THE NEW ZEALAND POLICE FORCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 181, 4 August 1887, Page 4

THE NEW ZEALAND POLICE FORCE.

The police force has been made a subject of discussion during the present election campaign. As it has been urged that the police should be reduced in numbers and pay, some information, which has been communicated to us by our Wellington correspondent, respecting the force will prove interesting. It is satisfactory to find that in inquiry into the facts, and comparison with other colonies presents the New Zealand force in a very favourable light. The cost of the New Zealand police per head of the population is 3s 2|d, while the cost in Victoria is 4s 4d, and in New South Wales 6s. The effect of the recent alterations in the service has been to minimise expenditure by placing it as far as' possible out of the reach of political control. Formerly members of Parliament were constantly badgering Ministers to make appointments in the force, and the result was over-crowding of the ranks, inefficiency or waste of money. Under present conditions this state of things cannot exist. Since the passing of the Police Act of last year and the gazetting of the regulations thereunder, the principle of promotion by seniority has been strictly carried out with one exception which is allowed for in the regulation, viz., that when any distinguished service is performed, and the report of the Inspector thereon meets with the approval of the Commissioner, the name of the constable performing such distinguished service is gazetted; and if he is below the rank of a first-class constable, he is raised a step and receives 6d a day extra pay. Regulations are now being prepared providing for the examination of constables for the position of sergeant. As a preliminary to promotion to the rank of .sergeant, a constable must pass an examination in which he must show a knowledge of the statutes relating to his duties,-and he must be capable of conducting cases in the R.M. Court. ' ■■ ' •. . 1.-'

The police have taken the work of the A.O in the native districts in the North Island, and the l-esult has been a very large saving to the colony, as is shown by the fact that whilst in 18S4 there were 435 Armed Constabulary stationed in the native districts, there are now only 36 Armed Constabulary, and the whole of these are stationed at Opunake. The Civil police are now made responsible for the peace of the districts, and so far, have given a good account of themselves.

Long-service pay is to be stopped in future, the system of promotion by seniority taking its. place, as being considered more satisfactory. ; It is in the method of appointing the police that a stop has been put to political patronage. Before a man can gain admission to the police force he must have been at least one year in the permanent militia, and possess a good conduct certificate, and before he can be admitted into the permanent militia he must possess a certificate showing that he has served with efficiency in the Volunteers.- Applicants -who have complied with these conditions are admitted into the Civil police force, in rotation. Lists are formedof those who desire to enter the police force, and, subject to certain conditions, such as height, and being able to pass the 4th standard of the primary schoqls in accordance with the Civil Service Act, they will be ad mitted in turn as vacancies occur. The practice has been initiated by which, when a policeman dies in the service, an allowance will be made to his widow and family at the-rate of one month's pay for every year's service up to 12 years.. In the case of a constable who was recently drowned, a year's' pay was allowed to his' family and the funeral expenses were paid. The regulations provide ,thab constables shall retire from the service at the age of 60 years, and it is the intention of the Government to provide such with badges of honour, and to permit them to enter the Government service as messen,gers, etc. lletired_policemen will also be permitted to take up land iunder th.c. Village Settlement system to the extent of 50 acres at a peppercorn rental on perpetual tenure wi,tho,ut residence being qompulsory. Members of the force, it may be mentioned, are, under the Act of 1886,-entitled to exercise the franchise at elections to the House of Representatives. Constables who leave the service to enter into business, or for any other reason, are not readmitted, and promotion by rotation from the rank of sergeant upwards is in no way interfered with. We understand that under the existing state of things the members of the force are much more satisfied than formerly, while the service has been greatly improved by the admission only of men fairly educated, and disciplined and trained to arms in the military force.

Amongst the passengers for Wellington by the steamer Te Aiiau were Sir George Grey and Sir George Whitmore. The evangelistic service in St. Andrew's Church last evening was well attended. The Rev. T. Spurgeonwas the speaker, and he took his text from Matthew, sth c. and 20th v., showing.the necessity for a righteousness other than our own to obtain for us an entrance into the Kingdom of of Heaven. To-night the meeting; will be acldressed by the Rev, J, S. Bill-

Two.slight accidentsilZ^r^ Mount E°den tafeS* ?ai» S f or „ Mount Eden Q.^ *»«* JfJ Hugo's Buffalo Min ß t,*i . crowded house last e£J? dtew Hoft. seat being WC upU:;2' t H y&^ The various items we^ LflJ^-4 loudly applauded. The 11^*2 of unfortunate deb^ ££^^5 up what they owe ThW^^^C there was I S Z^ "J-j-ftCg Just after the 6Court E£ a>3 was opened somewhat tS,sl(!e C short, stout lady entered v^ » hand a sugar bagfuiuf^ k smiled sweetly ab Che hJ £&»■ £' surrounded the table, S Jh u^ excuse me, gentlemen VJ X **£ in Court before. I'. ra 6 nevef C At this stage Mr B^gff*s gallantry, ass i st ed the W^^N anSS!ShSiSeI» eight months'leave SSSnS^S inquire into the working^R, *^ systems and-the htofifat**** societies in Great Britain iSS. fclai^' States. .Arrangement havetenl 1?^ performing the work duriS h sa K«deior no extra cost to the Dem^m l feence« H Richardson hasS^^ actuary and statist, and Tvil -^ that, despite dull timS tߣ^ a good business throughout Z i^ There are still, howeverf hundieck If 1' who see the importance ofS fr houses and furniture, t£ SX** which will in, all p'robabiinSS returned to them, who yet &R? sure on behalf of their familieSetfe their power of labour to those 11., f ing the certainty of death, and tfiS it may come at any moment. " At a sitting of the R M' Cn«\* i n Helensville ol the U I l.^f} Clendon, Esq., on the application c :i Seaman Registrar of Electors for JiJ mata the names of 32 .natives moTOdfrom the electoral roll for ftj | tnct for want of individuality of W» One native only responded to thesummS arid he was fully satisfied with theS of the Court. Four of the numberfi been ascertained, since the issue of tt« summonses, to be deceased.

Mr John Anseane, who served his arddes to the legal profession at the office of Messrs Hughes and George, and was recently admitted as a barrister and solicitor of ftj Supreme Court, has commenced the mticeof his professional)the Waikato, with Cambridge for. his head-quarters. Jewish Mr Arisenne all the success in business fa his probity andi attainments deserve.

At the Deniliquin ■ (Victoria) Apical. tural Show held on the Ist' inst, the firet prize was won by the Buekeye,theHornsky being second. The Eden Terrace Highway Board have decided to fill in. the dangerous Me in which the two children were drowned last Sunday. ■, Air G. A. Schoch writes: " The■codsljniment of cocoons raised in New Zealand aoi sent to Italy last April is described by p. perts as of excellent quality, equal tf t|iß best produced there. The price is 6s a it, and if of the same quality will always U a ready sale in any quantities. Theses' of silk, like those, of most other articles, have been steadily receding for some time past. The political situation ia Europe is very disquieting,' ■ causing great stagnation of trade, ullere \ik > time when the same quality of cocochj was sold at 12s alb.", .This fiaxire'js ■«•. ceptional,. but 7s 6d to 8s would be-aboul an average price; • At present we mist wait for better times, and be satisfied fo know that we can produce, a first-clia article. Within 12 months, prices migtl rise 50 per cent. No wortl nas been received yet as to the silkworm eggs beyond acknowledgment of receipt. .'-They.were also raised in • Auckland,. and forwarded Home by the same steamer;" As boob js particulars are to hand, I shall supply you with estimates of the different waystheindnstry can bj3 undertaken, and also explain arrangements as to ■ providing a market One great advantage we have in New Zealand is that the bulk of our crop is eqiM to the pick of what is produced elsewhere.' At a meeting ■of the Eden Terrace W& way Board last evening, Messrs Boylanaat Lundon were appointed engineers to» Board, and-were instructed to invite teato for the waterworks scheme. The suppW the district will cost about L 2.200. OW amount LI.OOO is now in hand, having.bw; borrowed under the Loans to Local wm Act, and the remainder will be raised* the forthcoming poll which _ has » rendered necessary through an inloimi in the former one. The Ska'ing Rink at.the ChoralßH^ well attended last night, about sixty f sons being present. imP^JW coursed choice music from "Ma* during the evening, and the gathering f« most enjoyable. One of the latest and most intorfj additions to the exhibits; at J Industrial Exhibition is » JJJ' arranged case illustrative of WJ Whitney and Son's cartridge.BttbgJ; dustry. •■ The exhibit includes q«JJ. showing every stage of Brf*jJ the rounded brass disc to the g« Whitney cartridges. f^Vgfato case are photographs of the intenornfactory, etc. ' ','..- ---"Grandpa's Magic.f^AL^patent preparation wbich is nojW vertised. 'It is »H ur£ii» Yialoux.ofKyberPass.andg^ the cure of wounds, « Aeumatuj ffbo arete S tmed,tobyanumb|rofpJP have used it., Grandpa's eS,, stel * of all chemists at IbM.***** mm tions for use being attachea. _^ To-morrow (Friday! ev^ningat Hall,' the , annual treat to scholars of, St. Paul's Chureh^^ it Tea will be served at ■&?*£;i** 8.45 there will be^ shown MJ^ light views of ing. Rev. J. S. .^.r"^^* andf views in the course ,d &«?$?;&:* excellent musical «**%£**». provided by. the follow^ng^ug^ Soates, Mrs. Cooper, f%™& > Messrs Knight, Gilmer^ndHJ^ meeting promises to be, as ing and successful;, -, <,vjM^ The debate on Freejmdjagj,^ takes placed the Y^C.A. J ■ # day ev-ening next, not ; onJ!rW» , neously, sbated.yesterday. _ . # The usual weekly '■*&s&**. nection with the :*^lf&>** ance Club will be given "^ |J Hall this evening, gramme of readings and m«Bi , Su-ough. nrrnvr '& «^i At Newmarket, :**s?&*s pianoforte, pictures, toys, goods will be conductefl _vj . Griffiths, auctioneer,

and Dairymen s ! &> Ft ouote the wholesale price of H***, Ir lb and fresh eggsSd per dozen, S^rfr the week ending August <ieliVerei above quotations refer to pnme jOtB; i_ Munro, the champion national >IrR, ,«Sd should sufficient mducedoßcer,, hMgf e^' in in Auckland for some *ent °ff H'start classes for teaching the time, and sto Irigh nati t d^ ees . Eng^jX be found in our advertising ' ford ia the deceased gentleman was a BaonL n f the Masonic Order, a number of member of toe varf Auckland to W»bre» rema . ns tQ th s d . lodges fcUowea funeral corteg e teme kte residence of deceased f^Ji^treet.Ponsonby. ~ vditor: Sir,—A case of alleged 'T° -fe,llv beating of a roan cart-horse in tree? " n the afternoon of WedWe? S fShJuIV, having been reported to E esday,.2ith Jtg, fa . f wife . Croelty to Animals. T m days of hard matter-of-fact busifcSo seldom that a case of real gener"tt met with that when it does occur t j fhatit becomes almost an imperative fact. Here isaninstance t&h recording. A tradesman in this known in religious circles, had fortune to lose Llo. This was picked pSlhonest boy, who, haying discovThere is an old proverb that TffnLfcv is the best pokey," and Koved in this case, as the owner t L money, feeling his heart swelling "gSde towards the honest lad, £ Sless generosity presented, him ifathrte Wits as a mark of appreciation of his good conduct. o ?

The YM.C.A. has always had many tjlj, a nd none have been more willing to JS Mr J. P. Hooton, who provides, Stheass^taK36 of his friends, the con!rt which takes place to-morrow (Friday) pveninff. The programme is various, and should prove interesting. It consists of flLfarte, flute, clarionet, and vocal solos, L duet and chorus ; also two readings, The See hall should be well filled toiow evening, when E. Withy, Esq.,

A somewhat novel scheme of retrenchment and reform is put forward by the 11 Otago Daily Times," which says on the subject of members and the honorarium :— "The L2OO a year attracts the low-class adventurer, but it is not sufficient to allow of tie man of business, whose absence has made itself so terribly .felt in our finance, leaving his office for three months in the year; nor does it enable the better clasa of young men to embark upon a political career. The example of Victoria is very pertinent. Her Treasurers have generally been merchants of experience, whilst die has been able to train able men like .Mr ' Gillies and Mr Deakin, who could easily command larger salaries in" their private professions, .^nd^ to induce them to make a profession of politics. If we had 60 members at L4OO ayearfor those not resident in Wellington, and abolished the honorarium for the Council except (as done with Cabinet pensions fa England) in cases where the councillor made an affidavit that he could not afford tie change of residence for three months in the year^Vhen LlflO would be given him, w Legislature would not cost so much as i: does° now, and its quality would be Rnably improved. We believe that in the end this would be found the most economical plan, for we are convinced that the ,to!ony is suffering from the absence of Wness capacity and political ability supported bjfccperience in the Legislature.''

A most enjoyable and profitable lecture ias delivered by Mr Pond, in the Wesleyan schoolroom, tin "Manures and their Chemical Value," in connection with the Birkenhead Fruitgrowers' Association. Mr Falkner occupied the chair, and introduced the lecturer in. a suitable manner. Mr Pond, who was accorded an enthusiastic reception, began his lecture by describing tie relation of the plant to the soil. The lecture throughout - was full of brilliant ideas, over-flowing with information, and pregnant willi spicy wit. Tho lecturer lustrated many of his teachings by the Idp of several lucid diagrams. At the close ofthe lecture Mr Wilson rose to propose a iarty vote of thanks. He hud proved by practice what Mr Pond had in theory, and yaa both edified and enlightened by the interesting lecture. This was seconded by HrHaisman, who called upon all to manifest by acclamation their approbation and thanks.

A large number of visitors and members of the Princes street Socials assembled in the Masonic Hall, Princes-street, last night. & addition to the ordinary programme, «n extras were played, one being the Highland schottische, played in honour of Messrs Munro and Harper, who arrived on aejcene after their contest for the championship iri; the City Hall, and the appear•neeof these gentlemen' in full Highland «stume was very effective. Mr Munro «M furnished a pleasing novelty by play - ™o a waltz and schottische on the bagP'pes. During the evening Dr. Walker announced that the committee had decided to JjM up the season with a plain and fancy <««s ball, on a grand scale, -to be held the middle of September, and a strong «nmwttee of ladies and gentlemen was appointed to.carry out the same.

Aconcertin connection with S<j. Luke's WBdj will take place at the Mount Hobson ■NUhis evenino-.