H.—l2

20

ment at 10s. per week each ; but as no lock-up is attached to either, the constables lose half their efficiency in being unable to dispose of drunkards and disorderly persons ; and a notice has been served on the department that'the rent of the Newton station is about being raised to 13s. per week. The Government possess a suitable site at Papakura for the erection of a station, upon which a lock-up has been already built, but the constable resides in a cottage rented by the Government at Bs. per week, which is situated about a quarter of a mile away from the lock-up, a most inconvenient distance. A station should be built as soon as possible. New stations are also required at Whangarei and "Waiuku, at which places lock-ups have been erected for some time past; but the police duties are performed by special constables, who, as I have frequently stated, are so circumstanced that they cannot perform their duties as they should, being labouring men in receipt of £20 per annum for acting as special constables, but depending upon the surrounding settlers for other means of a livelihood. At each of these' places ordinary constables should be employed. A new station and lock-up are also wanted at Ponsonby or Dedwood, a suburb of Auckland now under the charge of the constable at Newton. This is a most important district, and each day the want of having a station there becomes the greater. The constable at Newton has a population of more than 3,000 to look after, and it is impossible that he can attend to the wants of the Ponsonby district. An extra constable is also required at Onehunga, which has risen in importance since the opening of the railway. The population of the place is between 2,000 and 3,000, a number quite beyond the control of the one constable who has been stationed there for some years past. The duties of the Thames sub-district have been performed under the charge of Sub-Inspector Bullen during the year in a most satisfactory manner. The duties of licensing officer under the Arms Act, and Registrar under the Act for the registration of quartz crushing machines, have also been added to Mr. Bullen's care, none of which has led to any advance in his salary, while imposing upon him much additional labour. I have already noted Mr. Bullen's efforts in the prevention of specimen stealing, and have to add that it is entirely owing to his exertions this crime has been seriously checked. Owing to the small body of police employed here, and to the resignation of so many constables, much extra labour has devolved upon Sergeant-Major Pardy and the sergeants of this station, and to these and to the detectives the department is indebted for their exertions in having so well, and with so many disadvantages, preserved the peace of the district for the past year. I have, &c., Thomas Beoham, The Commissioner, Inspector A.C Armed Constabulary Force, Wellington.