ARMED CONSTABULARY EORCE.

15

G.-No. 5.

road, 26 feet wide, have been cleared, levelled, and formed, between the Mimi River and Wai-Iti. A drain 5 chains in length, 4 feet deep, 4 feet wide, cut through the swamp, at the new approach to the Mimi River; and about 1,200 cubic yards of earth removed from a cutting at the same place, and wheeled over the swamp. 2. A bridge on the main road to the Pukearuhe Block, below the Wai-Iti Redoubt, has been repaired and strengthened. Several new culverts have been made on the road between Urenui and Mimi rivers. 3. New quarters for the men and officers' mess house, cook houses, library, Ac., have been erected at Wai-Iti. The Government Reserve, at Mount Elliot, New Plymouth, has been levelled, cleared planted, and sown, and the offices painted and repaired. The stables at Marsland Hill, and stable yard re-paved. The whole of the interior of the barrack rooms cleaned and painted, new approaches, and steps made and metalled, gardens made and planted, the glacis properly levelled, sown, and planted, and many other improvements. 4. Two small paddocks have been cleared, levelled, fenced with a ditch and bank, and sown with oats, at AVai-Iti. The site of the old regimental buildings at Marsland Hill filled in with earth removed from the old parapets, and levelled, the whole forming part of a paddock which has been cleared, sown, and fenced for the troop horses. The remainder of the reserve is now being fenced and cleared. 5-6. No telegraph lines erected at present in this district, nor any sea walls. 7. An old bush track, about 8J miles, across the ranges, from Frankley Road to Okato, useful as a means of making a flank march, has been re-opened, and about 2 miles of fresh track cut, to avoid some very rough ground on the old track. Remarks. I have much pleasure in reporting to the Commissioner that, on the whole, the conduct of the force in this district has been exemplary, during the past year. The system of keeping men usefully employed, when not otherwise occupied, has certainly been productive of the best effects. But few, and no aggravated cases of crime have occured in the force, and in very few instances have I deemed it imperative to apply for the discharge of any of its members. No idleness has been permitted, and, thanks to the energy of my officers, and good conduct and zeal of the major part of the non-commissiotied officers, much has been done which would occupy too much space to particularise, but which must be apparent to any one acquainted with the former condition of the stations and roads. All reasonable opportunity is allowed to the men to practise themselves in shooting, and a flourishing rifle association formed among themselves, productive of much emulation and amusement, and will tend in time to make the whole of the men fair shots. A library, hitherto unassisted by any but voluntary contibutions, a very creditable band, and periodical have been established, and all exercises encouraged likely to add to the bodily strength, vigor, and activity of the men. Several fair maps of the country have been sketched and filled in, one of which I forward to Government, and others I retain as a guide to the whereabouts of settlers, Ac. The canteen, formerly an annoyance, is so no longer ; with tho sanction of the Officer Commanding the district, I have taken it entirely into our own hands, placing a trustworthy man in charge, and dividing the profits at present, as follows :—Hospital, 7| per cent.; Library, and Rifle Association, 5 per cent. ; Periodical 2^- per cent. ; and the surplus to defraying the expenses of a general mess, extras, Ac. The accounts are carefully audited monthly, and no credit over £2 a man allowed on any pretext whatever. Not a single case of inebriety (owing to the canteen) has occurred since this took place. Plenty of exercise keeps the men in good health, and, with the exception of colds, and catarrhal complaints, prevalent from the very wet weather so frequently experienced here, no sickness of any consequence has occurred. No less than 161 wet days, or, rather, days on which rain fell, were registered at Wai-Iti since Ist June, 1870, and to this cause, and the small detachment I can spare for road work at a distance, must be attributed the rather meagre return in that respect. No complaint of idleness or inaptitude on the part of the men has reached me, and they were superintended throughout by a thoroughly competent trustworthy officer. On the return of fine weather, by working nearer home, I hope to be able to employ a larger party. I have, Ac, Arthur Tuke, Inspector, The Commissioner Armed Constabulary Force, In charge Taranaki District. AVellington.

Enclosure 8. Captain Stack to Commissioner Armed Constabulary Force. Armed Constabulary Depot Office. Sir,— AVellington, 20th July, 1871. In accordance with your instructions, I have the honor to forward the accompanying tables, shewing the average result of the prize firing of the Armed Constabulary, with the Terry and Calisher breech-loading carbine and Snider rifle, for the year 1871-72, and a return shewing the performance of the winners of prizes in that competition, together with the following report of the progress of musketry instruction in the force; — 1. Classes under Instruction.— On my recent appointment as Instructor of Musketry to the Armed Constabulary, I considered that the only method of initiating a proper system of musketry instruction throughout the force, was by training officers, and non-commissioned officers at the depot, who would be competent to give instruction in the various districts to which they should afterwards be sent. With this view I commenced, on the 12th April last, a course of instruction with one officer, then the only