H.—l6.

Hamilton District.—Hamilton, Mataraata, Paeroa, Putaruru, Rotorua, Tauranga, To Kuiti, Te Puke, Te Whaiti, and Waihi. Gisborne District. —Gisborne, Patutahi, Ruatoria, Taneatua, Te Araroa, Tikitiki, Tokomaru Bay, and Tolaga Bay. Napier District.—Carlyle Street, Dannevirke, Havelock North, Napier, Nuhaka, Porangahau, Taradale, Takapau, Waipawa, and Waipukurau. New Plymouth District.—Fitzroy, Hawera, Inglewood, Manaia, Normanby, Opunake, Rahotu, Stratford, and Waitara. Wanganui District.—Manunui, National Park, Ohakune, Raetihi, Rangaroa (Taumarunui), and Wanganui East. Palmerston North District. —Cuba Street, Feilding, Pahiatua, Palmerston North, Terrace End, and Woodville. Wellington District. —Eastbourne, Greytown, Island Bay, Johnsonville, Karori, Lower Hutt, Martinborough, Masterton, Mount Cook, Murphy Street, Taranaki Street, Tinakori Road, and Wellington Central. Nelson District. —Collingwood, Havelock, Motueka, Murchison, Richmond, Takaka, and Wakefield. Greymouth District.—Ahaura, Dunollie, Greymouth, Hokitika, Reefton, Ross, and Westport. Christchurch District. —Addington, Amberley, Ashburton, Bingsland, Chatham Islands, Christchurc.h Central, Coalgate, Fendalton., Kaikoura, Leeston, Lincoln, Lin wood, Lyttelton, Methven, New Brighton, Phillipstown, Rakaia, Rangiora, Sydenham, and Woolston. Timaru District.—Duntroon, Fairlie, Geraldine, Hampden, Oamaru, Pleasant Point, Temuka, and Timaru. Dunedin District. —Balclutha, Caversham, Cromwell, Dunedin Central, Kaitangata, Middlemarch, Mornington, North Dunedin, North-east Valley, Ophir, Outram, Owaka, Port Chalmers, Roxburgh, Waikouaiti, and Waitahuna. Invercargill District. —Bluff, Clinton, Gore, Invercargill, Riverton, South Invercargill, Tuatapere, and Wyndham. General. Efficiency. — The lectures given weekly to junior constables and fortnightly to the senior constables, sergeants, and detectives, continue to give general satisfaction, and are very helpful to them in the carrying-out of their duties. Special lectures given by our finger-print expert and arms expert have been well attended and greatly appreciated. The new instruments supplied to the Finger-print Branch and Arms Bureau are giving excellent service. There has been some delay in finalizing the installation of a wireless plant, due to the fact that it is going to be more difficult and expensive than was at first anticipated. The expert who has the matter in hand for the Department is still giving it his attention and hopes before long to be able to equip one car in Wellington for a trial. Some excellent work in the detection of crime has been performed during the past year, notably in the case known as the Piha crime. Very fine work was done by the detectives and experts engaged in that case. It is very gratifying to know that the police, with the aid of scientists, can detect offenders who commit such crimes. The forty-eight-hour week is working well and giving general satisfaction both to the men and the Department. General Conduct of Police. —A few men had to be disciplined, but apart from these few instances I am pleased to be able to report that the general conduct of the police has been excellent. The utmost harmony and good will prevails throughout the Service, and all branches of the Service co-operate splendidly. Transport.—During the year three new high-powered motor-cars have been added to the present fleet—one at Wellington, one at Christchurch, and one at Dunedin. Two modern vans for conveyance of prisoners have also been procured —one for Wellington and the other for Auckland. A new van is required for Christchurch to replace the present heavy, clumsy one which has done good service in the past, but is too costly to run and is more fit for converting into a lorry. When a new van is supplied to Christchurch that city will have a good transport system of three fast cars and a modern fast van. Dunedin has now three fast motor-cars, and Wellington four good cars and an excellent van. Auckland has six cars, four of are in excellent order. Two are now getting beyond their usefulness through age and will require to be replaced at an early date. The new van there is giving excellent service. A light run-about truck was procured during the year for cartage of exhibits to and from Court and between stations at Auckland. When the two cars mentioned above are replaced Auckland will have, an efficient transport service. The four chief centres will then have an excellent fleet of fast transport, something unheard of previously in the Service. At the smaller centres officers of the Department supply motor-cars and are paid mileage or annual allowances when they use their cars on duty. This system is working very satisfactorily, and has met every emergency that has arisen. In addition to this, should the necessity arise, cars can be hired from motor garages or taxi-proprietors at a moment's notice. In the country districts the constable in charge is provided with a motor garage by the Department, and he supplies a car, for which he is paid an annual allowance. I can say that to-day our transport system is good, and no difficulty has been experienced in giving efficient service with it.

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