Mr Branigan in the North.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 15, 23 February 1870, Page 3

Mr Branigan in the North.

[Prom the WeHinyton Post .] The •wonders and mysteries of that sub-' lime institution,—the demilitarized Constabulary—are only slowly beginning to dawn on our vision. The general public are perfectly unaware what a transcendent genius burst upon the colony when Mr Brauigan emerged from the obscurity of a provincial policeman, and stood forth in all the glory of chief of the armed forces of the colony : military and engineering skill, knowledge of the country, the native character, and their mode of warfare—all coining on him by a Hash of inspiration. We thought it not amiss when we heard of his demand that the amount of £158,000, voted for defence purposes, should be placed in a lump sum to his credit at the bank to spend as he chose ; and. when some one mentioned the auditor’s possible objection, replying “ Pooh ! 1 will soon sweep away the auditor.” But this is nothing ; he has actually, on his sole authority, without the consent of the Government, the Legislature, or any one else, or even the formula of the Gazette, issued “ A Manual of Rules and Regulations for the guidance of the Armed Constabulary Force of Now Zealand,” which bears this preface '. —“ All orders, rules and regulations, which have been promulgated from time to time for the guidance of the Armed Constabulary Force of New Zealand prior to this date, and which are contrary to, or inconsistent with the regulations contained herein, are to be considered no longer in force.” The rules themselves, though strict enough to be more appropriate to Russian serfs than to Englishmen, are ridiculously inapplicable to a fighting force —especially one employed in the guerilla warfare we are obliged to wage—and evidently framed on a prophetic view of starched “bobbies,” with polished, boots and white gloves, stalking through the streets of a town. They smell of the station house and reformatory, their general tenor being to inculcate the doctrine that the Commissioner is a wooden idol or a golden calf, whom all must bow down and worship. The Commissioner may dismiss auy man without a reason. The officers are enjoined to pry into the men’s private affairs, and see what debts they contract, die. ; they are not allowed when off duty to play a game of cards; no officer is allowed to enter a public house, except on necessary duty—to preserve his character and respectability! A sort of Jesuitical espionage is enjoined on sergeants over persons in their districts; perfect neatness and cleanliness is a sine qua non.. (How neat Whitmore’s men 100 Iced after Ngatapa!) One rule is so remarkable that we give it in full—“ 235. On no pretence shall a constable enter any public house, except in the execution of his duty. Such a breach of positive orders will not be excused. The publican himself is subject to a severe fine for allowing him to remain in his house.” Now, who is this Branigan? Is he the King of the Colony, or what is he, that he sweeps away Acts of Parliament, Orders in Council, and established laws, like cobwebs, anh substitutes his sovereign commands '? Will the free colonists of New Zealand, who chafe impatiently at the slightest interference with their affairs by a long-descended English Earl, submit to be ridden over rough-shod byan Inspector of Police, pitchforked into a billet to purchase political support for the Government ? Or will they, with their dearly-bought experience to guide them, leave their lives and properties in the keeping of a man who could not take a company into action even were the battle-field the reclaimed land 1 Brauigan is seeking “ a greatness which will overwhelm him,” and the Ministry who support him are, like Frankenstein, creating a monster which will destroy them.