H.—l2

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and the reduced number of persons sent to the lunatic asylums afford evidence of the fact. The saving to the country thereby effected in the maintenance of such institutions would more than compensate for the increased cost entailed by the appointment of " local analysts." Enclosed are reports from Officers Commanding Districts, showing how their men were employed and the amount of public and useful works performed during the year. I have, &c, "W. Motjie, Lieut-Colonel, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Commmissioner, Armed Constabulary.

Enclosure 1. Inspector Lton to the Commissionee, Armed Constabulary Force. Sic, — Head Quarters, Cambridge, Ist June, 1874. In accordance with instructions contained in Circular Memorandum No, 145, I have the honor to submit the following report for the information of the Hon. the Native Minister. Militaet Duties. Average Strength. —The average strength of the Armed Constabulary Force in Waikato district from Ist June, 1873, to the 31st May, 1874, was 7 officers, 2 medical officers, 1 acting veterinary surgeon, 21 non-commissioned officers, and 165 constables. Parades and Drills. —The usual Divine service and heavy marching order parades were held at each station during the year, and at other stations shown below, where the nature of the fatigue work was not very urgent. One or more days during the week have been devoted to company and skirmishing drill. Alexandra, two days in tlie week; Kihi Kihi, two days in the week ; Ford Eedoubt, one day in the week ; Paikuku, one day in the week. At all the stations the men have been employed on fatigues from 8.30 a.m. till 4 p.m. every day, except on Saturdays and Sundays, proclaimed holidays, and the days specially devoted to drill. Patrols. —The only patrol that has been reported this year, is from Kihi Kihi, consisting of 1 sergeant and 4 constables, which patrolled round the neighbourhood of that settlement, as far as the Tokanui Ford over the Puniu. This patrol was discontinued on 7th June, 1873. Mails and Despatches. —No public mails have been conveyed by the Armed Constabulary in this district. Despatches are carried by mounted men of the force from head-quarters to out-stations, and vice versa ; and, in addition, a mounted orderly has been sent every Monday morning from Alexandra to Eotorangi Eedoubt, to collect the weekly Armed Constabulary returns from that and the intermediate stations ; this orderly being met at Eotorangi by another from head-quarters, to bring in the collected despatches. Escorts and Guards. —In addition to the escorts required for the conveyance to Auckland Gaol of prisoners sentenced by the Eesident Magistrate, the following escorts have been employed during the past year:— 1. One mounted sergeant and 6 mounted constables to escort Mr. Mackay, jun., Government Agent, and party, to Taupo, on the 15th July, 1873. 2. One mounted constable with Mr. Mackay and Mr. Carruthers, to Taupo, on 9th March, 1874. 3. One mounted sergeant and 5 mounted constables, with their Excellencies the Governors of New Zealand and Tasmania, to Eotorua, on 23rd April, 1874. 4. An escort of 18 mounted constables to Kopua for Mr. Mackay on 10th April, 1874. 5. An escort of 1 mounted officer, 3 mounted non-commissioned officers, and 17 mounted constables met His Excellency the Governor at Taupiri on the 20th April, and accompanied him from thence to Ngaruawahia. On the 21st April the same escort went with His Excellency to Cambridge. Guards. —A guard of honor consisting of 2 officers, 4 non-commissioned officers, and 50 constables received His Excellency the Governor at Ngaruawahia on his arrival, and the same guard was in attendance on His Excellency the next day. Guards have been mounted regularly at all the frontier posts. Target Manges. —The following new target ranges have been constructed and repaired during the year:—Cambridge (new), 800 yards; Kihi Kihi (new), 800 yards; Pukekura (new), 800 yards; Alexandra, new marking and firing butts built. Telegraph Lines. —Two members of the Armed Constabulary Force were employed in the Telegraph Department to assist the telegraphists: one at Cambridge from Ist May till 19th July, 1873 ; the other at Alexandra from 2nd June till 19th August, 1873. Issuers and Storekeepers. —One sergeant of the Armed Constabulary acts as storekeeper to the force, to issue on requisition. Erection of Redoubts and Stockades. —During the past year Eotorangi and Ford Eedoubts have been completed; the latter has since been pulled down and replaced by a block-house. A new blockhouse has been built at Paikuku, and the old block-house at Eangiaowhia thoroughly overhauled and repaired. The block-house at Paikuku has been surrounded -by an earth-work, which adds much to its strength. This earth-work has no ditch, and can be commanded to the very foot of its extensive slope from the upper loopholes of the block-house. The ditch of the Alexandra Eedoubt has been deepened, and a good glacis has been formed; the interior of the work has been gravelled, and 2,120 superficial feet of the extensive slope of the earthwork sodded with couch-grass.