ARMED CONSTABULARY FORCE.

5

G.—No. 14,

Bridges. —The bridges are erected by the District Highway Board. Culverts. —N"o. 1 section, 4 culverts ; No. 2 section, 4 culverts ; No. 3 section, 3 culverts ; No. 9 section, 7 culverts ; No. 11 section, 2 culverts, each 20 feet long, and 7 feet wide. Buildings and Stables. —The Government buildings within the old redoubt at Hamilton West have been removed and converted into a stable, forage and saddle room, and blacksmith's shop. The stable newly erected, measuring 90 feet long by 20 feet wide, is shingled, and contains fourteen stalls; the forage and saddle room is 30 feet long by 20 feet wide, and attached to the stable ; the blacksmith's shop is 30 feet long by 20 feet wide. The total cost of removal and re-erection of these buildings, including two coats of paint, is £19 ss. The Colonial Hospital Reserve at Ngaruawahia and Soldiers' Cemetery were fenced, and a fence and ditch erected around the cemetery on the east side of the river. King Potatau's tomb has been, fenced in, and is kept in good repair. The work performed at Cambridge is as follows : — Making a cutting in the road at the back of the redoubt, repairing the road from the upper terrace or township of Cambridge to the wharf; about 4 chains were gravelled, and a part near the river laid with fascines and gravelled. The outside of the redoubt wall was repaired with sods. A large building inside the redoubt was taken down, and the material prepared for the construction of another. During the month of August a considerable quantity of stone was quarried and dressed; with this the floor of the station stable was paved throughout, and blocks were laid for the foundation of a new hut. The paddock fences were planted with quicks. The road to Waikato Bridge was repaired and laid with ti-tree fascines. The cemetery was partly fenced by the Armed Constabulary. During the month of September and October, the ground on which the redoubt is situated (4 acres) was ditched, and fenced with ti-tree stakes and wattling. A new hut was also commenced on the 18th October ; the detachment which had hitherto numbered fourteen men, was reduced to six ; these, as they could be spared from their ordinary duties at the station, proceeded with the construction of the hut, which was finished at the close of the year, and can accommodate twenty men. The building formerly used as hospital kitchen was taken down and made into a mess-room. I have much pleasure in stating that the officers of the force under my command have displayed much zeal in carrying out my orders, and in the performance of their several duties. The conduct of the non-commissioned officers and constables in this district has been most satisfactory. I have, &c, W. C. Lton, Inspector, A.C, Lieut.-Colonel The Commissioner, A.C. Force, "Wellington. Commanding Waikato District.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1. Inspector Eobebts to the Commissicotes, Armed Constabulary Force. SiEj— District Office, Tauranga Ist June, 1872. In compliance with instructions contained in A.C. Circular No. 89, dated the sth of April, .1872, I have the honor to forward the following report, detailing the duties performed by the Armed Constabulary Force in the Tauranga District, from the Ist July, 1871, to 31st May, 1872. Military Duties. Average, Strength of Officers and Men. —1 Inspector, 2 Sub-Inspectors, 2 Assistant-Surgeons, and 59 non-commissioned officers and men. Nature of Parades and Drills. — Divine Service parade at 10 a.m. every Sunday. Drill every morning before breakfast, with the exception of Sundays, weather permitting; "Wednesdays, Company and Light Infantry drill; Saturdays, heavy marching order parades. Patrolling and Scouting— Occasionally, a mounted orderly is told off to patrol for a few miles into the country, there being no necessity for any further precaution, as the Natives in the immediate vicinity of the different stations are peaceably disposed. Carrying Mails and Despatches. —Mounted orderlies carry the mail weekly between Tauranga, Maketu, Ma'tata, Whakatane, and Opotiki. Important telegrams were also frequently conveyed by them along the coast from the telegraph station at Maketu to officers in charge of expeditions in pursuit of Te Kooti, which greatly facilitated operations. Escorts and Guards. —Escorts have only been required for prisoners committed to the Auckland Gaol: Guards over redoubts and stores. Making and improving Target Ranges. —The target ranges at the different stations have been put into thorough repair, by the erection of new butts and raised platforms, where the irregularity of the ground required it. Telegraph Linesmen. —One mounted constable employed until 7th August, 1871, when he received his discharge and joined that Department. Issuers and Storekeepers. —Two men have been employed as Issuers and Storekeepers, one being stationed at Kaiteriria with Captain Mair's Native Contingent, and the other at Te Teko with Captain Preece's. One 2nd class sergeant has also been attached to Captain Preece's Native Contingent, and has been acting as sergeant-major to that force during the past year. Erection of Stockades and Eedoubts. —The Monmouth Eedoubt at Tauranga has been extended, owing to the eastern side of it being on a cliff, and from the action of the sea kept gradually slipping away. The length of the extended parapet is 226 feet, and contains 735 cubic yards. The ditch is 255 feet long, and 12 feet broad. The quantity of earth excavated is 553 cubic yards. 300 cubic yards of earth had to be brought into the redoubt to fill and level it; also 40 loads of sand and shell. This was a long and tedious piece of work, as only five or six men were available after supplying the daily guards and camp fatigues. 2