EVENTFUL LIFE

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 80, 1 October 1935, Page 7

EVENTFUL LIFE

CONSTABLE'S CABEEB

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

TAURANGA, September 30.

After having completed thirty-six years' service with the Police Force, C-mstable Arthur Skinner retired today. In Tauranga, where he has been stationed for twenty-six and a half years, he has earned the appreciation of the community for his close and able attention to duty. Born in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, Constable Skinner came to New Zealand when fourteen years of age, arriving at Dunedin by the New Zealand Shipping Company's Kaikoura. For a time he resided in Otago and early gained prominence in Caledonian games, winning numerous prizes for wrestling, tossing the caber, putting the shot, throwing the hammer, and in other field events. Of exceptional physical fitness he competed with distinction in Caledonian sports for about seventeen years. On the Auckland Domain on January 1, 1902, he gained six first prizes for throwing the hammer, weight throwing, tossing the caber, putting the shot (Scottish and Irish styles), and wrestling, creating a double world's record for throwing the hammer (161b 7oz) 167 ft llin, and for throwing the weight (161b) 40ft bin. At the time they were made these records created comment all over the world. AN ATHLETIC CHAMPION. At wrestling Constable Skinner met and defeated many champions. He drew with Harry Pearce, the Australian champion, after a contest of four hours at Auckland. When Carkeek, the world's champion heavyweight wrestler, visited New Zealand he met Constable Skinner at Auckland, and although Carkeek was four stone heavier he failed to throw his doughty opponent, although they wrestled for some hours. It' would take a volume to deal with Constable Skinner's athletic feats, and this will be realised when it is stated that he has triumphed, in. five hundred athletic contests and.has over one hundred medals. Constable Skinner entered the Police Department's training depot at Wellington in June, 1899, and being a physical culture expert, assisted Mr. O'Donovan, the officer in charge of the depot, and afterwards Police Commissioner, in the wrestling and jiu jitsu instruction of the recruits. ' He was transferred to Auckland in September, 1899, and after being engaged in street duty for some months was transfererd to the wharf police, doing duty for five years on the waterfront. During that period he saved four people from drowning and was granted one year's seniority by Commissioner Tunbridge, this being a very singular and' unusual, reward at that time. He also received special commendation from the Department for his action in rescuing two women from a boarding-house which took fire in Auckland. While stationed at Auckland Constable Skinner acted as physical instructor to the police, and as a result, of .his efforts was successful in having a fine police gymnasium estab-lished-in Auckland. .'He., was promoted to the detective branch in 1907, and.ilia'd.-many important cases .placed in hisihands. / ~ , .. .' . SEARCH FOR CRIMINAL., One interesting episode' in Constable Skinner's varied police career occurred in 1907 when he was detailed to assist Detective Broberg in the search tor a Maori criminal, Hare Matenga, who had been terrorising settlers in the Gisborne-East Coast district by his depredations. For several years this man had been able to evade the local police by hiding in the dense bush in the mountainous country between Opotiki and Gisborne. Eventually it was decided to dispatch Detective Broberg and Constable Skinner to make -a special effort to capture the offender, who was known to be armed. After about a week's search in the heavy bush country, during which they had to put up with many hardships and privations, they succeeded in tracing and arresting their man. In 1909, at his own request, Constable Skinner reverted to uniform and was given charge of the Tauranga station. In 1911, while travelling on the Main Trunk train, he attempted at great personal risk to save a young woman who fell off the train as it was slowing down at Ohakune station. Constable Skinner saw the woman fall, and while the train was still in motion he dragged her from underneath a carriage, but unfortunately she had already received fatal injuries. But that was not the last of the eventful journey. When the train reached Newmarket another serious accident was averted by the promptitude of Constable Skinner, who rescued a young woman who slipped and fell while attempting to board the train when it was moving out of the station. : Constable Skinner was detailed for special duty in Waihi during the strike of 1912 in Auckland at the waterside strike of 1913, at Huntly in the strike of 1914, and was a member of the expedition to the Urewera country in 1916. Another incident in which he took part was some years prior to coming to Tauranga, in 1901, when he was one of the party instrumental in quelling the Maori surveying dispute at Kaikoho, when a large number of Maori chiefs were arrested and held until all arms were brought in and surrendered. Constable and Mrs. Skinner were entertained tonight by the citizens at the Town Hall, among those present being the member for the district, the Hon. C. E. Macmillan.