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Inspector Cummings, Napier District. New offices are nearing completion at Hastings, and will be greatly appreciated. Weber Station was closed during the year and the district constable's services dispensed with. The work of the Weber Subdistrict has been divided between Porangahau and Dannevirlce Stations, and this arrangement is working satisfactorily. For the year ended 31st December, 1928, the total number of offences reported was 1,459, a decrease of 25 on the previous year. 1,390 offences were detected, leaving a small percentage of undetected crime. No crime calling for special mention was recorded during the year. The conduct of the police during the year has been excellent. Inspector Fraser, New Plymouth District. The offences return for the year ended 31st December, 1928, shows the total number of all offences reported to be 1,485, compared with 1,046 for the previous twelve months, being an increase of 439. 1,409 offences were accounted for by arrest or summons, leaving 76 undetected. The only serious crime committed was the murder of a young woman by her mother, who committed suicide immediately afterwards. The general conduct of members of the Force in this district has been good, only one constable having been convicted for a minor breach of the regulations. Inspector Till, Wanganui District. ' The total number of offences reported was 1,017, an increase of 20 over the previous year. Of the increase of offences those of dishonesty were most marked, —viz., common theft, theft from dwellings, theft of animals, and house and shop breaking. A great many of these offences are committed by first offending young persons, and in many cases a number are committed by the same person. It is noticeable that a number of thieves start at an early age, not because they need to, but on account of there being something wrong in their composition. The conduct of the police in the district has been good —only two members of the Force were fined for breach of regulations. Inspector Simpson, Palmerston North District. The Offences Return for the year ended 31st December last, shows the total number of offences reported as 1,246, as against 1,359 in 1927—a decrease of 113 on the whole. Of the offences reported 1,151 were dealt with either by arrest or summons. The offences reported have been of the ordinary class, and there has been no serious crime calling for special comment. The conduct of members of the Force in the district has been very satisfactory for the past year, and they have maintained a high standard of efficiency. Inspector Lewin, Nelson District. The Nelson District was established on the Ist December, 1928. For the year ending on the 31st December, 1928, the total number of offences reported was 682, compared with 654 for the previous twelve months, being an increase of 28. Of all offences reported, 632 were accounted for by arrest or summons, leaving 50 undetected. The main increases were in sheep-stealing, motor-vehicles offences, mischief, false pretences, and licensing offences. There were decreases in assault, vagrancy, and maintenance offences. There were not any serious criminal offences reported during the year. The conduct of the Force in this district has been good. Inspector Mathew, Greymouth District. The offences return for the year ended 31st December, 1928, shows the total number of all offences to be 1,404 as compared with 1,158 for the previous year, being an increase of 246. The principal increase has been in theft from dwellings, mischief, breaches of the peace, drunkenness, gaming and licensing offences, and breaches of Motor Regulations. There have been no serious criminal offences reported, for the year, apart from the usual cases of breaking and entering and other offences involving dishonesty. The general conduct of members of the Force in this district has been good, and I trust the standard of efficiency will be maintained. Two constables were fined for breaches of the regulations. Inspector Bird, Timaru District. The number of offences reported during the year was 1,131, as against 1,008 last year, the principal increases being breaches of Motor-vehicles Act and drunkenness. The principal decreases were house-breaking and assault. There has been an absence of serious crime. The conduct of the members of the Force has on the whole been good, the exceptions being two constables dealt with under the regulations.