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Finger-prints of persons in custody here have been identified in the Australian States and London as those of persons previously convicted in those places, while prints of persons in custody in the various States of Australia Lave I n identified here as those of persons previously convicted in New Zealand. As a detective agency the tinner-print system is of greal practical assistance to the general police. and in several instances ii has been the sole means of establishing the identity of the offender and securing Ins conviction. In one case, which occurred during the early part of this year, no suspicion was attachable to any one. lint a small finger-marked piece of ulass which was found at the scene ol Ihe crime revealed to the tiiiuf r-I>i illl expert the identity of a man whose presence in the district was unknown, and resulted in the subsequent apprehension and admission ol guilt of the culprit. The general police are now required to take the finger-impressions of all deceased persons whose identity is unknown, and submit them for search and comparison by the finger-print experts: and within a period of three months the identity of two such persons was ascertained in this way. The system of registration of the criminal history of all finger-printed offenders has undergone material improvement during the year, and this section furnishes much valuable information to all branches of the Department. During the year the portraits of 1.162 Australian criminals have been received, recorded, and distributed to the principal cities in the Dominion ; those of .".HI New Zealand criminals have been circulated and filed; and 653 photographs have been taken, for general police purposes, by the photographer at headquarters. As the collection of finger-prints, criminal histories, photographs, fee., is increasing, the general search is becoming proportionately slower and more difficult, and the existent pressure of work in the bureau indicates the consistent expansion of the system of identification, the more general recognition of its value, and the increasing advantage which is being taken of its usefulness. Candidates for Force. Seventy-three men were taken on during the year, their nationalities, religipns. and occupations being as follows:—Nationalities: Australia, 11; England, 6; Ireland. 14; New Zealand. :i r > ; Scotland. 7. Religions: Church of England, IT: Methodists. I: Plymouth Brethren. I: Presbyterians, 30: Roman Catholics. 20; Wesleyan, I. Occupations: Artillerymen. I: asylum attendants, 2 ; baker, I; blacksmith, 2 ; carpenters, 3 : clerks. 2 ; coachsmith, I: contractor. 1: creamery-manager, 1: drivers, 2 ; ex-constables. Hi: farmer. I: farm labourers, 8; gasfitter, I: grocers, 2; joiner, 1: labourers. 15: miners.! , : painter. 1: ploughman. 1; railway porters, 2 ; salesman. 2; sawmill hand. 1 ; shepherd, 1 ; storeman, I ; tram conductor, I. First Am to the Injured. During the year ended March. 1911, fi(i probationers presented themselves, at the conclusion of their course of training a 1 the depot, lor examination in " first aid to the injured," the examinations being held under the auspices of the St. John Ambulance Association. Of the 66 men who sat. all passed. The maximum number of marks was gained in six eases, the average of those who passed being 8845. (Maximum. KM) : bare pass, r>o.) The lecturer was in each case Dr. Henry. Police Surgeon, and the examiners different medical men appointed by the Association. Stations, etc. During the year the following works have been completed : New Builditfgs. Poaaaroa. Greymouth (police gaol). Blackball. Motueka. Johnsonville. Christchurch (Matron's quarters). New Buildings in course i>l Erection. Wellsford. Whaiigamomona (lock-up). Otaki. Frankton. Parnell. Morrinsville (lock-up and office). South Invercargill. Properties purchased. Reinuera .. • • Station. Islington .. .. Site. Waitara .. . • » Waitati .. .. ~ New Plymouth (Fitzroy) „ Napier .. .. ~ (Inspector's residence). Te Puke .. • • Site. I Owhango ..