Jan. 12.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 29

“ The Municipal Corporations Act, 1886,” especially the 351st clause thereof.

216. Every assistance possible will be given by the police for the security of property, conformably with the wishes of the Superintendent of fire-brigades or proprietors ; and, if desired, such property may be conveyed to the nearest police-station for safe custody.

217. The police will collect upon the spot all the information they can obtain relative to the origin of the fire, which, together with the circumstances attending it, will be reported fully as soon as possible to the officer in charge.

218. The foregoing rules will also apply generally to the performance of police duties in country towns.

DETECTIVE POLICE.

219. The detectives are subject to the same discipline as other members of the force ; but their attention is principally directed to the detection of crime, and to a special surveillance of the criminal class.

220. The distinction between them and the general police is sufficiently explained by the terms “preventive” and “detective;” but these terms are to be understood as only indicating in a general way the nature of the duties the two branches of the service are called upon to perform. It is neither practicable nor desirable so to divide police duties that the prevention of crime shall be left to the one branch, and the detection of crime already committed to the other. The preventive police must necessarily be frequently employed in detective inquiries and investigations, while the detectives will sometimes be employed on general police duties.

221. In the performance of detective-police duty the exercise of reticence and tact will generally be sufficient to enable any member of the force to cope with the machinations of criminals. It should be the object of a detective to avoid everything that tends to excite distrust and suspicion or expose him to misrepresentation. If he conduct himself so as to lead to a suspicion that he is untruthful there will be little confidence in his integrity and good faith, and his usefulness will, in consequence, be materially impaired.

222. The detective force is formed by selecting from among candidates offering themselves from the preventive branch men who are considered most suitable for the service. They are first employed for a time on probation, after which, if they are reported favourably of by the officer in charge, they are appointed as fourth-class detectives, and are promoted as vacancies occur, and as they show by their zeal and efficiency their fitness for such advancement.

223. They are under the control of the officer in charge of the stations at which they are doing duty, and, as being dressed in plain clothes they may be required to produce the authority under which they are acting, each is furnished with a warrant-card for the purpose, signed by the head of the department.

224. When a detective is doing temporary duty at a station where there is no officer, the nature and extent of his communications to the police at the station must to a great extent be left to his own judgment and discretion ; but he will be held strictly responsible that the public interest does not suffer through undue reticence on his part. He must conduct his business in such a manner as not to clash with the action of the general police. He will keep the member of the force in charge advised of his absence from and return to the station, and, as far as may be expedient, of the duties on which he is engaged. There will, however, occasionally occur cases in which entire secrecy is desirable.

225. If the detectives act so as not simply to obtain, but to deserve the aid and co-operation of the general police, there will generally be no difficulty in detecting crime and tracing out offenders, who, to escape detection, have fled from town to country or from one goldfield to another ; and it is expected that the preventive police will consider it imperative upon them to afford every information in their power to the detective police, and to facilitate, in every possible way, the proper discharge of their particular duties.

226. With a view to the detection of crime in their respective districts, the detectives must endeavour to acquire a knowledge of the members of the criminal class ; must watch their movements, and promptly communicate particulars of the same and of other necessary information to police-stations. They are required to furnish periodically to the officer in charge surveillance returns of all suspected persons in their respective districts.

227. In reporting the particulars of inquiries conducted and arrests made, and generally of the steps they have taken, the detectives must not omit to include the names of other members of the force who have been engaged with them in the same duties.

228. When an officer of police is present at a Resident Magistrate’s Court, the detectives must hand their briefs of evidence to him, and otherwise afford him every assistance to enable him to conduct their cases, or to make other arrangements for the same.

229. Detectives are not to withhold from their officer any information they may be possessed of relating to their duty.

230. The warrant-cards are on no account to be transferred from one detective to another, nor will they be issued a second time. They are numbered consecutively as issued, and on any member of the detective police leaving that branch of the force, his warrant-card is cancelled. Each member of the force will be held strictly responsible for the proper care of the warrant-card issued to him, and upon no account is he to let it go out of his possession.

231. Any detective who through neglect or carelessness loses his warrant-card will be severely punished. He must immediately report the loss to his officer, and unless he can give a satisfactory explanation as to the cause of the loss, he will be at once suspended from duty until the charge against him of neglect has been disposed of.

232. These warrant-cards are the property of the Government, and must be returned, with other appointments, by members leaving the force. In the event of the death of any detective care must be taken to secure his warrant-card, and transmit it to the Commissioner without delay.

233. Warrant-cards are issued only to members of the detective force who are on the permanent staff. To those on probation, or persons employed on occasional duty, a memorandum will be given by the officer in charge. This must be given up on the discharge of the holder, or when he is appointed to the permanent staff.

234. The warrant-card is the only badge used by detectives holding permanent appointments. In cases where, in addition to the warrant-card, proof may be required that the bearer is the person named therein, the detective can produce his memorandum book, some official letters, cards, or like documents.

235. It is requested that any instance in which any improper use has been made of the documents thus issued to members of the detective force may be at once reported to the Commissioner.

236. The senior detective stationed at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin will be designated Chief Detective.

TRAVELLING ALLOWANCES.

237. All salaried officers shall receive travelling allowance for personal expenses according to the scale fixed for Civil servants, which at present is at the rate of three shillings and sixpence (3s. 6d.) for every one hundred pounds (£100) of the salary received by them respectively : Provided, however, that the minimum allowance to be so paid shall be ten shillings (10s.) per diem, and the