POPULAR POLICE OFFICER

Otaki Mail, 5 June 1922, Page 4

POPULAR POLICE OFFICER

CONSTABLE M'ANBKIN RETIRES. After forty-one years in the New Zealand Police Force. Constable W. H. M'Anerin, who has been stationed at Karori for nearly thirteen years, is retiring on superannuation. During his many years', service, Constable M'Anerin has passed through some stirring episodes. Joining the Armed Constabulary on Otlt September. 1881, he served in No. 5 Company under Captain Gordon, and was a participant in the raid at Parihaka. With i others, he was afterwards transferred Ito Pukearuhe (White Cliffs), and in 1884. he took up civil police duty in ' Wellington for five years. Constable | M'Anerin in 1692 wont to Westport, | where he was stationed lor nearly a ' year. About this time New Plymouth was troubled w.th house-breakers, and people were also being bailed up and robbed, s 0 Constable M'Anerin was seat up there to arrest the offender. He remained in New - Plymouth from 2Sth April, 1893, until loth April, 1596, when, owing to drunkenness and disorderly conduct amongst Natives and Europeans in the King Country, the Police Department decided to open a station at the Mokau. To this station Constable M'Anerin was detailed for duty, and many and varied were the experiences he had. At that time the country was roadless, and there were no bridges. There was no other constable nearer than Waitara, which was 47 miles away, and Constable M'Anerin uii long journeys very often had to ford rivers through quicksand, and pas' around dangerous points on the sea const. In April, 1904, he moved to Otaki. and on -7th May. 190 S, he came back to Wellington, being appointed to Thorudon-quay. Constable M'Anerin was stationed at Thorndon-quay until .".id August, 1909, when he was transferred to Karori, where he has served ever since. At a social-gathering last Tuesday he was made the recipient Of a valusble presentation.