The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 1870.

Dunstan Times, Issue 435, 19 August 1870, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 1870.

Beneath the Rule of Mon entirely just the pen is mightier than theswoßD

The perpetrators of the gold robbery are at last in custody, and with a trifling exception, the whole of the treasure is safe. Such culpable negligence on the part of the Provincial Government in providing no secure place to keep safely such a large amount of valuable property is positively criminal, the most ordinary precautions were not taken, and such a temptation to steal, probably never before in the history of the Province presented itself, and the wonder is that the robbery of the gold under escort did not take place long since. When so much treasure was deposited in an insecure building, it should have been guarded by at least two constables, who should have kept strict watch and ward both night and day, in no case leaving their posts until relieved by others of the force. There can be no doubt but that the late filling up the vacancies at reduced salaries, coupled with the knowledge that a general reduction would take place on the first of September nexthas tended considerably to lower the morale of the force, and with this warning it is to be hoped that the Government will reconsider the matter, and not make the reduction with old and well tried servants, better pay the Police a shilling extra per day, than suffer property and probably life to become insecure. The police have always maintained their character for efficiency and honesty, and it would be a pity tha< because of a little cheeseparing economy, a most valuable arm of the public service should decom** disorganised. In ferreting out the robbers, the detective force appears to have been sadly at fault, and had not private investigations and suggestions favored it. the discovery, would in ail probability not have been made The thanks of the community, and we should hope a large proportion of the reward are certainly due to Mr. Lines of Arrowtown, while Messrs Arndt and Barker of the ame place deserve sour thing supplying the connecting links, and we should hope that such disinterested endeavors to bring the perpetrators of the crime to justice, as well as to recover the property will not go unrewarded, that isj taking

out Arrow "coTTespondent’s letter for granted, the correctness of which there is little room to’doubt.