7

H.—l6

Since the Act came into force the Government have saved the sum of £20,389 Is. sd. in the form of retiring-allowances which would no doubt have been paid had it not existed. Recommendations for necessary amendments to the Police Provident Fund Act have been submitted for consideration of the Government. Stations, etc. During the year the following works have been completed :— New Buildings. Addington .. . . Cells. Petone .. .. .. Station. Carterton .. .. Station. Raglan .. .. ~ Cheviot .. .. „ Ranfurly .. .. „ Clinton .. .. ~ Richmond . . . . ~ Kaiapoi .. .. „ Seddon .. . . Cells. Newmarket .. .. „ Waikari .. .. „ Newtown . . .. Training depot and station. New Buildings in course of erection. Hamilton . . . . Quarters. Otira .. .. . . Lock-up. Dunollie .. . . Station. Rakaia . . .. Station. Kaikohe .. .. ~ Takaka.. .. .. ~ Kaitaia. . .. .. ~ Thames .. .. Offices. New Plymouth . . .. „ Additions, Improvements, &c. Aramoho .. . . Renovations. . Nelson .. .. . . Renovations Auckland . . .. Additions i Palmerston North .. ~ Blenheim .. .. Renovations. Port Awanui Cambridge .. .. „ Rangiora Denniston .. .. ~ Seddonville .. .. ~ Ellerslie .. .. „ Sheffield . . . . Additions. Epsom .. .. .. Lock -up and out - i St. Andrew's . . .. Fencing, &c. buildings. Stratford . . .. Renovations. Greymouth .. . . Renovations. ; Taihape .. . . Office. Hamilton .. . . ~ i Tolaga Bay . . . . Clearing reserve. Hastings . . . . ~ AVaimate .. . . Renovations. Lyttelton . . .. ~ Wanganui .. .. „ Mosgiel .. . . „ Whangarei .. . . Additions Additional Improvements, &c, in Hand. Havelock .. . . Drainage. Warkworth .. .. Improvements. Wairoa .. .. Stable, &c. Properties Acquired. Blackball .. .. Site. South Invert-argil] .. Site. Granity .. .. Station. Sydenham .. .. „ Lincoln. . .. . . Site. Thames .. .. Additional land. Morrinsville .. . . Station. Upper Riccarton . . Site. Miscellaneous. Police Instruction Classes. The weekly police instruction classes are still continued, and prove beneficial in raising the standard of education and efficiency of the men. The third annual examination, which consisted of a selection of subjects from the Police Acts, was held in January last. Twenty-five members offered themselves for examination :17 passed and 8 failed. On the whole, the examinations showed that the members examined possessed a considerable knowledge of the subjects referred to. Photographs of Discharged Prisoners. Arrangements have now been made for the monthly insertion in Police Gazette of the photographs of discharged prisoners, together with those of notorious criminals in the Australian States and elsewhere who may either he wanted on some charge or may visit the Dominion. The finger-print classification and reference to the description, &c, of the criminals are affixed I hereto, so that at every policestation in the Dominion these photographs are now filed, and are available at all times to every member of the service, besides being transmitted to other Police Forces. This arrangement has thus far proved highly satisfactory in the tracing and identifying of criminals, both in the Dominion and elsewhere. First Aid to the Injured. During the year ended March, 1909, 76 probationers presented themselves, at the conclusion of their course of training at the depot, for examination in " first aid to the injured," the examinations being held under the auspices of the St. John Ambulance Association. Of the 76 men who sat, all passed.