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PRESENTATIONS TO MR. ST. J. BRANIGAN.

A public meeting wos held at the new Post Office Hall to-day at noon, for the purpose of presenting Mr St, John Bramgan late Commissioner of Police, with an address prior to Ids leaving this province for Wellington. The proceedings commenced a few minutes after the appo nted hour, and there wore about 300 persons present. Amongst the audience we noticed Messrs A. R. C. Sirodc and James Fulton, R.M.’s, T. Birch (Mayor of Dunedin); W. H. Reynolds, M H.R., M.P.G. ; Geo. M‘Lean, Provincial Secretary and Treasurer; G, Duncan, M-P.C.; W. D. Murison, R. B. Martin, A. Mills, J. T. XJiomson, J. N. Watt (sheriff), J. Anderson, J. L. Buttenvorth, G. Turnbull, J. S. Webb, W. M. Hodgkins, Rev. E. G. Edwards, J. Rattray, G. K. Turton, W. Johnson, 11. Howorth, L. Thoneman, J. T. Wright, J. H. Harris, A. A. Catamnre (Registrar of the Supreme Court), and R. Gillies. His Honor, who presented the address, said • —Gentlemen, —It is scarcely necessary for me to say that we have assembled on the present occasion for the purpose of testifying our appreciation of the valuable services rendered to this Province by our late Commis sinner of Police, Mr Bramgan. (Cheers.) I believe, had time and circumstances permitted, a meeting having this object in view would have h*scn attended by almost every man throughout the Province who has a regard for law and order—by every ipan who appreciates the inestimable benefit of protection to life and property. I believe this class is well represented here. In fact, this is a representative meeting, presided over by the highest elected representative officer in the Province in bis official capacity. I need not say what the nature and extent of Mr Branigan’s services to the Province have been. Those will speak for themselves. By their fruits ye shall know thorn—apd what have been those fruits ? The Province, in consequence of those services, has enjoyed comparative immunity fiom crime—from personal attack, and injury. Protection to life and property has been secured to a marvellous extent when we consider the heterogeneous nature of the population cast upon these shores during the gold excitement, I would like it to be understood that this is not reflecting upon the mining population, for I believe that there is not a more peaceful, law-loving, order-loving population than the miners—but during the gold discoveries the Province had a great many lawless men from other Colonies, and had it not been for the police force, there is no knowing wbat the consequence might have been. There is one phase of Mr Branigan’s services for which ho deserves the highest thanks. I allude to the share he has had in establishing the Industrial School and Reformatory at Lookout Point. We have to thank him very much for what he has done towards founding an establishment by which we can nip crime in the bud, and cut it off at its foundation ; ami I hope it will be the boast of the Province at some future time that there is no native crime in it, ajid what there is, has been imported. Although! obtain the credit of bringing that institution into existence and take a pride in it—in fact, although tho honor belongs to me, it is but right to state that I got the first idea of it from an official report of '1 r Branigau’a to the Government. In fact wc must gjvc him the credit for the management of the whole concern. Were there nothing else for which to claim it for that our gratitude should be ample. Although there are utilitarians who are inclined to look down upon what they call the pipe-clay system, yet if they can maintain the esprit de corps by means of it, even at the expense of a few hundreds it will be cheaply purchased, even if it were expended on pipe-clay. I need not detain you longer, hut will proceed to read the address to Mr Branigan. (Cheers.) His Honor then read the following address— “ To «St John Bramiigan, Esq., late Commissioner of Police for the Province of Otago, “ Dear Sir—We, the undersigned inhabitants of the Province of Otago, beg to express our sincere regret that your connection with the very'.iinp.yrt.auj; office which you have so ably and bouorirbiy filled during the past eight years .has terixiihafJ.S,'

“ To the skill which yon displayed in the organisation of our very efficient force, and the zeal and ability which has at all times characterised your conduct as its chief, must be ascribed the comparative repression of crime in Otago, and the consequent immunity (if the people of this Province from the evil and disastrous effects which in oilier places have resulted from the unrestrained influx of that class whose crimes and depredations have from time to time tilled the Colony with horror and alarm. “The police force of this Province lias not only frequently called forth the strongest expressions of approval from the highest judicial authoritiee throughout the Colony, but has been the admiration of all strangers visiting our shores. “ We feel sure that yoirwill, in the extended .sphere to which you have been called, bring to bear all the energy and talent which has distinguished your connection with the force of this Province, and that nothing will be wanting on your part to bring about that most desirable result—the pacification of the diturbed dis riots of the North Island. “ In conclusion, we cannot permit you to leave this Province without recording our high esteem and appreciation of your past valuable services, and wo tiust that your future career may be one alike prosperous to yourself, and btneticial tolho Colony. I believe this address 'will be suitably illu-. initialed and forwarded to Wellington after you are gone, and I understand copies of it will be distributed through different parts of tho Province during the next two or throe weeks. I have no doubt it will bo very generally signed. ( hcora.) Mr Buaxkjax, <n rising, was received with cheers, which continued for a few seconds. He said Your Honor and Gentlemen—l have to express my grateful thanks not only for this public recognition of my services as Commissioi.cr of Police during the many years I have filled that office, but also for the kind and generous feelings which have prompted it. The terms in which you have been pleased to speak of my public services arc alike flatteiingto myself and complimentary to the force which I have had had the honor to command. I can assure you that the success which has attended my efforts is mainly attributable to the excellent discipline and esprit de corps which has characterised every member of the force, and to thatt.no I ascribe the proud position I occupy here to day. I feel that the same spirit which has hitherto animated them in the discharge of their duties to the public will be continued, and that they will maintain in the future the reputation which you have been pleased to accord to them. With regard to the duties of the office I am about to fulfil I do not conceal from myself that they will, for a time at least, be attended with many difficulties. The expression of public opinion I have received to-day will encourage me to use the best means in my power to discharge them faithfully. I was not aware that any reference would be made to the Industrial Sobool. I may state that whatever occurs hereafter I shall look upon the establishment of that institution as one of the best efforts of my life. It is known throughout the Colony that liberal provision is made in Otago for the education of .all classes both rich and poor. This school is for tho education of those withdrawn from abodes of misery and vice who would have grown up in habits of crime. I visited this school since my return, and recognised children there whom I had known to be growing up in dens of infamy, and who, had it not been for this institution, must have grown up in vice and crime. Philanthropic and philosophic authorities have laid it down as incontrovertible, that it is better to maintain such children at schools of industry during their early years than to mahitain theip ip gaol hereafter. (Cheers.) The meeting then sppjprajted. PRES r STATION BY THE POLICE FORCE. These was a special parade of the City Police this afternoon at the new barracks, Maclaggan street, for the purpose of presenting an address and testimonial to the late Commissioner, Mr Branigan. 'J he men were drawn up in tfce library, and at three o’clock his Honor the Superintendent arrived, accompanied by tlie Provincial Solicitor, G. Duncan, Esq., M.P.G., A. Wilks, Esq., and J. Newton Watt, .Esq. (sheriff) ; and the party were received at the entrance by SubInspectors Percy and Dalglicsh. His Hovok said that it afforded him very great pleasure indeed to be the medium of ppesepting Mr Branigan, in the name of the officers and pjembers of the Otago Constabulary, with a very valuable service of plate, in recognition of his services ajs their Commissioner. He was sure it would be excecdingly gratifying to Mr Branigan to receive such a lasting recognition of tho esteem and respect with which he was held by the members of the force. He might say, that to his mind, the presentation spoke volumes as to the high tone of the Force, and their very satisfactory position. In fact, he did not know whether it was more gratifying to him (Mr Brauigan) as the head of the force or to those who had served under him. To his (the Swperiviteiitlent’a) mind it gave evidence of the possession of very high qualities on his (Mr Branigan’s) part—rare qna'ities, of being able to exercise considerable discipline, and at the same time command respect from those on whom that discipline was exercised. He was sure that the testimonial would be handed down by Mr Branigan to his children’s children, and the older it got the more it would be prized. He did not think he need say more, but would read the address, which was as follows : “ To St. John Branigan, Esq., Commissioner of Armed Constabulary, New Zealand. “ On the eve of your departure from the Province of Otago, we beg your acceptance of the accompanying service of plate, as a mark of the esteem in which you are held by the ipcmbers of the Otago Constabulary, and a slight tetitimppy of their appreciation of your exertions in its service, “ We would also assurc you of the cordial good wishes entertained by those who have served under your command for your future welfare, and success in your new field of action. “ On behalf of the force—- “ Tiros. H. Sincuck, “Sub-Inspector, Mount Ida district. “ S. M BADE DaLGLF.ISII, “Sub-Inspector, Dunstan district. “G. F. Percy, “ Sub-Inspector, Tuapuka district. “ S. Moore, “ Sergt.-Major Head-quarters Department. “And by eight non-commissioned officers representing tho various districts ” Ho might state in conclusion that the address paid not only a very high compliment to Mr

Branigan but to the force, as it was an evidence of their appreciation of that discipline which he believed had mainly made the force what it was, for without it the force would never have attained its efficiency. Mr Branidan, in reply, said that it was with a great deal of pardonable pride that he accepted this valuable testimonial from those with whom lie had served for so many years. His doing so was perfectly consistent with discipline, as it was a mark, ho believed, of the esteem in which he was held by the force. He need hardly say that one of the great regrets—and perhaps the greatest—he had experienced on leaving the Province was in severing his connection with a body of men with whom he had been so long pleasurably associated. In the North he had always heard the force well spoken of. It was doubly gratifying to him, on the occasion of his having the Province, to receive this mark of the esteem and respeot in which, as commanding officer, he was held by the force. Sub-Inspector Halgrrisii thanked his Honor, on behalf of the Province, for attending to present the address. The testimonial consisted of a very handsome tea and coffee service—emu inkstand, silver-mounted—emu claret jug and goblet, also silvor-mountod. The articles, which cost a little over LIOO, were obtained at the establishment of Mr N. Salamon, Princes street. The address is to be illuminated and will be forwarded to Wellington. To-morrow, Mr Branigna will be presented with a silver salver and stand, subscribed for by some of his personal friends. The articles, which wore obtained from Mr J. Hislop, Princes street, consist of a highly embossed oup, ami an elegantly chased stand. The cup and stand will bear the following inscription : “ Presented to St John Branigan, Esq., by a few friends, on his leaving Otago, 23rd Oct., 18G3. ” The articles will be on view at Mr Hislop’s, this evening.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD18691022.2.7

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2017, 22 October 1869, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
2,180

PRESENTATIONS TO MR. ST. J. BRANIGAN. Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2017, 22 October 1869, Page 2

PRESENTATIONS TO MR. ST. J. BRANIGAN. Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2017, 22 October 1869, Page 2

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