PRESENTATION TO A POLICE OFFICER

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 95, 15 January 1921, Page 7

PRESENTATION TO A POLICE OFFICER

INSPECTOR EMERSON HONOURED

In th? billiard room of the Central Police Station on Thursday all the police officers who were off duty assembled, in order to honour Inspector A. 1. Emerson, who unlfl a few weeks ago was sub-in-spector here, and who is now stationed ut Whangarei. ■ Sub-L>spector J. C. Wi - lk presided over the gathering, and called upon Inspector W. B. M’llveney to make the presentation. The inspector stated that they had met together to say good-bye to their good frienu, Inspector Emerson. Inspector M'llveney said 16 was twenty-eight years ago that he first met their guest in Invercargill, and they had come m contact with one another on several occasions since, and during the whole of Ghat period they had been on tho most, friendlv terms. Mr. M Ilveney then presented tho inspector with a gold chain and pendant, the latter suitatoy ■engraved, and in doing so said Unit it was. an expression of t'he good will and admiration of the force not only in WcL lington, biit. throughout the Wellington district. Inspector Emerson was thoroughly appreciated for his. many good qualities. and ho might almost! say that tho inspector had won the affectionate regaid of all the men in the force. Chief-Detective A. E. S. Ward, SeniorSergeants C. W. Lopdell, E. W. Dinnie, and M. Gaffney, and Constable W. Nixon also spoke in warm admiration of the sterling qualities of dhe departing inspector. . .. Inspector .Fmerson, in responding, thanked the donors for the kindly thought that prompted tho gift. He was sorry to leave "Wellington, bull there was no help for it, if one wished for promotion and advqjicement. lhe proceedinge concluded with cheers for the gudst and for'lnspector M'llveney end ' Sub-Inspector Willis. v" CONGRATULATIONS FROM BENCH AND BAR. The proceedings at tho Magistrate s Court were delayed for a short while yesterday morning to enable' Bench and Bar to congratulate Inspector Emerson on his recent promotion and to .bid him farewell on the occasion of his transfer to the north. Mr. W. G, Riddell, S.M., and Mr. 1 1 . K. Hunt, S.M., were on the bench. Mr. H. F. O'Leary said that before the ordinary business of the day commenced he desired, on behalf of the legal profession, and particularly those who prac-. tised in that Court, to say a few words ■to congratulate Inspector Emerson and to bid . him farewell. Mr. Emerson had been with them for a period of five years, first as a senior-sergeant, and then as a-commissioned officer.- In the latter ■ position he had. been in Court almost every day, and had been brought into close contact'with the legal practitioners of Wellington, and when they heard of ihis promotion- they know it, was well merited. At the same time they realised that his promotion was a matter for.regret, because they knew-that it meant that ho would be -removed' from .their ,midst. From .their experience of’ Inspector Emerson ho could say that he was regarded by them’ in the highest esteem and' the greatest; respect. . Air. O’Leary said he was voicing the sentiments of the legal practitioners and of the "cncral public when he stated that no ond could have been fairer than Mr Emerson, when presenting .- a ' case against an accused person. The humanity of the man was most pronounced, and he was one of the niost courteous of ' men. Ho had by his courtesy nnd kindness placed many members of the legal professkffi in a better position to do the best for their clients. ' It was their intention to have presented Inspector Emerson with a substantial sum of money, but he had since discovered that that was against the Police Regulations, mid they would therefore use the money for buying something suitable for Mr. Emerson’s new home in 'Whangarei. Mr. W. G. Riddell,, on behalf o r - the Bench, said he desired to '(.'oiigriibilnte Inspector Emerson promotion. He first met Inspector Emerson in Invercargill many years ago, when he was a mounted constable, and he was regarded then as a very promising constable. During the war a great deal of work fell upon the police, and especially the senior officers and tho Inspector took his full share of that work. He thought his promotion was well deserved. On behalf of the Bencli he congratulated 'nspector Emerson bn hie promotion, , and hoped that he' would' do as good work in his nbw district as be had done in Wellington. Inspector Emerson briefly thanked the speakers for their flattering remarks. He admitted that he, could not have made any success of .his work in Wellington had he not had the support of the membe're of the Bor arid the Bench.