REMOVAL OF INSPECTOR PARDY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8066, 15 December 1892, Page 2

REMOVAL OF INSPECTOR PARDY.

The removal of Inspector Pardy from this district to Dunedin will bo generally regretted (says the Taranaki Herald)) for during the time he has been in charge of the Taranaki Police District ho has performed the dii tie" appertaining to the office m a thoroughly efficient manner, und without causing tint friction uud annoyance to the public which in enforcing the municipal by-laws the police iv other parts of the colony urn apt to do. Inspector Pardy lias had cfcargo of tho Tawnaki District over 10 years, coming hero from Aucklaud to relieve Inspector G-oodall, who was sent to take charge of the Hawera district. Since then, Inspector Goodall hiving been removed, (md Inspector James retiring from the service, the duties of the Hawora and Wanganui districts were added to Mr Pardy's already arduous work. Mr Pardy is one of the oldest officers in tne police force of New Zealand, and hag risen step by step to the position of First-class Inspector. That he has shown himself skilful in revealing crime, and bringing to justice criminals who had ballled uthors in detection, goes to prove he possesses thn necessary qualifications which make a good police officer ; but to successfully cope witb the rebellious Maoris, and thus relieve the district of the " native bugbear," which for yean retarded the progress of Taranaki, demonstrates very clearly that he possesses more than ordinary ability. Moreover, Inspector Pardy deserves tho thanks of the taxpayers of the colony for what he has done, because he has relieved the country of the expense of several thousand pounds which was formerly required in maintaining a large force of Armed Constabulary in the district. In starting to carry out Mr Ballance's ''one policeman " policy, rtr Pardy found he had three obstacles to overcome. In the first place the settlers were naturally alarmed at the probability of the Constabulary being removed, knowing in tho past what they had had to encounter at the hands of the natives; socondlv,thoOonstabulary were averse — and with good reason too —to their force being disbanded ; thirdly, tho Maoris themselves, showing signs of notboing subdued, were still inclined to be rebellious. With great tact and discretion Mr Pardy hils brought about a change amongst the natives which very few believed oould have been effected so quietly. The natives have been convinced that "a power" exists behind the " one policeman " when executing a warrant; the sottlors have been reassured by seeing the "Queen's writ" served in the very heart of Maoridom, and Te Whiti himself— the very head of the tribe— imprisoned for 5 debt he lefasei to pay ; whilst the disbandment of the Armed Constabulary foroaa has oeen carried oat so quietly that when it ceased to exist it ■was hardly missed. Without very skilful diplomacy on the part of Inspector Pardy all this could not have been accomplished, and, therefore, to him is certainly due the credit of relieving the Taranaki district from the unjuit stigma, wbioh had so long been attaohod to the place that the settle™ manufactured the "Maori bogie" merely for the sake of the expenditure which a large body of Constabulary stationed in a place entailed. To enumerate all the olever captures of criminal! Mr Pardy has made, we are afraid would occupy more apace than we can well afford; bat we oannot refrain from referring to his capture and prosecution of a notorious criminal named Fred Plummer, who more than once escaped from gaol, and in disguiae sacceeded for a time instituting a reign of terror in Aucklaud and its eubatbs by his nootnrnal visits. Mr Pardy, who was then in a subordinate position, asVed for and. obtained leave to dorote his energies specially to the capture of the burglar. In three days he had seouredthesuspeotedoffender; when the nightly alarm of the householders st once eeu'ed, and the city was restored to its normal quietude. The arrest of Titokowaru, Ngahioa, KomaUtv, Tu&hoe, and three others under his directions, for ploughing up the settlers' land on the Waimate Plain*, and of Te Whiti for inciting the natives to commit a breach of the peace, are all matters of history. The " second seige of Parihaka," as it was called, was effected by Inspoctor Pardy and a few policemen, when To Whiti vrao arrested and saken.to Wellington, he and the other nativos were all imprisoned for terms of .various length. It wad through this incident that the Inspector gained for hinuelf the name amengst tho Maoris of " General Pordy." To his many qualifications Mr Pnrdy is said to have a better knowledge of criminal lair than perhaps any police officer in the colony, and for many years in Auckland as well as here has performed the duties of public prosecutor in the Police Court. Mi J? ardy has received numbers of letters from those in prominent positions acknowledging his services, and the Hon. Mr Ballanee considers him one of the abiejt officers who have ever served in the New Zealand Police Force. In addressing his constituents in Jane, 1887, Mr Bullsnco said, "The colony was greatly indebted to one man who had carried out tho administration of native affairs on the West Coaat— he referred to Inspeotor Pardy —for the great courage and discrimination he had shown, and the marvellous success that had attended hit effort* in getting the natives undei control. Mr Parity was an able administrator, and his thanks and the thanks of the colony were due to him for the atsistance he had rendered to him (Mr Ballanee), and the colony in the administration of the affairs of the West Coast." Mr Samuel, exM.H.R., when addressing his constituents in 1837, in referring to native affairs, said :— " Mr Ballancs had shown good judgment in the selection of his officers to work under him. This wag apparent in his selection of Mr Pardy, the Inspector of Police, whose dealings with the natives had been characterised by extraordinary success." Inspector Pai-dy goes to a place where he will have fresh scope for his abilities— where he will be able to exhibit to others those qualifications which have gained for him the esteom of all with whom he has come in contact. In performing his official duties Mr Pardy olothed the "iron hand with a velvet glove," dealing out " justice tempered with meroy " to thoae unfortunates who, by their deeds, had brought themselves within the pale of the law. Privately, Mr Pardy is much esteemed— and no one regrets his removal

more than the men over whom, for the last

ten years, he has presided, and in bidding him " good-bye," we feel sure we are only echoing the sentiment of the community in saying that whilst we must congratulate him on bis well-earned promotion, wo shall all be extremely sorry to see him take his departure from tho place.