H.—l6.

The decreases in serious crimes and percentage of arrests are as follows : —

Percentage of arrests in 1902 ... ... ... ... ... 61-68 1903 ... ... ... ... ... 73-65 I regret to report the, so far, unsuccessful result of investigations carried out to trace the man wanted on warrant for murder at Te Awaite. A reward has been offered for information leading to his arrest, and search is still being continued. The percentage of arrests and summonses to all cases reported, irrespective of class, continues to show slight improvement, the figures being 94-45 for 1902 and 95 - 53 for 1903. The number of indecent and sexual offences shows an increase of 56 as compared with the preceding year, the numbers being 303 in 1902 and 359 in 1903, a prosecution being instituted in 353 cases. Deunkenness. During the year there was an increase of 546 in the number of persons charged with drunkenness as compared with the preceding year, but this increase ia no doubt due to the increased population and continued prosperity of the colony. The number charged with this offence in 1902 was 8,269 (7,405 males and 864 females), and in 1903 8,815 (7,977 males and 838 females). From the following table it will be observed that 4085 per cent, of the males and 73 - 03 per cent, of the females had previous convictions recorded against them, and 10-41 per cent, of the males were not permanent residents in the colony.

Return showing the Number of Persons charged with Drunkenness during the Year 1903, and the Number of Previous Convictions against same, as far as known.

The obtaining of prohibition orders against persons addicted to drink does not seem to remedy the existing evil, and it is evident some special steps will have to be adopted with the view of redeeming those men and women who have become a prey to habits of intemperance and dissipation.

2

. ifR 2 The decreases in serious crimes and percentage of arrests a: •e as follows : — 191 19. 1903. Crimes. Number of Number , Offences m all offenoes wl^ed ests -P°^a. Number o£ all Offences reported. Number of Offences in which Arrests resulted. Arson Assault and robbery ... Burglary Forgery and uttering Murder 64 52 449 99 7 8 10 29 5 61 19 48 47 189 340 90 76 7 5 8 3 9 7 29 22 5 1 16 44 213 73 4 3 7 22 1 „ attempted Rape Receiving stolen property Shooting with intent 723 446 520 383 Percentage of arrests in 1902 ... ... ... ... ... 61-68 1903 73-65 I regret to report the, so far, unsuccessful result of investigations carried out to trace the man wanted on warrant for murder at Te Awaite. A reward has been offered for information leading to his arrest, and search is still being continued. The percentage of arrests and summonses to all cases reported, irrespective of class, continues to show slight improvement, the figures being 94 - 45 for 1902 and 95 - 53 for 1903. The number of indecent and sexual offences shows an increase of 56 as compared with the preceding year, the numbers being 303 in 1902 and 359 in 1903, a prosecution being instituted in 353 cases. Deunkenness. During the year there was an increase of 546 in the number of persons charged with drunkenness as compared with the preceding year, but this increase is no doubt due to the increased population and continued prosperity of the colony. The number charged with this offence in 1902 was 8,269 (7,405 males and 864 females), and in 1903 8,815 (7,977 males and 838 females). From the following table it will be observed that 4085 per cent, of the males and 73 - 03 per cent, of the females had previous convictions recorded against them, and 10-41 per cent, of the males were not permanent residents in the colony. Retukn showing the Numbbk of Persons charged with Drunkenness during the Year 1903, and the Number of Previous Convictions against same, as far as known. Not Pre- One I're- Two Pre- Three Pre- Pour Pre- Five Pre- , Over Five o"S5>ti viouslyCon- vious Cow- vious Con- vious Con- vious Con- vious Con- Previous Totals. o victed. viclion. victions. victions. viotione. victions. Convict'ns. » Sg °&< D ' s *»< ;t - ! I fllS.9 District. Not 1're- One viouslyCon- vious victed. victj M. F. M. Pre- Two Pre- Three Pre- Pour PreCon- vious Con- vious Con- vious ConLon. victions. victions. viotione. i P. I M. P. M. P. j M. . F. M. V. M. F. j M. P. Auckland, Waikalo, 729 andBay of Islands : Napier and East 368 Coast Wanganui and West 752 Coast Wellington and 1,282 Marlborough Nelson and West- 197 land Canterbury and 856 North Otago Dunedin .. 431 Southland .. 103 34 21 81 61 16<J 85 130 314 9 95 5 44 ! 5 3 j 42 3 29 ] 1 6 64 i 1 31 1 40 147 17 86 6 37 I .7 17 1 17 .. 44 11 19 26 7 32 9 3 21 129 65 42 '• 99 81 1,222 8 632 .. jl,043 67 2,004 150 40 39 223 124 3 14 388 6 38 33 2 30 270 81 36 19 I ... 11 .. 21 164 j 25 125 11 7 77 I 8 54 8 3 82 I 1.... 27 ■ .5 88 640 60 407 '37 ■ , . ■.. ■ . 9 1 71 9 33 9 1? .. ■247'. '38 5 68 22 21 3 22 9 1 3 219 71 22 3 j 274 90 1,773 59 769 13 2601 321 j7,977 13 216 133 j 24 32 106 145 21 ;■ ■ ■■; ■ ■■ 4,718 226 1,115 200 68 650 838 831 The obtaining of p the existing evil, and of redeeming those in dissipation. irohibitior it is evii en and \ orders against person Lent some special ste ■omen who have be& is addicte ips will '. ome a p: id to ( have rey t> Inn to > hi : doe >e ai ,bits is not seer lopted wii of intern r i t< ih > remedj ihe view >en ,nee anc

. ifR 2 The decreases in serious crimes and percentage of arrests a: •e as follows : — 191 19. 1903. Crimes. Number of Number , Offences m all offenoes wl^ed ests -P°^a. Number o£ all Offences reported. Number of Offences in which Arrests resulted. Arson Assault and robbery ... Burglary Forgery and uttering Murder 64 52 449 99 7 8 10 29 5 61 19 48 47 189 340 90 76 7 5 8 3 9 7 29 22 5 1 16 44 213 73 4 3 7 22 1 „ attempted Rape Receiving stolen property Shooting with intent 723 446 520 383 Percentage of arrests in 1902 ... ... ... ... ... 61-68 1903 73-65 I regret to report the, so far, unsuccessful result of investigations carried out to trace the man wanted on warrant for murder at Te Awaite. A reward has been offered for information leading to his arrest, and search is still being continued. The percentage of arrests and summonses to all cases reported, irrespective of class, continues to show slight improvement, the figures being 94 - 45 for 1902 and 95 - 53 for 1903. The number of indecent and sexual offences shows an increase of 56 as compared with the preceding year, the numbers being 303 in 1902 and 359 in 1903, a prosecution being instituted in 353 cases. Deunkenness. During the year there was an increase of 546 in the number of persons charged with drunkenness as compared with the preceding year, but this increase is no doubt due to the increased population and continued prosperity of the colony. The number charged with this offence in 1902 was 8,269 (7,405 males and 864 females), and in 1903 8,815 (7,977 males and 838 females). From the following table it will be observed that 4085 per cent, of the males and 73 - 03 per cent, of the females had previous convictions recorded against them, and 10-41 per cent, of the males were not permanent residents in the colony. Retukn showing the Numbbk of Persons charged with Drunkenness during the Year 1903, and the Number of Previous Convictions against same, as far as known. Not Pre- One I're- Two Pre- Three Pre- Pour Pre- Five Pre- , Over Five o"S5>ti viouslyCon- vious Cow- vious Con- vious Con- vious Con- vious Con- Previous Totals. o victed. viclion. victions. victions. viotione. victions. Convict'ns. » Sg °&< D ' s *»< ;t - ! I fllS.9 District. Not 1're- One viouslyCon- vious victed. victj M. F. M. Pre- Two Pre- Three Pre- Pour PreCon- vious Con- vious Con- vious ConLon. victions. victions. viotione. i P. I M. P. M. P. j M. . F. M. V. M. F. j M. P. Auckland, Waikalo, 729 andBay of Islands : Napier and East 368 Coast Wanganui and West 752 Coast Wellington and 1,282 Marlborough Nelson and West- 197 land Canterbury and 856 North Otago Dunedin .. 431 Southland .. 103 34 21 81 61 16<J 85 130 314 9 95 5 44 ! 5 3 j 42 3 29 ] 1 6 64 i 1 31 1 40 147 17 86 6 37 I .7 17 1 17 .. 44 11 19 26 7 32 9 3 21 129 65 42 '• 99 81 1,222 8 632 .. jl,043 67 2,004 150 40 39 223 124 3 14 388 6 38 33 2 30 270 81 36 19 I ... 11 .. 21 164 j 25 125 11 7 77 I 8 54 8 3 82 I 1.... 27 ■ .5 88 640 60 407 '37 ■ , . ■.. ■ . 9 1 71 9 33 9 1? .. ■247'. '38 5 68 22 21 3 22 9 1 3 219 71 22 3 j 274 90 1,773 59 769 13 2601 321 j7,977 13 216 133 j 24 32 106 145 21 ;■ ■ ■■; ■ ■■ 4,718 226 1,115 200 68 650 838 831 The obtaining of p the existing evil, and of redeeming those in dissipation. irohibitior it is evii en and \ orders against person Lent some special ste ■omen who have be& is addicte ips will '. ome a p: id to ( have rey t> Inn to > hi : doe >e ai ,bits is not seer lopted wii of intern r i t< ih > remedj ihe view >en ,nee anc