H.—l6.

that comprises our fleet of transport. We have a oar, Y8 Ford, on order ; this should be delivered in a few weeks, and will be a welcome addition to our present inadequate fleet. Next in order requiring attention is housing, barrack, and office accommodation. Owing to the lean years we have recently passed through, quite a number of our departmental houses and barracks for single men have got into a state of disrepair. A number of them require repairing and renovating as soon as funds are available. New offices are badly required at Petone ; the accommodation there is deplorable. During the year the conduct of the members of the uniform branch of the Service has been very good, there being very few breaches of the regulations. The conduct of the detective branch of the Service has been exceptionally good. Both branches of the Service have worked exceedingly well together, and their efficiency left little to be desired. The various classes of tuition inaugurated during the year for both branches of the Service proved very popular. Professional men and scientists gave lectures on ballistics, chemistry and its relation to crime-detection,- Court procedure and preparation of briefs, criminal investigation, finger-prints and medical jurisprudence, which were greatly appreciated The lectures were practical, educative, entertaining, and of great value to the members of the Force. The training depot, which had been closed during the depression, was reopened last August. Two batches of twenty recruits each have been put through a course of training up to the present. The training of recruits is very essential. After a course of four months in the depot they have a fair knowledge of the duties required of them when placed on beat duty. The total number of offences reported during the year ending 31st December last was 5,817, an increase of 21. There were fairly substantial increases in the number of cases reported for indecent assault, common assault, burglary, house and shop breaking, receiving stolen property, and reckless or negligent driving of motor-vehicles, while there were decreases in the number reported for theft, false pretences, mischief, drunkenness, vagrancy, and breaches of the Gaming and Licensing Acts. Inspector Lewin, Nelson District. For the year ending 31st December, 1935, the total number of offences reported was 931, compared with 800 for the previous twelve months, being an increase of 131. Of all offences reported, 839 were accounted by arrest or summons, leaving 92 undetected. There were increases in assaults, carnal knowledge, burglary, mischief, damaging telegraph equipment, breaches of the Licensing Act, Arms Act, and Motor-vehicles Act. The decreases were in theft, false pretences, forgery, and drunkenness. There were no serious criminal offences during the year. The conduct of the police in the district during the past year has been very satisfactory, there being no defaulters. • Inspector Cameron, Greymouth District. The strength of the Force was decreased by one constable, brought about by the closing of Seddonville station. I recommend that a detective be appointed to Greymouth to assist the detective-sergeant to deal more satisfactorily with increased inquiries throughout the district. The offences return for the year ended 31st December, 1935, shows a total of 880 offences, against 873 for the previous year. The principal increases were crimes involving dishonesty, persons found unlawfully on licensed premises, and breaches of Motor-vehicles Act. The principal decreases were breaking and entering, breaches of Shipping and Seamen Act, breaches of Post and Telegraph Act, and assault. No serious crimes have actually been committed during the year, but the circumstances in which a young woman was found to have been poisoned during the previous year, and an attempt also made to poison two other persons at the same time, were thoroughly investigated and resulted in a man being committed for trial on each of the three charges—viz., one of murder and two of attempted murder. A special jury found the accused to be insane and unfit to plead to an indictment, and he was committed to a mental institution. The general conduct of the members of the Force in the district has been good, and their work generally has been satisfactory. There were three defaulters during the year. Superintendent Fraser, Christchdrch District. An increase of twelve constables is required for this district, as follows : six to be stationed at Christchurch, two at St. Albans, and one each at Sydenham, Addington, Linwood, and Rangiora. It is most important that an extra constable should be stationed at Linwood as early as possible. The offences return for the year ending 31st December, 1935, shows the total number of all offences reported to be 3,616, compared with 3,808 for the previous year, a decrease of-192. Of all offences reported, 3,294 were accounted for by arrest or summons, leaving 322 undetected. One hundred and six males and 4 females were committed for trial or sentence, and, of those committed, 91 males and 4 females were convicted. The district for the past twelve months has been free of very serious crime. The principal increases occurred under the following headings : Incest, assault, theft by clerks or servants, false pretences, mischief, exposure of person and grossly indecent acts, unlawfully using horses, motor-cars, &c., being in a state of intoxication when in charge of motor-vehicles, and prosecutions under the Gaming Act. Decreases have occurred in the following offences : Indecently assaulting males, indecent assaults, theft, robbery, burglary, house and shop breaking, receiving stolen property, forgery, drunkenness, vagrancy, assaulting, obstructing, and resisting constables, negligent and reckless driving, and offences under the Licensing and Destitute Persons Acts. The general conduct of members of the Force during the past twelve months has been good, and the duties satisfactorily performed by both the uniform and detective branches. The detective staff has had a busy year, and the time has arrived when a motor-car should be placed entirely at the disposal of the staff. During the year one detective and one constable were dismissed, and two other constables fined for breaches of Police Regulations.

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