H.—l6

10

As will be observed in the annual offences return, some offences, including burglary, housebreaking, and false pretences, show a decrease, whilst others show an increase, the principal increase being in arrests for drunkenness. The detective staff has been particularly busy, and has done excellent work during the year. In addition to attending to criminal work, a great deal of other inquiry work involving lengthy reports and careful investigation has been attended to. The same can be said of many members of the uniform branch of the service. Whilst referring to the work done by the Department I desire to bear testimony to the excellent service rendered by the officers of the Finger-print Branch in numerous instances where their assistance has been invoked. During the year new stations have been opened at Pongaroa and Seddon, and the district constables' stations at Makuri and Eenwicktown have been closed. Five constables resigned and 1 was dismissed, 1 sergeant retired on pension, and 2 sergeants, 24 constables, and 1 detective were transferred to other districts. Two sergeants, 1 detective, and 12 constables were transferred from other districts, and 27 recruits appointed. The strength of the district has been increased by 1 constable at Petone, 1 at Nelson, 1 at Pongaroa, 1 at Carterton, 1 at Seddon, and 4 in Wellington. Inspector E. Wilson, Greymouth District. The strength of the Force in this district on the 31st March last was 1 Inspector, 5 sergeants. 28 constables, 1 detective, and 1 district constable. New stations have been opened at Granity and Otira, while a member of the regular Force has been placed in charge at Murchison. The conduct of the men has on the whole been satisfactory, and punishments have not been inflicted for any offences of a serious nature. Our statistics for 1906 show an increase of about 50 offences on the previous year's return, there being 574 offences reported, resulting in 533 prosecutions, leaving 41 offences (a number of which are very doubtful) undetected. During the year there have been 15 prosecutions against publicans, resulting in 11 convictions, as against 33 prosecutions and 17 convictions'in 1905, there being no prosecutions for sly-grog selling. Inspector E. J. Gillies, Christchurch District. On the 31st March last the strength of the Force was 135 men of all ranks, made up as follows: 1 Inspector, 2 Sub-Inspectors, 1 station sergeant, 13 sergeants, 108 constables, 5 detectives, and 5 acting-detectives. There is a surgeon and matron attached to the Christchurch station. The casualties were: 1 retired on pension, 1 medically unfit, 5 resignations, 2 dismissals, 1 death. The total number of offences reported during the year was 3,415, and the number in which arrest or summons resulted was 3,209, a decrease of 154 offences as compared with the previous year. The records show that 460 bicycles were reported missing during the year, and that 446 were recovered. Fines amounting to £234 were imposed against sly-grog sellers during the year. The usual difficulties in procuring evidence for the Crown are always experienced. There is no open trading as a rule, and the police have to be very alert to gain any knowledge of what may be going on almost within their reach. Sly-grog selling is rarely indulged in, except in districts where "no license " has been carried. New stations have been erected at Christchurch, Addington, and Bingsland. There was ample accommodation for all the extra men on duty at the Exhibition, which proved to be most convenient, the expenditure being thereby considerably reduced. The New Zealand Exhibition. —As it was anticipated that a number of the criminal class would arrive from the Australian States, special precautions were taken for the safety of visitors to the Exhibition, and I am pleased with the system adopted and the manner in which instructions were adhered to. The organization throughout was so complete that only a few of the criminal class succeeded in leaving the Australian ports for New Zealand, and those were so closely watched on arrival that they had no alternative but to return from whence they came. The Exhibition was open from the lst November, 1906, to the 15th April, 1907, and the total attendance was 1,966,861, the daily average attendance being 13,949. Good order was maintained throughout the season, there being comparatively little crime to contend with. The detectives fortunately succeeded in securing a conviction against a gang of burglars, which was due principally to the evidence of the finger-print experts. Inspector T. O'Brien, Dunedin District. The total number of offences reported during the year was 1,740, being a decrease of 49 as compared with the preceding year. The number of cases in which arrests or procedure by summons took place was 1,556. The following offences show an increase as compared with the preceding year—namely : Assaults, common, 8; assaults on police, 4; breaches of the peace, 13 ; deserting and failing to provide for wives and children, 22; drunkenness, 28; failing to support parents, 14; manslaughter, 2 ; obscene and profane language, 11 ; obstructing police, 12 ; stonethrowing, 7 ; stowing away on board ships, 6; theft as a bailee, 16. And the following offences