were prosecuted ; of these twenty-one were convicted at the Supreme Court and six discharged, twenty-one were summarily convicted and six discharged. Cattle- and horse-stealing : Twenty-two cases were reported, showing an increase of fourteen. Twenty-six persons were prosecuted, and of these fifteen were convicted at the Supreme Court and three discharged, one summarily convicted, and seven discharged. Deserting and failing to provide for wives and children : Ninety-eight cases were reported, showing an increase of twenty-three. Ninety-six were prosecuted, and of these thirty-six were summarily convicted and sixty discharged. Deserters and stragglers from Her Majesty's ships of war: Twenty-four cases were reported, showing an increase of thirteen. Twenty-one were arrested and summarily dealt with. Disorderly and riotous conduct : Twenty cases reported, showing an increase of eight. Twenty persons were arrested and summarily convicted. Illegally on premises : Thirty cases were reported, showing an increase of thirteen. Thirtytwo persons were prosecuted, and of these twenty-four were summarily convicted and eight discharged. Malicious injury to property: 100 cases were reported, showing an increase of seven, Eighty were prosecuted, and of these two were convicted at the Supreme Court, forty-four summarily convicted, and thirty-four discharged. Refusing to quit licensed premises : Six cases were reported; none during the previous year. Six persons were prosecuted and summarily convicted. Sheep-stealing : Nine cases were reported; none during the previous year. Nine persons were prosecuted, three of whom were committed for trial, but were discharged by the Supreme Court, and six were discharged at the Magistrate's Court. Theft: 570 cases were reported, showing an increase of sixty-one. 251 persons were prosecuted, of whom sixteen were convicted at the Supreme Court and two discharged, 189 were summarily convicted, and forty-four discharged. Theft from dwellings and the person : 113 cases were reported, showing an increase of twentyone. Forty-four persons were prosecuted, and of these one was convicted at the Supreme Court and one discharged, thirty-one were summarily convicted, and eleven discharged. There were decreases in the following offences : Assaults (indecent), 3 ; cruelty to animals, 11; disobeying orders of Court, 6; discharging fire-arms, 12; disturbing meetings and congregations, 5 ; drunkenness, 111—a marked decrease ; embezzlement, 7; gaming, 5 ; lunacy, 25; manslaughter, accessory to, 10 ; murder, and attempt to commit, 2 ; obscene and profane language, 18; receiving stolen property, 3 ; smuggling, 6; suicide, attempted, 4; vagrancy (having no visible lawful means), 19 ; trespass, 10. The total number of persons prosecuted was 2,265, being an increase of eighty. In the cases of common assault, and of assaults and robbery, many of the complainants were intoxicated when assaulted, therefore their evidence could not be relied on; this will account for a large proportion of the discharges. In the cases of burglary and breaking into dwellings and shops, in many cases the property was not identifiable, and in the cases of theft a large number were of a trivial nature, and the property stolen not identifiable, which will account for the small number of prosecutions when compared with the number of offences reported.