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G.—No. 5

6

ANNUAL REPORT ON THE

seven acres, Government reserve, fenced and ditched. All timber for fencing and building purposes has been split and sawn in the bush, by men of the Armed Constabulary. Erecting and repairing Telegraph Lines. —No men of the force under my command have been employed on that duty. I have, &c, f Willaii C. Ltox, Lieut.-Colonel, The Commissioner Armed Constabulary, Wellington. Commanding Waikato District.

Enclosure 2. Lieut.-Colonel Moule to the Commissioner Armed Constabulary Force. Armed Constabulary, District Office, Sir, — Tauranga, Ist July, 1871. In compliance with instructions conveyed in your Circular, No. 47, of the sth ultimo. I have the honor to report on the different subjects therein mentioned, regarding the Civil and Military duties, also Public and Useful Works performed by the Armed Constabulary Force, in the Tauranga District, from Ist June, 1870, to 30th June, 1871. Military Duties. 1. Average strength of Officers and Men. —6 officers, and 82 men. 2. Names of Stations occupied. —Tauranga, Opotiki, Whakatane, Maketu, and Matata. 3. Nature of Parades and Drills. —Divine Service Parades ; Marching Order Parades ; Company, and Light Infantry Drill, and Target Practice. 4. Operations in the Field. —The Force was not engaged in any military operations in the field during the year. 5. Patrolling and Scouting. —Men periodically patrol the country in the neighborhood of the different stations. In November and December, Scouting Parties were sent from Opotiki up the Waioeka and Otara Gorges, as it was expected that Te Kooti, being short of ammunition, would make a raid on Opotiki, in the hope of getting a supply. 6. Carrying Mails and Despatches. —The mails between Tauranga, Maketu, Matata, Whakatane, and Opotiki are carried weekly by Mounted Orderlies. Despatches marked " Urgent," or " Important," are frequently conveyed along the lines from Tauranga to Opotiki and Taupo. 7. Escorts, aud Guards. —One Officer and fourteen men escorted His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburo-h from Maketu to the Lakes in the Rotorua District. One Medical Officer, and two men took two pack-horses with medicines, and medical comforts, from Tauranga to Fort Galatea, for the purpose of rendering aid to the Uriweras, then suffering from an epidemic. Several prisoners committed for trial from Opotiki and Tauranga, were escorted to Auckland. Guards over Redoubts and Stores at the principal stations. 8. Making and improving Target Ranges. —New Shooting Ranges made at Tauranga and Whakatane, the old range at Tauranga being dangerous to passing boats. 9. Telegraph Linesmen. —One man employed in keeping the Telegraph Line in repair between Tauranga and Maketu. 10. Issuers, and Storekeepers. —Four men employed as Issuers, and Storekeepers, two of them being attached to the Native Contingents, under Captains Preece and Mair. 11. Erection of Redoubts and Stockades. —The Redoubt of Whakatane, referred to in my report of last year, has been completed. This was a long, and heavy piece of work, the material having to be brought from a considerable distance. The walls of the Redoubt at Opotiki have been raised, and loop-holed. Civil Duties. 1. Steps taken for the Prevention of Crime. —Patrolling Townships, Stations, and the Country around, by day and night. Very little crime of a serious nature has occurred, with the exception of a few petty larcenies, and one man committed for trial on two charges of selling powder to Natives. The crime of drunkenness has considerably decreased. 2. Attending Civil Courts. —Men are detailed to attend all Sittings in the Resident Magistrate's Courts. 3. Attending Lands Courts. —Three men wore detailed daily to attend the Sittings of the Native Lands Court at Tauranga, from Ist December, 1870, to the 19th January, 1871. 4. Taking Census. —The Census of the East Coast District was taken by members of the Armed Constabulary Force, at a cost of £44 12s. Public and Useful Works. 1. Nature and extent of Road Works.— Making a road to, and across the Judea Swamp. Sideing cutting, 4,056 cubic yards. Embankment, 2,679 yards. Making a portion of the Main Trunk Road, from Tauranga to Taupo, called the Cameron Road. Formation, 9,170 square yards. Making a new road up to the Whakatane Redoubt, 20 chains. Repairing, and improving the road between Whakatane and Ohope. 2. Building Bridges and Culverts. —Nil. 3. Building Houses and Stables. —Seven large Whares built, in and about the AVhakatane Redoubt. One stable 34 feet by 14 feet, built at Tauranga. 4. Fencing paddocks, and laying down in grass. —Fencing a3O acre paddock at Tauranga. Fencing, and laying down in grass, a small paddock at Opotiki. A vegetable garden formed and fenced at AVhakatane. 5. Erecting and Repairing Telegraph Lines. —Nil.

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