PART VIII.-LAW AND CRIME. No. 1.-POLICE AND POLICE DISTRICTS. Departmental Police Districts.-New South Wales is divided into ten Departmental Police Districts (InspectorGeneral's Office), each of which is in charge of a Superintendent; these districts are subdivided into sub-districts in charge of an Inspector or Sub-inspector, and are in no way identical with the gazetted Petty Sessions or Police Districts (Department of Justice). The Police Reward Fund is sustained by a moiety of each fine imposed for offences under the Police Acts; by fines imposed upon constables; by penalties or damages awarded to the police on summary convictions; and by the proceeds of sales of unclaimed goods. Sums are transferred annually from this fund to the Police Superannuation Fund to make good the deficiencies in the latter account. The credit balance on 31st December, 1895, was £11,412. The Police Superannuation Fund is operated upon under "Police Regulation Act, 1862." It is chiefly supplemented by annual deductions of £2 per cent. from the pay of all members of the police force, and by transfers from the Police Reward Fund. From the accumulated credit the superannuation allowances and gratuities to the members of the police force are paid. The cash balance on 31st December was £5,955. Section I-CRIMINAL JURISDICTION. No. 2.-LOWER COURTS (Magistrates' Courts).-SUMMARY JURISDICTION-PERSONS dealt with, 1895. Presiding Magistrates.-The Magistrates' Courts or Courts of Petty Sessions in the Metropolitan District are presided over by six Stipendiary Magistrates who were appointed under Act of 1881 (45 Vic. No. 17), and in the Country Districts Police Magistrates and Justices of the Peace adjudicate, the latter being honorary officers. Police Magistrates are salaried officers, appointed under the provisions of Act 20 Vic. No. 32, to act in concert with the honorary Justices of the Peace in Country Districts. When sitting alone, they can exercise the powers and jurisdiction otherwise conferred by law only on benches consisting of two or more Magistrates. The jurisdiction of Magistrates is limited to offences involving a penalty of six months imprisonment and under in all cases except those under the "Distillation Acts" and the "Customs Regulations Acts," when sentence of twelve months can be imposed, and two years for cases under the "Chinese Restriction and Regulation Act of 1888," and the "Children's Protection Act 1892.' " t Includes 17 persons released under the provisions of the First Offenders Probation Act. |