THE NEW POLICE INSPECTORS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11302, 21 December 1898, Page 2

THE NEW POLICE INSPECTORS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) '; .AUCKLAND, December 20. V The new.inspectors are men in the prime o£ lifo, whose records as police officers have been excellent. Sergeant Gillies (not Gillespie, as telegraphed yesterday), who is at present in charge of the Thames district, has over 20 years' service. Ho is a native of County Tyrone, jn Donegal, and graduated in tho Royal Irish Constabulary. He emigrated to Auckland, and joined: the Auckland Police Force, being stationed as mounted man at To Awamutu. Here, 14 years ago, along with Sergeant M'Govern and Billy Barlow (a half caste), he arranged a plan for the capture ol Winiata, whose execution for the murder of Parker vindicated the law, and relieved the Kingites from an embarrassing position, as

they could not, as a point of' honour, surrender him, as lie was under their protection and shelter. Constable Gillies, in due, time, was promoted to be a sergeant for that public service (while Sergeant M'Govern was made sub-inspector), and was transferred to Mercer, thence to Devonport, and subsequently to the Thames, of which large and-important district ho has been in charge for the past nine years, and fulfilled :the duties with firmness, prudence, and ability. , His many friends will be pleased to hear of his well-earned and deserved promotion. Among Sergeant Gillies's comrades in the Royal Irish Constabulary were Inspector Cullen and -Sir Garvey, gaoler, of Wellington Gaol. ■■

Sergeant Ellison, the other, new inspector, is also a native of Tyrone, and has had over 20 yeaTs' service in the Police Wo.* i»,' and was transferred'from the''Armed Constabulary ,<*r Field Force), so that his service' must total up to about a quarter of a century; tho. greater part of the time in-the Police Force. Ho has been engaged in .oflice work, having been for many years inspector's clerk in Welling ton to Inspector ; Shearman. - On-* Inspect,-! Shearman being transferred to A wklan-.I he accompanied him, and remained as chief cleric in the inspector's■'. department until within the last two pr three years, when he was returned to street duty, being shortly afterwards sent to . Wanganui, and placed;in ■charge of the district in siVccess-SJh to' Sergeant Cullen, who was promoted to be an inspector, owing to hia successful raid on.sly grog-sellers in the King' country. Sergeant EHifoii has borne the reputation of • being"'. :one .of the smartest district clerks in the-force, and during his time of street duty in Aiii<la*id was known as. an active-and intelligent' officer," while strict in tho performance of duty, lie made many friends while in Auckland, and his departure' was regarded with feelings of regret. ' ■ -