New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4991, 22 March 1877, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1877.

The Otago Daily 'Mines has been much exercised over the mode in which it is proposed for the: future to manage the police force of the colony. Two leading articles on the subject have appeared in the Dunedin paper, in its issues of the 23rd of January and 13th of March respectively. These - articles are pretty long, whilst their objects are petty and short. They contain a great many words, but in reality exhibit but two small ideas : the first that Mr. Weldon, the chief officer of the Otago constabulary, is a species of seraphic policeman, a perfect cherubin of a bobby, and that his merits have been shamefully disregarded by the Colonial Government; the second, that there exists in Wellington, in shape of a clerk or something in the Armed Constabulary Force, a perfect fiend in human form named Fox, who orders Ministers and Colonel Moole about, and does just as ho likes in every respect. Mr. Weldon in person, may bo familiar to some people in Wellington. Ho attended the recent conference of Commissioners of Police, and is a highly dignified looking gentleman, who, so long as he has himself for company, will never bo without sufficient estimation of his merits. The Otago Daily Times finds in him an incarnation of all that is to_ be most admired in policemen, and proclaims

the Otago force under hi* to have reached a sublimity of perfection that entitle* all its members ,tb canonisation at the least. Of course it is not for a moment to be supposed that Mr. Weldon has had anything tb do with the pieana sung in his praise. He may be ambitious to command the whole: police force of the colony, but he cannot have influenced the Daily Times to write on his behalf. Because, had he done so, he would have taken care that the newspaper af least waa accurate in its statements as regarded him. . We are assured of' the Otago police‘force, for instance, that “born under the care-of:Mr. Branitgan, and of late years nurtured by Mr. Weldon, it had become a pattern to the world.” That Mr. Branigan, with excellent material at his command, made the force an admirable one, is admitted. That it has deteriorated since his departure from it is merely true. It may be a pattern to the world, but not of the nature described by the Daily Times. It is not long since the brutal of some of its members, towards inoffensive persons was made the subject of magisterial investigation, and became the talk of the colony. It may, as times go, be a tolerably good force, but to talk about its being a pattern to the colony is simply nonsense. The Otago Daily Times may think it perfection, and consider that Mr. Weldon should get command of the colonial police force, but no one outside a few prejudiced people will agree with our contemporary. The hatred of the Daily Times to Colonel Moule and to Mr. Fox, the latter of whom it considers a Machiavel in a policeman’s coat, may be seen from what follows. It says of them—“ We do not hesitate to pronounce the appointment of Colonel Moule, with the full .and despotic powers which he possesses, as the greatest blunder a Government could possibly have committed. We believe that he has a Mr, Fox for a clerk, who gained some little experience as a police officer here, and who now directs Colonel Moule’s ignorance, and whose interest it is, of course, to manage things all from Wellington. This may be very pleasant for Mr. Fox, but the result of his first move will be simply disastrous to the peace-loving people in Otago.” This is sublime folly. In the first place, the appointment of Colonel Moule effects a saving to the colony, as he will receive no increase of salary. In the next place, the statement that Mr. Fox directs Mr. Moule, is sheer nonsense. The assertions of the Daily Times about Mr. Fox made us curious to ascertain who he was, as it became evident that the community had a jewel in its midst, with the value of which it was unacquainted. It seems that Mr. Fox is simply in the clerical department of the Armed Constabulary, and has naturally and properly about as much to do with the command and control of the force as the cook of a ship might have with its navigation. But apart from this the Daily Times might have done Mr. Fox justice, for it is well acquainted with his career, that career being a creditable one. Mr. Fox was an inspector in the constabulary at Home, and served there for five years. He subsequently joined the Otago police under Mr. Branigan, and served there for seven, quitting it, with Mr. Branigan, when that gentleman took command of the Armed Constabulary, and receiving a high testimonial from.its members. But it is to bo presumed that having quitted Otago, and his official duties having unfortunately settled him in Wellington, he has now become a thing abhored by the Daily Times, the editor of which seems to think that the police force of the colony will be . centred here, and. merely an odd constable or two sent North and South. The fact is that there will be no centralisation as regards the police. Colonel Moule will of course, when not absent on duty of inspection or otherwise, reside here, and so far as returns and similar matters are concerned Wellington will form a centre. But, as we pointed out when we announced the arrangements . under which the police were in future to be maintained, there will be no augmentation of force for tKe benefit of Wellington, and there will be no deprivation of police protection in any part of the colony. It is true that like the Victorian force ours will become quite free from local influence—a consummation in the case of Otago devoutly to be wished, where we are forced to conclude there is a kind of scratch ray back and I’ll scratch I 'yours sentiment as regards the Police and one portion of the Press,