ARMED CONSTABULARY FORCE.

G.-No. 5.

7

6. Building Sea Walls. —Building a Sea Wall for the protection of the Military Grave Yard at Tauranga, 306 feet in length, and 5 feet high. Sloping bank above Sea Wall, 1,178 cubic yards. This jvas a long and heavy piece of work, the stone having to be quarried at Mount Maunganui, and punted a distance of four miles. Remarks. In consequence of the limited number of men in the district, and the occupation of so many posts, but little could be done in the way of road work, after providing for the various Camp and other duties, on which the men have been employed. The conduct of the Force has been good, and the men being fully employed, there has been little or no sickness among them. During the year, about 250 Uriweras, with many chiefs of great influence, surrendered unconditionally, and are located about Opotiki, Whakatane, and Matata. They are industrious, and well behaved. The Natives generally in this district are most peacefully disposed, and several of the tribes are employed making roads from the coast to the interior, in the direction of Taupo. 1 have, &c, The Commissioner Armed Constabulary Force, AV. Moule, Lieut.-Colonel, Wellington. Inspector A.C., Commanding Tauranga District.

Enclosure 3. Inspector Roberts to the Commissioner Armed Constabulary Force. District Office, Tauranga. Sie,— 30th June, 1871. In compliance with instructions contained in Circular, No. 47, I have the honor to forward for your information, the following report of the duties performed by the Armed Constabulary Force in the Taupo District, from Ist July, IS7O, to 30th June, 1871. Military Duties. 1. Average strength of Officers and Men. —The average strength of the Armed Constabulary Force in the district during the last twelve months was:—2 Inspectors; 4 Sub-Inspectors; 1 AssistantSurgeon ; 23 Non-Commissioned Officers, and 224 men. The present strength is—l Inspector; 4 Sub-Inspectors; 1 Assistant-Surgeon; 21 Non-Commissioned Officers, and 143 men. AssistantSurgeon Leslie was on the strength of the district to the 24th February (except from Ist to sth July, attending Supreme Court, Auckland), when he was transferred to Bay of Plenty District. 2. Nature of Parades and Drills. —Inspection Parades, in arms and accoutrements, and for Divine Service, are held at each post, every Sunday morning (weather permitting). Parades for inspection of mounted mens' saddlery, &c, every Saturday afternoon, and a monthly inspection at each post by the Officer Commanding the District The detachments at each post have been drilled as follows: — Opepe —One hour daily (Sunday's excepted), from Ist July, to the middle of January. Tapuaeharuru. —One hour daily (Sunday's excepted), from Ist July to the middle of March. Runanga.— One hour daily (Sunday's excepted), from Ist July to 30th November. Tarawera.—One hour daily (Sunday's excepted), from Ist July to 30th November. Te Haroto. —One hour daily (Sunday's excepted), from Ist July to 31st December. The drill in each case consisted of squad, and company's drill, and skirmishing, &c, manual and platoon exercises, with Snider and Enfield rifles, and breech-loading carbines. The cessation of the daily drill was caused by the absence of the greater part of each detachment on road works. The men are occasionally exercised in the several branches already taught. Each non-commissioned officer and constable in the district, fired fifteen rounds at 400, 500, and 600 yards, in December, as competitors for representatives for Colonial Prize Firing. In January, 1871, the issue of Snider rifles to the whole of the Force was completed, and they were taught the manual and platoon exercise for that arm. Each man in the district then fired thirty rounds of ammunition at the regulation size targets, those armed with Sniders at 400, 500 and 600 yards, and those with Breech Loading Carbines at 100, 200 and 300 yards. After which, in February, the annual firing for Constabulary prizes took place, at which each man competed. Out of twenty-two prizes granted, value __183, eight, value £78, were won by men of the district; the first prize with each arm was taken by men in this district. 3. Operations in the Field. —The Force in this district has not been engaged in any field operations during the past year. 4. Patrolling and Scouting. —During the months of July, August and September last, owing to information of Te Kooti's intention of endeavoring to get to Waikato, via Taupo ; two mounted men from Runanga, and two from Opepe, scouted daily, from the former post along Helyar's Valley and the surrounding country ; and from the latter over to Kaingaroa plains towards Heruiwi and Fort Galatea; and occasionally to the different deserted villages on the eastern shores of Lake Taupo. Acting upon information brought by one of these men, on the 2nd September, Sub-Inspector Morrison and fourteen men went from Tapuaeharuru in the two Government whaleboats, and examined the villages and tracks on the eastern shores of the lake, at the same time a mounted party from Opepe were engaged on the same duty inland, and some friendly natives were despatched to Tokano and Motupipi on the south and western shores of the lake, to ascertain if a party of natives, supposed to be Te Kooti's men, had passed. Since the 20th inst., scouting from these posts has been resumed. Mounted orderlies have also been occasionally despatched to communicate with the native forces under Captains Preece and Mair, at Te Teko, Fort Galatea, and Kaiteriria.