THE MINERS' RIGHTS ENQUIRY AND MR. THOMPSON.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2002, 4 June 1875, Page 2

THE MINERS' RIGHTS ENQUIRY AND MR. THOMPSON.

To the Editor of the Evening- Stab. Sib,—ln the spirit of fairness will you kindly permit me to correct a misstatement which appears in a paragraph, in your last night's issue. The error I refer to is the statement that " Inspector Thompson's duties hare hitherto been confined to carrying out the provisions of the Arms Act." Ido not care to discuss here the wisdom or otherwise of the course adopted

by the General Government in detailing one of their officers to assist Major Keddell in the enquiry in question, nor do I intend to disparago in any way the abilities of Sub-Inspector Bullen, but as one who has known Inspector Thompson for many a day, I am in a position to assert advisedly that Mr Thompson served a long apprenticeship in the Victorian Police (admittedly the most efficient P«lice Force in the colonies) years before SubInspector Bullen joined the Otago Police —the latter being the only Police Force with which Mr Bullen was ever connected prior to coming to the North Island, and in which Force I am aware Mr Thompson al«o served for several years with credit before being appointed to an Inspectorship in the Colonial Constabulary. In conclusion, Sir, I respectfully claim that altho' Inspector Thompson i 3 not a local officer, but a comparative stranger amongst us, he is yet entitled at least to " FaIEPLAY." Grahamstown, June 4th, 1975.