H.—l6.

Inspector Rawle, Palmerston Noeth District. The offences return for the year ended 31st December, 1934, shows the total number of offences reported as 1,651, as compared with 1/478 the previous year, an increase of 173. Of the offences reported, 1,494 were dealt with by arrest or summons. The principal offences showing an increase are theft, vagrancy, failing to maintain, selling liquor during prohibited hours, and found on licensed premises during prohibited hours. The increase in the former three classes of offence is probably attributable to the scarcity of work, and, in the cases of breaches of the Licensing Act, possibly to increased viligance of the Police. Other than the above, crime in the district has been of the usual class, calling for no special comment. The conduct of the Force in general during the last twelve months has been good, and a high standard of efficiency maintained. Superintendent Emerson, Wellington District. The authorized strength of the district has been increased by three due to the appointment of a sergeant for night duty in the watchhouse and the appointment of two constables to the Detective Branch as Acting Detectives. For the year ended 31st December, 1934, the total number of offences reported was 5,796, an increase of 198. The principal increases were in false pretences, breach of peace, drunkenness, using obscene language, selling or supplying liquor after hours, found on licensed premises after hours, selling liquor without license, reckless or negligent driving and other breaches of the Motor-vehicles Act. The principal decreases were petty theft, thefts by clerks or servants, forgery, exposure of person and grossly indecent acts, found in common gaming-house, damaging telegraph equipment, and failing to maintain wife or children. The following serious crimes occurred :— In April, 1934, a man was sentenced to twelve years' hard labour for attempted murder in Wellington. He had been living with a woman, and slashed her throat with a razor. On the 28th June, 1934, a man was sentenced to five years' hard labour on charges of buggery on two youths at Petone. On the 27th July, 1934, a man was sentenced to ten years' hard labour for robbery. He entered the Adelaide Road Post Office, Wellington, armed with a revolver, held up the postal official, and decamped with a large sum of money. On the 29th October, 1934, a woman was sentenced to five years' hard labour for manslaughter. A young woman on whom she had used an instrument with intent to procure abortion subsequently died. On the 25th March, 1935, the licensee of a local hotel murdered his wife while she lay in bed, the weapon used being a revolver. He then committed suicide by shooting himself with the same weapon. The conduct of the Police has been good, very few being dealt with for breaches of Regulations. Inspector Lewin, Nelson District. For the year ended 31st December, 1934, the total number of offences reported was 800, compared with 833 for the previous twelve months, being a decrease of 33. Of all offences reported, 677 were accounted for by arrest or summons, leaving 123 undetected. There were increases in indecent acts, theft, found on licensed premises after hours, burglary, and forgery. The main decreases were in indecently assaulting a male, assault, false pretences, indecent language, vagrancy, selling liquor after hours, and breaches of the Animals Protection Act. There were no serious criminal offences during the year. The conduct of the members of the Force in the district during the past year has been very satisfactory, there being no defaulters. Inspector Cameron, Greymouth District. The offences return for the year ended 31st December, 1934, shows a total of 873 offences, against 893 for the previous year, a decrease of 20 offences. The prosecution of 87 seamen for offences against the Shipping and Seamen Act caused a considerable increase. There was also a slight increase in offences by licensees and servants for breaches of the Licensing Act. The principal decreases were crimes involving dishonesty, drunkenness, breaches of Licensing Act, and breaches of the Motor-vehicles Act. A young unmarried woman, resident of Blackball, was poisoned on the 24th September, 1934, as a result of eating chocolates adulterated with strychnine, which had been sent through the post office anonymously to two other residents of Blackball. Searching inquiries are still being actively pursued in an endeavour to obtain evidence against the perpetrator of the crime. On the 14th May, 1934, an explosive of the nature of a small home-made bomb was discharged in the early hours of the morning near a dwelling in Greymouth, but no damage or injury was done. The motive was no doubt to endeavour to intimidate a Government official against enforcing law and order. The general conduct of the members of the Force in the district has been good, and their work generally has been satisfactory. There was only one defaulter during the year. Superintendent Cummings, Christchurch District. A sergeant was reduced to the rank of constable on the ground of inefficiency. Six constables were dealt with during the year for various breaches of the Regulations. Apart from these breaches, the conduct of both branches of the Service has been exceptionally good.

2—H. 16.

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