OBITUARY Mr W. H. Dunlop, former Chief Detective

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30943, 27 December 1965, Page 8

OBITUARY Mr W. H. Dunlop, former Chief Detective

The death occurred in Christchurch on Friday of Mr William Higgins Dunlop, of Kaiapoi, who retired from the New Zealand Police Force in 1947 with the rank of inspector. He was then Chief Detective in Wellington, a post he had also held in Christchurch. Mr Dunlop was born at Tuapeka Mouth in 1882, and served in Christchurch, Invercargill, Queenstown, Dunedin, Lyttelton, and Wellington. At the time of his retire-j ment the then Commissioner lof Police (Mr J. Cummings) said of Mr Dunlop: “He has 1 been a fine man to work with.” For -the last 18 years Mr. Dunlop has lived in Kaiapoi. He is survived by three sons! ’ —Guy, of Christchurch, Doug-; lias, also of Christchurch, and iEuan, of Wellington. In 1922 Mr Dunlop, then a sergeant in Dunedin, was sent to arrest an armed man who had been hiding in dense [bush in central Southland for | about nine months. He met | the man in an isolated clearling after sending a message I that he would come unarmed land alone to the meeting | place. I During his interview with the armed man Mr Dunlop 'said he believed him to be innocent of the minor offence , he was charged with, and that las he was being blamed for I every crime committed a 100 I miles around he was a fool 'not to give himself up.

As Mr Dunlop turned to leave, the fugitive invited him to go up to his sister-in-law’s home for a cup of tea, and stalked off, leaving hit loaded rifle on the stump on which he had been sitting. Mr Dunlop picked up the rifle, and later, over a cup of tea. the fugitive agreed to give himself up. Mr Dunlop took him to Invercargill, where he stood trial and was acquitted. The incident was the beginning of a life-long friendj ship between the two men. I Mr Dunlop received a I Police Award of Merit for his | tact and initiative in making 'that arrest. While at Lyttelton Mr Dunlop instituted a series of l mock courts for the instrucition of constables under his I charge. A high official of the Justice Department while visiting Lyttelton was curious about sounds coming from the court Investigation showed Mr Dunlop on the bench, a constable in the dock, another acting as prosecutor, and others being called forward to give evidence. A letter was sent from the Justice Department congratulating Mr Dunlop on the work be was doing.

Designer.—A steel-hulled crayfish vessel which is being built by the Lyttelton Engi- ' neering Company, Ltd., for Mr R. Roderique. of Bluff, was designed by Mr J. Sullivan, also 1 of Bluff, not Mr J. Sutherland as was reported in “The Press.”