ECHO OF EARLIER DAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 37, 12 February 1917, Page 6

ECHO OF EARLIER DAYS.

ARREST OF WINIATA. DEATH OF EX-INSPECTOR GILLIES. Mr. Robert J. Gillies, ex-Inspector of Police, died at Christchurch on Saturday, at the age of 07 years. He had been Inspector of Police for that district for ten years, and retired on superannuation six years ago. He joined the police force in Auckland in 1875, and three years later took charge of the station at Te Awamutu, where he remained for eight years. It was while at that station he made a name for himself by the arrest of a half-caste Maori named Winiata, who had murdered his European room mate in an Auckland suburb. Winiata got clear to the King Country. were the days when the Queen's writ did not pass the boundary line. By clever management Sergeant Gillies succeeded in trapping Winiata and bringing him to town, where the murderer was in due course executed. In 1SS!) Sergeant Gillies was transferred to Devonport station, and later went to Thames, where he remained nine years. He was then promoted as inspector to Wanganui, and in 1902 was transferred to Canterbury district, where he has resided ever since. Inspector Gillies was recognised as a painstaking officer of sterling character.