G.—No. 14.

12

ANNUAL REPORT ON THE

mounted constables have been employed on duties which have served the same purpose, especially at Waihi Station, where, in looking for Government horses turned out to grass in the bush clearings, the immediate vicinity of the post has been well traversed, as also by fatigue parties for firewood, sawyers, &c. Carrying Mails and Despatches.—A. mounted orderly is daily in attendance from 2to 5 p.m. at Hawera, whose duty it is to convey letters or telegrams to Waihi Station. Mounted orderlies have also on a few occasions carried despatches to Wanganui and other places, more especially during the visit of the Ministers and heads of Departments to the district. Cobb and Co.'s coach carries a biweekly mail through the district as far as Hawera northwards, where the road to New Plymouth branches off. Escorts, Guards, Sfc. —The mounted force have been employed as orderlies to Ministers and heads of Departments during their visit to this district. Foot constables have escorted civil prisoners from Patea to New Plymouth and Wanganui, when required. A guard of one non-commissioned officer and three foot constables is posted daily at Waihi; at Hawera and Manutahi, a sentry is always on duty. They are twenty-four hours' guards at each of the above stations. Making and Improving Target Ranges. —At Waihi Station there has been no alteration made in the range since last year, but at Patea the targets were shifted in April last, owing to the swampy nature of the ground ; new butts have been erected, and a range cleared to 600 yards. Telegraph Linemen. —One mounted constable is kept in readiness to act as lineman when called upon. Issuers and Storekeepers. —One foot constable has been employed to assist the Government Storekeeper in this district throughout the year. Erection of Redoubts and Stockades —A look-out tower 40 feet high, 7 feet square at base, and bullet-proof, has been erected at Waihi Station, at the N\W. angle of the stockade. This tower has an underground passage, planked with 9x3 matai, and finished with hatches and steps. The stockade itself has been completed, 110 feet of slabbing having been put up since June, 1871, each slab 7 feet long, and an average of 6 inches in thickness, all dressed with the adze on the inner face, edges shot and close fitted. At Manutahi, repairs have been made to the earthen breastwork around the blockhouses. Citil Duties. Steps taken for the Prevention of Crime. —An average of two members of the force have been employed on police duty in the township of Carlyle throughout the year. At Waihi, Hawera or Manutahi, members of the force are available for police protection to the settlers in their neighbourhood if called upon. Attending Civil Courts. —One or more members of the force have always been in attendance at the monthly sittings of the E.M. Court. A non-commissioned officer is employed as Clerk to the Court. Taking Census. —Mounted Constable Black was employed for one week in February, 1372, collecting agricultural statistics for Egmont Sub-district No. 3. Public and Useful Works. Nature and Extent of Road Works.- —No roati. works of importance have been performed by the force in this district. At Waihi a side cutting was made near the Camp, in which about 35 yards of earth were shifted, and approaches were made to a bridge over the Waihi Stream, about 140 yards of earth being cut away and filled in. Building Bridges and Culverts. —A bridge 15 feet span and 8 feet high was built over the Waihi Stream, near to Camp ; another over the same stream on the road to Waingongoro, 16 feet span ; a small bridge over a creek in the Ketemarae clearing, on road to sawpits ; two culverts and a bridge on road from Waihi to Hawera, to shorten distance and avoid a detour towards the bush. Building Houses, Stables, fyc. —An officer's quarters was erected at Waihi Station, about 36 X 12, and an addition made to mess whare, the whole of the roof of which (93 feet) was re-thatched. Built an eight-stall stable, 50 xlO feet, timber frame and shingled roof. Dug six sawpits, and sawed about 12,000 feet matai and white pine for building purposes, used in tower, officers' quarters, stable, &c. Commenced sawing and preparing timber for gymnasium and reading-room to be erected at Waihi Station. The blockhouses at each station have been kept in repair. One of those at Manutahi has been floored ; those at Waihi have had the oints of the slabs battened over. Fencing Paddocks, and Laying Down in Grass. —Ninety chains of post and two-rail fencing have been put up at Waihi, to enclose paddocks ; 800 posts and 1,680 rails split for fencing. Ten acres at Waihi sown in oats last spring, off which 9 tons hay were obtained. Owing to bad season the oats were not fit to bo threshed; and from the same cause, and the land being new and rough, the crop of hay was very light. Seven tons of grass hay mown, saved, stacked, and thatched ; ten acres sown in cocksfoot grass; also twelve acres cleared of fern and tutu at Waihi; five acres have been ploughed and prepared for oats. In addition to fencing paddocks, the graveyards at Waihi and Waingongoro have been enclosed by an extra strong and neat post and three-rail fence. Erecting and Repairing Telegraph Lines. —One mounted constable has frequently been employed to repair the line between Patea and Wanganui, and on other duties connected with the telegraph. Eemarks. In addition to the duties already enumerated under their several headings, the infantry portion of the force have been put through a course of musketry instruction at Waihi, which occupied a period of nearly five months. Two non-commissioned officers are employed as drill instructors to the Volunteer Cavalry in the district; and one non-commissioned officer is employed as Militia clerk. The posts at Hawera and Manutahi were taken over by the Armed Constabulary Force, in January, 1872, the Militia having been struck off pay. An exchange of detachments of 1 officer, 2 non-commissioned officers, and 18 foot constables took place with the Taranaki District, in March last. The tranquillity of the district has throughout