H.—lo

The principal increases during the year appear under the following headings, viz. : — Abusive, insulting, or threatening words or Failing to provide maintenance for wives, &c. 93 behaviour .. .. . . 78 Illegally on premises . . .. .. 57 Assaults, indecent .. .. . . 36 Sly-grog selling . . . . .. . . 21 Breaches of the peace .. . . .. 74 Theft (undescribed) .. .. .. 233 Disobeying orders on board ships .. .. 63 The principal decreases were, — Assault (common) .. .. .. 72 Malicious injury to property .. .. 81 Deserting merchant vessels .. 51 Neglected and criminal children .. 75 Disobeying orders of Court and summonses. .41 Obscene and profane language .. 71 Disorderly conduct .. .. ..57 Refusing to quit licensed premises.. .. 54 Drunkenness .. .. .. . . 177 Sureties of the peace .. .. .. 91 False pretences .. .. .. 55 Theft by servants .. . . . . 45 Forgery and uttering .. . . 52 Theft of cattle and horses . . .. 33 Gaming offences .. .. .. 138 The percentage of arrests or summonses resulting from all offences reported during the year 1913 was 95-86, the figures of the preceding year being 95-59. The following return shows the number of offences reported in each police district during the year, the number of cases in which arrests or summonses resulted, and the number in which no prosecution followed :—

Serious Crimes. The following is a return of the number of serious crimes as compared with the preceding year : —

During the last ten years the number of serious crimes as above described has varied from 520 to 759, the present total (614) being slightly below the average,

2

• District. Number of Offences Number in which Number of all in which Arrests no Arrests Offences reported. or Summonses or Summonses resulted. resulted. Auckland Hamilton Napier Wanganui Wellington Greymouth Christchurch Dunedin 5,611 1,707 2,103 2,277 0,099 772 3,937 2,006 903 5,396 1,664 2,029 2,185 5,873 742 3,716 1,896 863 I 215 43 74 92 226 30 221 110 40 Invercargill 25,415 15,415 24,364 24,364 1,051

1912. 19 Crimes. Number of », , . Number of na ■ Number of Offences i ° ff f n f s ln f , Offences , , which Arrests . j reported. ; resulted reported. 13. Number of Offences in which Arrests resulted. Arson ... ... ... ... ... 12 12 23 Assault and robbery ... ... ... ... | 19 19 26 Burglary, breaking into shops, dwellings, &c. ... 367 312 365 Forgery and uttering ... ... ... ! 159 148 107 Murder ... ... ... 3 2 9 Murder, attempted ... ... .. ... 1 1 8 Rape ... ... ... ... .. 6 6 9 Receiving stolen property ... ... ... 46 46 59 Shooting with intent ... ... ... 4 4 8 20 24 283 102 6 8 7 58 8 617 550 614 617 550 614 516