The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XX, Issue 2019, 5 January 1864, Page 2

The Daily Southern Cross.

. T.UCi:o NOM T7RO "If T hit c been eMingmsheil yt t there rise A thoiii mil beacsna from the "spaik I bore."

TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1864

Tnrnn is no branch of the public service more important than the poll c department. To the police, the safety of persons and property is committed ; and on their vigilance depends the peace and security ol'ihe community We may '•ay, n ithout fear of contradiction, that the police establishment of Auckland has been conducted in an exemplary manner With less *ho\\ , and nun li less expense than has been incurred elsev\ here, the Auckland police have managed (o discharge their duty in an acceptable manner to the public, and the Commissioner of Police has been more Uian once creditably mentioned by the Chief Justice m open court for the manner in which his very arduous and important dutie. have been performed; — a testimony likewise borne, on many occasions, by our lespected police magistrate. In writing this, however, we do not wish it to be understood that we desue to eulogise the Auckland police at the expense of our neighbours, or that we look upo.i them as a model for other places. By no means. We simply take facts as they are ; and judge of the efficiency of the force by the public reputation the police have established for themselves But we think the police force of Auckland, however efficiently the men of which it is composed may discharge their duties, is not adequate for the public requirements of the city and province. In former years, with a small population and few new arrivals — when, in fact, every one in the community was known to the police — the police force may have been, and no doubt was, adequate. JN T ow the case is different The state of the province of Auckland has changed rapidly of late years, and sudden and maikcd as have been the alterations hitherto, more sudden and more marked will the alteiations be which are certain to result from causes now in operation to produce them. In view of our altered circumstances— in view of our increased and lLcreasing requirements — let us, therefore, be at least prepared to keep up vt ith the times. At this early stage of our provi-'cial legislation, we deem it to be a proper thing to bung the whole question of the police establishment before the countiy. We maintain that the force is lnsulßrient in numbers, that it is badly clothed, and that no inducements are held out to intelligent steady mi n to join it. Wo are not prepared to say that the pay is not enough, although," contrasting the cost of living in Auckland with the expense of living in Dunedin, and bearing in mind the discrepancy in pay between the forces of Otago and Auckland, it does seem on the face of it that the Auckland police are underpaid and over-worked, We will not contrast the police establishments of the two piovinces, because latterly they do not boar contrasting hi the one province the police depaitment has been modelled on an extravagant scale; in the other, it has been modelled on a niggardly scale. The pay of a private constable in. Otago is 11s. per day; in Auckland, his pay is 6s. In Otago, there are at least fne constables to one in Auckland ; but from the unsettled character of part of the population of Otago, and the temptations to crime that e\ist there, we think ourOlago fellowcolonists have not a man too many on their police roll. What we complain of is that the police strength m Auckland, is too weak: we leave the question to the Council whether the pay might not be increased with advantage, seeing that day labourers, who do not need to possess the special qualifications expected froma police coustable, can earn 7s. to 8s per day of eight houis in the city. On the question of increase of numbers w e think it incumbent on us, howe\er, to say a few words. The total strength of the police force of the Province is 26 privates, 2 corporals, 2 sergeants, and 1 sergeantmajor, together with a few supernumeraries, exclusive of the Commissioner, who is a justii^") of fie peaoe for j;he colony. The lowest ra™ ' of pay is 6s per day : the highest Bs. 6d. Tho Conmiiss'oner receives £3(10 per annum, and we understand a small sum for the keep of a hor<o is proposed to be added. The total estimated outlay is about £'1,000 a year in round numbers, w huh includes lents or' police barracks in Auckland, Otahulm, Pamtmre, Papule ura, Mongonui, jails <it Eussell und Mongonui, and rations for prisoners, fuel, lighting, boat hire, and all other

contingencies. At first sight this sum appears large, but it is not so when we consider the duties performed, and the extent of country ,« and interests committed to the caiT of the Apolice. The police expenditure proper does nob nearly amount to the sum named ; and when we say that the Commissioner's salary is less than the salary paid to the Superintendent of Police in a second-rate English manufacturing town (horse-keep included), for controlling the municipal constables, we draw a contrast ■which tells in favour of our provincial economy. Beyond establishing these contrasts, however, ■we eschew the question of salaries. We think the Council might very properly devote some little attention to the whole question of remodelling the police force, not in a pettifogging spirit, but as men having the weal of the community at heart, making provision to cheek the commission of crime, which has been steadily on the increase of late. Let the force be reasonably increased in numbers . and if it be found that the pay is too small, relatively to the cost of li\ ing and the standard of n. ages in the town, by all means let an increased rate of pay be voted. We Ijavc no doubt that many members of the Council will be found to go in for a largo district expenditure on roads and bridges, and pooh-pooh the idea of augmenting the police force. They will, doubtless, argue that as the force has done t\ ell enough hitherto, it will continue to do all that is required of it in a passible sort of way iv future, without going to any extra expense But such a line of argument w ould be absurd, as well a^ dangerous. We say the police force of Auckland is not now nearly sulhcient to discharge its police duties, and give fair play to the Commissioner and the men. Iv Auckland alo'i^ do we find the police Commissioner conducting all preliminary inquiries, however serious, before the magistrates. In Auckland aloue. do we find two of the trained police force taken off" the effective strength of the department, and without any reason that we know of, compelled t o do duty as jailers. In Auckland alone, are the police eompelledtodo duty for five ye.u-in one suit of uninext filteen years, for all they know to the fown — andasthesamesuitmaj beiequiredforthe contriry, we believe it is an extra duly of the police to carefully fold and put them aside, to appear in a decent gaib onl\ r on bundays, Stipicinc Court di3's. and gieat public occasions. If suelia state of things continues Ihe best men ■nill lea\e the force We tru>t the Council will take these remarks into then senous eonsidciation, before the rapid uilkmsc of cnme "tallies them into ill-considered actiutj whuli. .is in jN'ew §outh Wales, will result in humiliating failures and lrcklebS waste of the public funds Additional constables arc w intcd lor tli3 City. Parnell. O.'ohungn Otahuhu, aad po^ibly likewise ole for Papa kuri and D/ury, ami al-o for the i^ewton an I Five-urn's Bty ■suburbs We like ■wis3 requue two coisti'ile* to be set a,int 9 special! \ tor harbour dunes the maintenance ot ■whom o'iy;ht t j be a haibom th^i^e As to the requirements of the .North w e ai c not co upetent to pronounce an opinion, but doubtless aNo th. j in Tjase of p jpul itiou a id lr idj ere ites a gro \ - il^ h ant £n* const ibles C >iv> n.indel mu-.t not be neglected, now that a di-,>osition is bho.wi lo re-.ii ne woik there The tune will come when the ci r y and harbour police must, be «epaiate fiD n each other and fio n tlu iui '1 lorce, but ne are ik t yet prepire.l tor ■such a Iv idainent il clianjo In thp mcautiine we i unlit lo tiy and make the police force, as it i< now constituted, as cfiLiunt as possible.

Pe*i or OuYi'PvuE^TQi'i'imc, — l'lo'-nie iip^n our -|nco (iievents u> finiii | uHi-hni'4 in iVemlul id|>'ii t,of tlio public meeting lull I L-fc iii-Jif ti Cdm i Ili the propriety nt |> titnmm^ tlio 'juteii asjun'-t tli^ it-incn.il of thu vc it of i^nei nnit-iiC fi mi A iii Utiii'l Until tli it i i_|i.n b x, >|)t, u~, ut. ie-t.ne 0111 cuinineiits iiikhi tin ineelmi; iL^clf, .111 I tin* qiiP>tion \\ Inch le 1 t > its l)Lintf c illeil 'Ihe IJ\oi>\n liM't-DiiUJN* — Tin- ••!< inn 1 )-, 'AU \ a'l !i 1, ' .fit 1111 M llh 1111^ an I the Kmginm Cl'tainC 1 'tain Bell, linth retmii'd to tin. MaimU 111 on Sniiil i\ < veiling frmn l.'.iul in '1 liev wcie 111 1 U .i\o a;; 1111 '.i^t evening f ■ >i tlie mido |il ice the fniniii witli.i >iet iclinient of the nObli I.'e^ muncin I ijuity of the Waik.xto VoluntLoi -, anil the 1 ittei «itk C.lttlo fm tllU tlcinjls HOW *tltlOI)L'il ,lt l!,1<rl 11)

I'kiivinci \l CouNCir — Tho (Juuni ll iliil i.'itmvko a. loijir -lttmsiyestPiilay e\L»ii]iiir mum; to tic meet inif telative to the lemovilot t'io -cat of homiii muifc winch wis heM m the • wiipicj 1 li- il< lute on \\r New in vn's nioticin iconiitneii'lni!; tlif cm striiU;i"n of a, turavidy fmin ManUn to W.uK it<i was cnntimwi'l f< r a short time ami fmtliti n<ij •i\ineit Se\eial oilier notices were di-])n-(;,| of ,vi 1 some iiiforni.ition lelitive to w.itu •- n | ■ | il y ami the T.ui IUI bii l«e, leooived by thu ) i--t ni u), wiiliiil bt fore the C mnoil. Tlie \|i rupn itimi Bill »b leul i ■-ewdinl tune, tlie Pnu'iii(.ul Piev-iiier fcikim; the np|) iifciiintv to m.ike his (manual st ite.nent. The Coiinuil ail|ourneil at C o clock.

Thi, W\R MIN'ISThR. - I lie Unit T Ru-sell uln> hv '"-ei> on ,i visit to the Wiikatu, letuined to Autlc l.ui'l «c .lit* nforHieil, 1 ist i-veiimir.

" DNII'RP\NCE ON THE It \CL COLUSI "—We Id j.Tft lli it two eriois hi a pari-ri i)i!i iimla llus hf ul ins. «huli appcueil ill vf-t" tila\'> paiif i shuulil h.ue {,iif-i| .imo\ mLf to the nfficeis of the jOlh lii £W]eiit, nml ill' cUr> nf the comse. To |ii(,\enc any iiu^iui tlti-tuiilnii.', lioue\ei, wu aie no\v nlli.ul t.> alatt. th it tin t>tfi' er whu'Je hni'jp w is struck, is m the |>na.'ia|ili, was Ciptiin Mmnct, "I tht ]4th 7e<_i met, and that Mt. G. Runum vi while a^isting to kenn tlip Limi-e cle.ir, appht-il the \lnp Mr Dro >jigouid's Mvi i>l» — 'Ihe nnc-tication of the thai ire .iiiamst Turn it i Waie Iwitut of niiiMlernii! Mr J.imes TiuininnntiM .it the M.IIIUII wi'l lie le-iimed at the He-ultnt M icjisti ite s CmlU t» il i\ 'I he only evidence yet ttKen is tint of Nun K\il<iit,u

Till- 'Svndfly.' — The ci>li>nicil giiii-lmab ' S vn<lfl3r,' r.lnnli li n lvmleieil poml s i uct lee utly, is I u I up Hi tin' li.tfU >\ir to l>e lefitUi! Her i nume* will le tiKeii <>\it <tinl repane'i uheie ne'ji«<!iii, .mil >-lio will Ii i\r new liiuleis which ne evpectfil liv the ' Oi t\' <if Jliihli^lhi, now ilni*. The Hii^uieeiinjj npiiiiwill lie im Idi the 'in ectimi of Mi, Lo lilei the piiifiiit-ei "f the 1-— t-l I i<> pnihilile til it will lieliiil up fin ft Ilinlitil "i MX Wet-K":,

S"LTHrR\ Miinthiy Mag izi\r — 'I'lie .T.imtnrv liuiuWi <if ihf* Southern Mmitlily luis lipcii fom.inleiJ to n>. ami will lit rcviewpil on an enlv ilav.

CC.Tiirs RhVKNOE — Tlih (Jiistnin- i. venue f,ir the ye.v imlmg DfCHinhei 31 1563 w is €1 000 101 11- 5 1

\CC'l>r\i in Hob-on STiiiEr— Mr- B.nliei, who met «iti pii aconl-nt in [i,>U-o>i street liv tlif" upset, ti'ij ■•? a vi Incle on S itiird iv, li.is liefn -uffi'i 111^ vei v imiuli foi thu pist two fl i\<;, {n-m the iigmies she rec neil mi tli it iiCPt«i()ii We an- ul ul, limy ever tlu 1^ lintli Mr. Nati,'litiin .unl Mis B.mltei aie rwiciin.'.

Pmir rant the S-hith Sfv Isiands — The 'Will W iro'i ' am veil yi-tuwiLV fi,nn Altitilo, Smith S- i 1-0 unN, wit,)) i c o_"> nf hi i'ui"t puiH ipjil s, CmiMimt- ,Vc Sneiiiir til it if. the |ii«"vtib tnn> , theitj H a^oLrcUv "f fruit, uul th it ilime is 11" 'illi^i vi ".<;el on ])Pi v\ ty Iniin the Islands -tli« ' Vic tmiV having }M"«-ii despite lied to Sydney — ihwre is luit little duutit til it tli<- v.lmle «f the cir^i> «ill lie clcired off it hi-^t rate piices This will prnluMv lie the last shipment of m<iii!»(«i wp »lull cet fioni tlif''ls|,iiii|s tins seisun

Boxrdof KdUC\TIOV. — Tin. e\<iiiiin miMi of teac liPrs Tttm »etf dt-siimm of olituimi'^ the c< i lificali'S nf the B" ml «,i-. lield it ilih PmviiK lil St-<Mrtnv'-< "fflce, Pnni •■; t-trnft vpnti nl.iy. 'llit-ie weie imly f"Ui Ciiti'liiljitr"^ piesclit

<\CCtr>FM ai Parskit, — Miv-it. Ci'-ey mil Mol>Him >f, who were sup o-,ul t- (1 hive ro<Pi\e>l jmni" spvut. injuries from Hip nn-ctfinn ati i|i <it Pifnpll. on an- lim'li ii uni; well, .mil .lie not, •■« much hurt a*, ww .i' fftl t -.1- t]| nvA\t ArcKi,,\ND Annual Rioaitx - W<> isam 01U ntf-Hiiliun t» the mpitnur t<> lie h< !il m y n'i InuU this eveimifr, mi the Waitemata Hotel, fm rlie ]im jiosu <»•■ a|i]iointing a committee to m.ike anan<;eiHcnts for the approaching Auckland Auuual Eegatta,