Presentation to Mr Gillespie.

Manawatu Herald, 8 October 1898, Page 3

Presentation to Mr Gillespie.

Waen Constable Gillespie was rer/joved from here tbe leading Private and bnsiness people deoided '*> present him with a testimonial and one was drawn out and emgrossed and duly signed. Then the difficulty arose that by the rules of the service constable Gillespie could not have a testimonial presented to him. News baying come that Mr Gillespie had received the appoint ment to a similar position held here, it was determined by those who got qp the testimonial that it should, if oot presented to Mr Gillespie, be at any rate presented to one of his family, and tbis afternoon a number of gentleman waited on Mr John Gillespie, Jr. and handed it to him. The testimonial is as follows :— To Mr John Gillespie, Constable stationed at Foxton. Sir,— We the undersigned inhabi tants of Foxton have learned with much regret of your removal from this district. During the seeen years you have had charge of the Foxton Station you have always shown diligence in the discharge of your duties and have carried out all oases you have had with impartiality and fairness. As you were in charge during the period of what is known as the Flax Boom it goes without saying that owing to a large influx of, what must be termed, the undesirable Class, your duties were heavy, but owing to . your attention and activity our property was never better protected We beg to place on record that you have been one of the best Constables we have had in Foxton. We could not permit you to leave us without saying what our opinion really was, and we trust wherever you may be happiness and prosperity will always be with you and your family. Signatures.— J. B. Stansell, Mayor; the Beys. B. Young and James Duncan ; the local Justices of the Peace ; the Borough Councillors and leading settlers. Wo may as well add that on constable Gillespie leaving the town all the Justice of the Peace sitting at the local court signed a letter to Commissioner Tunbridge bringing under his notice the excellent manner he had conducted his duties as Clerk of the Court and the f fficient manner h3 had looded after the district. The Commissioner acknowledged the receipt by the following letter : — Wellington, 16th Dec. Gentlemem, — I have the honour to acknowledge, with pleasure, the receipt of your letter of last month, conveying the high opinion in which you held Constable Gillespie, during tbe^fne he was -stationed at Foxton, anei to inform you that the same has befeh recorded on his merit sheet. I am, &c, J.B. Tunbridge, Commissioner of Police. The Bench of Magistrates, Foxtoo. Jn summing up a case in tht Palmerston North District Court. Judge Kettle, a gentleman of the highest character, thus spoke ol Mr Gillespie :— " There was nr doubt constable Gillespie was keen —it was the duty of every constable to be keen and active. Constable GilleSpie was a man of exceptionable abirit* as a constable - a man who knew'his duty, and was prepared to do it regardless of consequences." At the Police Commission Mr Herbert W. Brabant S.M. at Auck land was examined and anfcd as to constable Gillespie and he replied " He was in charge of the Fox'on station and also Clerk of Court there during the time I visited Foxton as Magistrate. Well, he was certainly a very excellent clerk, almost as good a one as I have come across sb a police clerk."