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An addition of a constable to the staff has taken place during the year. A large amount of additional work has been allotted to the Branch in the form of a modus operandi, or " classification of crime," bureau ; this will undoubtedly be of great assistance to the Detective Branch in the near future. Arms Bureau. The Arms Bureau, which was established three years ago for the purpose of advising the Department in respect of firearms for which applications for import licenses were received and to which investigating officers could refer inquiries as to the identification of firearms used in connection with crimes or accidents, has made steady progress during the year. A large number of sample firearms has been submitted for examination. Some of these, which before 1935 would have been admitted without question, have been condemned as unsafe, while others have been referred back to the makers with recommendations as to alteration in design which would improve their safety in the hands of an average user. The result is that a better class of sporting firearm is being imported, particularly with regard to small-game rifles such as the -22 in. calibre, which has always been a heavy contributor to the accident rate. An increased number of arms-makers have been persuaded to improve the designs of their shot-guns and rifles, as well as make the wearing components of the locks of more durable steel. Unfortunately, in spite of all that is being done to improve matters, the shooting-accident rate is still very high. Twenty-six deaths from accidental shootings occurred during the year, and in two other cases Coroners were unable to decide accident or suicide. Thirty-one other persons were injured through accidental discharges, some very seriously. The average age of persons killed or injured in these cases was twenty-four years. Attention is again drawn to the double-barrelled hammer shot-gun, which during the year caused 14 fatal and 7 non-fatal accidents, or a total of 21 out of the 57 accidents recorded, while the hammerless shot-gun was concerned in only two cases, one of which was fatal. Last year's report included a recommendation that the double-barrelled hammer gun be excluded from importation, and this is again suggested. Rifles of -22 in. calibre were responsible for 5 fatal and 22 non-fatal accidents. This is rather higher than in the two preceding years. Many of the models which are causing trouble are old ones, and 11 out of the 27 types of weapon which caused this year's accidents are now excluded from importation. Lectures and demonstrations have been given to police in all the main centres of the Dominion. Recently a balopticon lecture lantern has been added to the equipment of the Bureau, and this will be most useful for lecturers in the future. A high-grade ballistic comparison microscope, which will facilitate the identification of firearms and projectiles, has also been procured. Police Buildings, etc. The following works in connection with police-stations have been carried out during the year by the Public Works Department: — New police-stations were erected at Kaeo, Te Whaite, and Manunui, and new offices at Newmarket and Tauranga. Houses and sections were purchased for police-stations at Matawai, Ruatoria, Papatoetoe, Manurewa, National Park, and Millerton, and a site for a new police-station at Hamilton was acquired. Repairs, renovations, and/or improvements were effected at the following stations :— Wliangarei District.—Dargaville, Kaikohe, Kaitaia, Kawakawa, Ruawai, and Russell. Auckland District.—Auckland Central, Avondale, Balmoral, Birkenhead, Coromandel, Devonport, Grey Lynn, Helensville, Huntly, Mercer, Mount Albert, Mount Eden, Newmarket, Otahuhu, Parnell, Point Chevalier, Pukekohe, Remuera, Takapuna, Thames, Waiuku, and Warkworth. Hamilton District.—Frankton Junction, Hamilton, Hamilton Bast, Kawhia, Ivihikihi, Ngaruawahia, Otorohanga, Paeroa, Rotorua, Taupo, Tauranga, Tokaanu, and Waihi. Gisborne District.—Gisborne, Patutahi, Waipiro Bay, and Whataupoko (res.). Napier District.—Carlyle Street, Hastings, Havelock North, Mohaka, Napier, and Waipawa. New Plymouth District. —Fitzroy, Kapouga, Mokau, New Plymouth, Opunake, Rahotu, Stratford, and Whangamomona. Wanganui District. —Ohakune, Ongarue, Taihape, Taumarunui (Rangaroa), and Wanganui. Palmerston North District.—Eketahuna and Feilding. Wellington District. —Carterton, Greytown, Karori, Lyall Bay, Martinborough, Masterton, Mount Cook, Petone, Tinakori Road, Tinui, Wellington Central, and Wellington South. Nelson District.—Blenheim, Colling wood, Motueka, and Nelson. Greymouth District. —Blackball, Denniston, Hokitika, Kumara, Otira, Reefton, Ross, and Seddonville (res.). Christchurch District.—Akaroa, Amberley, Ashburton, Belfast, Bingsland, Chatham Islands, Christchurch Central, Coalgate, Culverden, Fendalton, Leeston, Lincoln, Lyttelton, Oxford, Phillipstowu, St. Albans, Southbridge, and Waikari. Timaru District. —Duntroon, Fairlie, Glenavy, Oamaru, St. Andrews, and Waimate, Dunedin District. —Anderson's Bay, Clyde, Dunedin Central, Green Island, Lawrence, Mataura, Milton, North-east Valley, Ranfurly, St. Kilda, and Waikouaiti. Invercargill District.—Bluff, Gore, Invercargill Central, Invercargill North, Nightcaps, Queenstown, Riverton, Tapanui, Tuatapere, and Wyndham.

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