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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE.

Police Office,
Wellington,
17th May, 1876.

SIR,--

I have the honor to submit the annual report on the state of the Police Department for the year ending 31st March, 1876.

The numerical strength of the force on the 31st of March last was as follows:—Inspector, two first-class sergeants, three second-class sergeants, one detective second-class sergeant, twenty-one foot constables, and fifteen mounted constables. The foot police are stationed in the City of Wellington and in Wanganui. Two of the number of constables stationed in the latter place are exclusively employed as Warders in the Gaol. The mounted constables are distributed throughout the various out-districts, extending from the Hutt to Whareama, and from Porirua to Turakina.

There has been a slight increase of serious offences during the past year over those of the previous year, while minor offences show no increase. The total number of cases sent up to the Supreme Court at Wellington and Wanganui for trial during the past year amounted to forty-two, as against thirty-six for the previous year.

The offences have been of a varied description, and as remarked in my last year’s report, the offenders were in nearly all instances strangers to each other, which fact, I submit, indicates that as yet there are no organized gangs of offenders in the Province.

The outlying districts during the past year have furnished but few cases of serious offences. This immunity from crime, in the face of a constantly increasing population, comprised of persons from different nations, leaves, in my opinion, little doubt of the general prosperity of the various up-country districts.

It is a matter for congratulation that the Native race has furnished but very few cases of crime during the past year. The few cases which have occurred were of a trifling character, and void of any of the elements indicative of habitual wrong-doing.

In my report for the year 1874 it was stated that the police, as a rule, experienced no difficulty in executing warrants, &c., &c., against persons of the Native race in any part of this Province. The experience of the past two years confirms that statement, as no difficulty in any instance has arisen in arresting or proceeding against the Natives.

During my recent visit of inspection to the different stations at Wairarapa, thence through the Seventy-Mile Bush to Palmerston, Feilding, Rangitikei, Wanganui, and various other places on the West Coast, ample proof of the good order observed by the settlers frequently came under my notice.

In accordance with instructions received from the Provincial Government, a constable has been stationed at Te Nui, Whareama.

A new Police Station and Lock-up is in course of construction at the Upper Hutt, and in view of the railway having its terminus there for some time to come, it would be prudent to make provision for the stationing of a second constable in that district.

In view of the rapidly-increasing importance of Masterton and environs, a second constable will have to be stationed there at no distant date. Increased station and lock-up accommodation will consequently have to be provided, as the accommodation at present is of a limited character.

The district of Foxton is also daily growing into importance. It is connected by rail with Palmerston, and will be connected similarly with Feilding in a short time, and may be considered as the depot of the various districts in Manawatu. There is now an average of thirty vessels per month entering the port of Foxton. It will therefore be necessary to erect a station and lock-up at Foxton with all convenient speed, as the only accommodation there at present consists of one very small cell attached to the Court-house.

I have, &c.,

FREDERICK ATCHISON,
Inspector of Police.

His Honor the Superintendent,
Wellington.

ANNUAL REPORT OF WARDEN OF WELLINGTON GAOL.

Wellington Gaol,
9th May, 1876.

SIR,--

I have the honor to forward for your information the following report relative to this department for the year commencing on the first day of April, 1875, and ending on the thirty-first day of March, 1876.