ADVENTUROUS LIFE OF A POLICE OFFICER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 242, 18 February 1911, Page 10

ADVENTUROUS LIFE OF A POLICE OFFICER.

INSPECTOR GILLIES' CAREER. After having served in the New Zealand Police Force for over thirty-six years, in addition to four years in the Royal Irish Constabulary before he came to the Dominion, Inspector R. J. Gillies retired from the force on Saturday last. Mr. Gillies gave some particlars of his career to an interviewer, from which it appears that he attributes some of the success which has attended him to the excellent training he received in the Roal Irish Constabulary, the mounted brunch of which he joined as a youth of nineteen. He had been only a year on duty when he and others were put on to a murder case. In 1874 Mr. Gillies left the Royal Irish Constabulary to come to New Zealand. He had booked his passage by the ill-fated Cospatrick (which was burned at sea with all hands), but was,prevailed upon by Dr. Young (who was subsequently medical superintendent of the Avondale Mental Hospital at Auckland) to transfer to the Essex. lie reached Auckland in December, 1574, and he made himself known to Inspector Broham, who was subsequently inspector in Christchurch, and who undertook to take Mr. Gillies on as soon as a vacancy occurred. In the meantime, Mr. Gillies joined the Armed Constabulary under Colonel Lyon, and was in the Waikato district. Three months later he was appointed a constable and transferred to Auckland, where ho remained for two years and si-half. Burglaries and robberies were of frequent occurrence in that city at the period mentioned, and Mr. Gillies was entrusted with several important cases. As the result of the work done by him he was within eighteen months promoted from third-class to first-class constable. He was then given charge of the Te Awamutu station, on the borders of the King Country, which was at that time practically outside the pale of European civilisation, and the Queen's writ fan with considerable difficulty. The nearest police station was over twenty miles distant, at Hamilton, and was in charge of ex-Inspector McGovern. For eight years Mr. Gillies had charge of the Te Awamutu station, acting also as clerk of the Magistrate's Court and as clerk of the different licensing courts. HIS CLOSEST CALL.

Owing to his energy, horse-stealing by the Maoris, which was previously very prevalent, was practically stamped out. It was whilst arresting,a Maori horsestealer that Mr. Gillies had the closest call he had whilst in the force. Sammy, the Maori in question, had stolen two horses, and Mr. Gillies followed him up into the bush to a place called Te Rahu, about nine miles from Te Awamutu. Here a fierce hand-to-hand encounter ensued. Sammy was powerfully built, and struggled terrifically, and he assaulted Mr. Gillies so ferociously as to draw blood. Just when the Maori was getting the better of Mr. Gillies, a Mr. Sibbley opportunely arrived, and the horse-thief was handcuffed and brought to justice. Mr. Gillies was complimented by his inspector and by the Commissioner, and got a handsome reward for his services.

CAPTURING A MAORI MURDERER. It was in connection with the capture of the notorious Maori murderer Winiata that Mr. Gillies came more prominently before the public. Winiata, in IS7C, brutally murdered a cadet named Packer, who was, with Winiata, in the employ of a Mr. Cleghorn, at Epsom, near Auckland. Winiata got clear away to the King Country, where ho successfully defied arrest for six years. ExInspector McGovcrn and Mr. Gillies formulated a scheme for Winiata's capture, and in order to attain that end they obtained the co-operation of a halfcaste named Barlow. They supplied him with the necessary funds to obtain liquor, and Barlow went to where Winiata was and bargained with him for the sale of some pigs, cattle and wheat he hail for sale. Barlow concluded his bargain, one of the conditions of which was that Winiata and his bodyguard should help him with the conveyance of the stock to Barlow's place. It was arranged that Barlow should send a note bv his daughter to Te Awamutu, but the" ski was thrown frsm her horse and was unable to convey the message. Barlow, however, carried out his programme, which was to ply Winiata and his bodyguard with liquor and as a nighteap administer to them a potent sleeping draught. The original intention was, if the note had reached Tc Awamutu, for the police to go to Barlow's and take Winiata prisoner. The note not having been sent, Barlow, with the assistance of his wife, tied Winiata to a packhorse and brought hire in to Te Awamutu, a distance of twenty miles. Winiata subsequently paid the penalty of his crime and Mr. Gillies W ai promoted to thirdclass sergeant. Mr. Ballance. who had recently come into power, visited the \\ aikato about this time, and on hearing of Mr. Gillies' part in the capture of VMniata gave hire further promotion. Barlow, for his share in the capture, «ot i/00, as well as a farm at Mangerc. In 1884 Mr. Gillies was transferred to the charge of the Devogport sub-dis-trict, which extended as far north as Waiwera. At this time cattle stealing was rife in the Wade district, but Mr Gillies was successful in stamping it out' Three year, later he was given charge of the Thames district, a position he held for nine years. In 1889 he was promoted to an inspectorship and took charge ?„ ™^, ngiin V i (listrict ear ¥ '1 law! in IM2 Commissioner Tunbridge cave y"l • l' C Canterbury and North Otago district, which position he held till his resignation.

AN ENVIABLE RECORD. During the nine years Mr. Gillies was in charge of the Canterburv-North Ota<*o distnet 98 per cent, of the offences reported to the police were detected the greater proportion of the undetected four per cent being eases relating to property that could not be identified. During his lengthy service. Mr. Gillies never had a reprimand or a mark recorded against him, and from time to time he was complimented by the different commissioners and inspectors under "'horn he served and by judges and magistrate, before whom he conducted cases. It is due to Mr. Gillie* that the present classes of instruction for recruits were established. Without authority and on his own initiative, he started a the matter was mentioned before the Mi. Bishop, S.M., were members, and on heir recommendation attendance at sim - lar classes of instruction was made on - pulsory in the four centres It u Mr Gillies' proud boast on his retirement from the service that there hj" '■"t been an important case i B any d '■* to which he has had eharTunt S4SSW£ rt,d ' Bdtta *^