THE POLICE FORCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3870, 15 May 1928, Page 10

THE POLICE FORCE.

EARLY HISTORY RECALLED. DAYS OF GABRIEL’S GULLY. WANGANUI, May 7. Some interesting history concerning the Police Force of New Zealand was given to-day by Senior Sergeant Lopdell. I’he first police to serve iij. New Zealand, he said, was a bodyguard of the New South Wales Mounted Police, which was brought across to the Bay of Islands for the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on February 15, 1840. From 1840 to 1877 the history of the police was difficult to follow by reason of the fact that in that period they had co-operated to a large extent with the military forces and served along with them. Ihe Police Force was very much in evidence during the gold rush in Otago, said Sergeant Lopdell. He told of a police sergeant and a handful of men who were sent to Gabriel’s Gully to keep law and order amongst the thousands of diggers and prospectors. Part of their duty was to keep the means of transit open, to break up the gangs of disappointed prospectors who waylaid and robbed men returning from their claims with gold, to investigate crimes and disputes concerning gold claims, to attend to injured men, and to search for diggers who had been lost in the bush. Members of the force were essentially men of initiative. Most of them were lovers of adventure, many of them were graduates of English universities, and the non-com-missioned officers were all from some trained source. Many had left the Royal Irish Constabulary, the ideal disciplined force of the world,, to come out to New Zealand under military jurisdiction. “ To-day,” continued Sergeant Lopdell, “ the force of 1000 strong is recognised as being highly efficient, and a man entering it must have an unblemished character.” His history from the time he left school was carefully investigated by the department before he was allowed to enter the instruction classes. He must be not less than sft 9in in height, and must be between 21 and 30 years of age. For two months in the depot he was instructed in the rudiments of law and an essential qualification was that he must pass an examination. This proved a very high incentive to study.