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During the year the conduct of the members of the Force, with very few exceptions, has been exemplary, and very few punishments have been found necessary. The men have performed their various duties in a manner conducive to the public welfare and creditable to themselves.

Inspector Mitchell, Invjercargill District. Two events of importance occurred in this district: (1.) On the 21st June, 1907, a fire in progress in the Nightcaps Company's coal-mine caused the death of three miners, named William Duncan, Patrick Walsh, and William Carson, through white-damp—the mine-manager, John Lloyd, was charged with manslaughter, but the jury disagreed. (2.) On the 3rd September, 1907, a miner called Harry Eeid shot a girl named Lydia Gibbon, and then shot himself, at Nightcaps. The apparent cause was jealousy. Both lingered for some days, and then died. Though there has been a slight increase in the number of several classes of offences, such as breaking and entering, assault and robbery, and false pretences, still, in the aggregate, there has been a decrease in the number of offences reported. Two constables have resigned, and 1 has retired. The conduct of the members of the Force has been good, and their attention to duty is indicated by the fact that 95 per cent of crime in this district has been detected. The brewery depots at Waikiwi, on the border of the no-license district, have been closed, but are in two instances being replaced by breweries. This is to be regretted, seeing that the latter are under less restrictions as to conduct, being able to sell irrespective of hour. There have been 11 prosecutions for sly-grog selling, resulting in 8 convictions; at the present time there is no evidence that such sales are being carried on to any appreciable extent in either Invercargill or Mataura Electorates, or in Tapanui or Clinton Sub-districts.

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