Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1883. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVI, Issue 993, 24 November 1883, Page 2

Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1883. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

The matter of the appointment of an additional constable to Lawrence is still hanging fire, through whose fault we are not prepared to say. Inspector Weldon has been communicated with both by letter and viva voce through a deputation appointed at a meeting of the Borough Council; and, according to Inspector Weldon, Colonel Header has been communicated with by him, bub has never deigned a reply, which seems rather extraordinary. When the deputation appointed by the Council laid the matter before Inspector-Weldon some few weeks ago, on his way through Lawrence, he distinctly expressed himself to the effect that additional police assistance was requisite, but thought that the want might be met by the appointment of the gaoler as a constable as formerly. To this arrangement no objection was offered, as it was no doubt known that sucb an arrangement would suit, as it did before the removal of the former gaoler to Wellington; but it was stated at the time that, on account of Lawrence Graol being about to be proclaimed one for the receipt of longer sentence prisoners than formerly, the hands of the gaoler might very probably be full enough without acting as a constable. Inspector Weldon, after hearing the different arguments advanced in faror of more police protection, and reasoning the matter with the deputation, agreed to again communicate wich Colonel Reader and transmit the reply to the Council; but, so far, not a single word has been heard further about the matter, if we except what we might call some side-wind information gleaned from the Mayor at last meeting of the Borough Council, to the effect that when he wag in Dunedin lately, In. spector Weldon told him that there was a likelihood of the former system of the gaoler doing occasional patrol duty being reverted to. This could not, of course, be reckoned anything to build upon, and consequently a resolution was carried, instructing the Clerk to communicate direct with Colonel Reader, so that something like a definite reply could be obtained and the disagreeable state of suspense dissipated. Whether we get another constable or not, it is certain that by the present arrangement the town has been on more than one occasion for a considerable time without any police protection whatever, and seeing that Sergeaot-Major Moore has lately been appointed Inspector of Weights and Measures for the Borough and County, such an occurrence is likely to be more frequent in the future. The question then is: Is it a proper state of things that such should occur at all 1 The former arrangement, by which the gaoler performed constable's duties, in nddition to his offices as gaoler, was an arrangement which, we believe, suited very well, and would no doubt suit very well again if, with the additional work which will likely arise through the gaol being proclaimed one for longer-sentence prisoners than formerly, the gaoler could find time to do patrol duty. We, at all events, expect that some suitable arrangement will ere long be made, now that the matter is to be laid before Colonel Reader.