H.—l6.

The principal decreases were, — Abusive, insulting, or threatening words or False pretences .. .. .. 68 behaviour .. .. .. 73 Malicious injury to property .. 92 Animals Protection Act, offences under .. 45 Obscene language .. .. .. 145 Assaults, common .. .. 97 Obstructing or resisting police .. .. 45 Breaches of the peace .. .. 59 Sly-grog selling .. .. .. 38 Discharging firearms .. .. 56 Theft (undesoiibed) .. .. .. 262 Drunkenness . . .. . . . . 2,435 Theft from dwellings . . . . . . 46 Failing to maintain wives, &c. .. .. 166 Vagrancy offences .. . . .. 129 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 :—

The percentage of arrests'or summonses resulting from offences reported during the year 1916 was 95-70, the figures of the preceding year being 95-36. Serious Crimes. The following is a return of the number of serious crimes as compared with the previous year :—

Indecent and sexual offences were as under :—■

2

Police District. Number of Offences Number of in which Arrests Offences reported. or Summonses resulted. Number in which no Arrests or Summonses resulted. Auckland Hamilton Napier Wanganui Wellington Greymouth Christchurch Dunedin Invercargill 5,105 4,886 1,871 1,801 1,703 1,613 2,376 2,299 6,262 5,957 571 556 3,978 3,781 2,319 2,242 735 713 219 70 90 77 305 15 197 77 22 Totals 24,920 23,848 1,072

1915. 1916. Crimes. Arson Assault and robbery ... Burglary, breaking into shops, dwellings, &o, Forgery and uttering Murder Murder, attempted ... vt.._i t Number of Number of ,-.„ Offences in Offences ,. , . which Arrests reported. | ~~T T 20 17 20 16 411 289 119 110 6 5 1 1 3 2 63 68 1 Number of Number of Offences ( > "T '" reported. whlch £" Mti 1 resulted. 29 28 21 21 440 300 135 112 4 2 3 3 6 5 73 73 3 3 ;s Eape Eeceiving stolen property Shooting with intent Totals ... 644 504 714 547

Offences. 1915. 1916. Assaults, indecent ... Bestiality Carnally knowing girls Carnally knowing, attempted Concealment of birth Incest Indecent exposure or behaviour Eape liape, attempted ... Sodomy ... Sodomy, attempted 91 97 7 30 41 15 11 1 i 6 5 288 300 3 6 7 6 3 3 2 5 453 478 Totals