BASKET LANDINGS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22481, 10 November 1947, Page 6

BASKET LANDINGS

FORMER COAST DAYS

CONSTABULARY SERVICE

PERIOD OF 30 YEARS

(Herald Correspondent.) Thirty of his 40 years of service with the New Zealand Police Force, were spent in the East Coast district by Constable W. H. Bradley, latterly officer in charge of the. Tolaga Bay station, whose retirement took effect last Saturday week.

Constable Bradley entered the force as a trainee at the Wellington depot in 1907. On the completion of his course there he was transferred on November 1 to Newton. Auckland, where he was stationed for two and a-half years. At the end of the first 18 months of his term there, when on special duty, he received a merit award for conspicuous conduct in arresting a notorious criminal who, on being apprehended by Constables Bradley and Halliday, was in possession of dynamite and about to break into a grocery business in Khyber Pass. Arrival In 1917

In June, 1917, Constable Bradley was transferred to Waipiro Bay, which at that time was a thriving centre on the Coast. Accompanied by his wife, he sailed to Tokomaru Bay in the s.s. Monowai and disembarked from her in a coal basket into a waiting launch. At Tokomaru Bay both passengers had their first experience of horse riding when they completed their journey in that manner over roads that were girth high in mud and impassable to vehicular traffic. The new appointee found his wofk in this isolated but happy community varied and interesting. He held the portfolios of clerk of the court, bailiff, inspector of factories, police gaoler, sub-enumerator of statistics, arms officer, and many other assignments. At that time court work was spread over three days, with three visiting magistrates in attendance. The most serious cases in which Constable Bradley was connected were those of two double murders, when he took the depositions of a young man charged with the murder of two workmen at Waiorongomai, and assisted in the case at Whareponga involving the lives of Mr. George Smith and his wife, the accused committing suicide. In mentioning the extent of the assistance and the duties attached to the wives of policemen at the small country stations, where they have to provide meals for the prisoners in the cells, Constable Bradley related to a Herald representative an experience which indicated that Mrs. Bradley possessed pluck and determination in dealing with situations under adverse conditions. Arrested by Mrs Bradley

He was away from Waipiro Bay searching for a notorious character who had escaped capture when Mrs. Bradley was informed that a suspicious individual answering the description of the wanted man was observed in the vicinity of the hoteL A search was made of the premises. Mrs. Bradley heard a slight noise coming from inside a small room off the bathroom. She tried the door but found it locked. She immediately demanded that the occupant should appear or she would force an entry. On a reDetition of the demand the door opened* to reveal the absconder who submitted meekly to the constable’s wife, who took him into custody and promptly marched him back to the cells. ■ During the 18 years of their domicile in Waipiro Bay the Bradleys were connected with all the social and sporting activities of the little township. It was there that Mr. Bradley played his first game of Rugby at the age of 36 as a forward in the Tawhiti Club under the captaincy of Sam Ngarimu, father of the V C. winner, and was selected to play in his second game as a rep in the Ruatoria sub-union. Chosen to play for the East Coast he was unable to accept nomination owing to official duties. In those days travelling to matches entailed journeys of many miles on horse-back over roads often deep in mud. Constable Bradley was a keen cricketer and as an umpire officiated at matches between Poverty Bay and East Coast and between the Waipiro Bay reps, and the touring Auckland Colts teams. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley were instrumental in the , introduction of hockey in that area and Mrs. Bradley acted as chaperon for the ladies teams on tour. Mr. Bradley was also chairman of the Waipiro Bay recreation ground committee from its inception.

Return to Coast in 1936

Transferred to Hunterville in 1935, Constable Bradley returned to the Coast in the following year to take charge of the station at Tolaga Bay where he remained until his retirement. Continuing his interest in public affairs and in sporting circles he served on the Uawa Domain Board for a number of years, was vice-chairman of the Patriotic Society, an elder of the Tolaga Bay Presbyterian Church, president and green superintendent of the Tolaga Bay Bowling Club and a member of the local golf club. An enthusiastic gardener he converted the extensive grounds surrounding the police station and Court House from a . wilderness into a neatly ;-kept area, with flower beds of geometrical pattern and lawns of velvet smoothness The result of this work is often admired by passers-by. and is referred to by local residents as “Bradley’s Park”.. Assisting her husband in his duties and in the social life of Tolaga Bay, Mrs. Bradley was actively engaged in several organisations, chief of which were the Ladies’ Guild of the Presbyterian Church, the Women’s Institute, Patriotic Society, golf club and other sporting bodies. Affectionately termed “Aunt Sally” by her many friends, she was a very popular hostess. Great Friend of Maoris

A great friend of the Maori people, Constable Bradley had a flair for understanding their many problems, and was a friend in need whenever they encountered trouble. His popularity with them was srongly emphasised at two functions arranged in his honour recently when at Anaura Bay Mr. M. Huhu, on behalf of the local natives, presented him with a cheque at a largely attended gathering in the Maori meeting house and again at Mangatuna Pa last week-end the popular couple were the guests of the Maoris of that area when a similar presentation and many tributes were made. In his duties as Clerk of the Court at his various charges Constable Bradley earned the esteem and praise of visiting magistrates and solicitors for the manner in which he conducted the .business of,his office. He was associated in the opening of the first courts at. Te Araroa. and Ruatoria. At Waipiro Bay in one year he handled over 500 plaints, which is in excess of the number usually dealt with in a court where a regular Clerk of the Court is stationed. It is the intention of Mr. and Mrs. Bradley to spend their retirement in Gisborne. .