THE DISMISSAL OF SERGEANT KIDD.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1067, 29 April 1882, Page 2

THE DISMISSAL OF SERGEANT KIDD.

The Napier Telegraph appears to have cried peccavi regarding this matter. We do not think there is anything in it that need be concealedj being a plain statement of facts copied from a reliable leading journal. Anyhow we think it best to insert the following from the Auckland Evening Star as explanatory, and let the mattei* speak for itself :— The following telegram has been circulated through the newspapers of the colony by the Press Association : Napier, Tuesday. “ Sergeant Mahon hag, through Messrs Lee and Sheath, instituted legal proceedings to clear himself from the charges made by Kidd, late sergeant at Waipawa and Auckland. These charges were published in the Auckland Star, and subsequently reprinted by other papers, including the Napier Telegraph. They are to the effect that Kidd was requested by Mr Mahon to work for Mr Ormond at the late election, and was removed from Waipawa, and subsequently dismissed from the force in consequence of his refusal and determination to work for Smith. Most likely the proceedings will take the form of an action for libel. The Telegraph to-night apologises for having reprinted the article from the Star." The substance of our remarks on Sergeant Kidd’s dismissal is not given accurately in the above telegram, and and that there may be no mistake about them we reproduce the paragraph which bears directly on the dismissal :—

“ Kidd came to Auckland, and had not been here more than a few days before he had the misfortune to read an article in one of the local papers upon the gross mismanagement of the Police Department. The case of the hardly used constables was so well stated, and the deductions drawn were so true, that Kidd sent a copy of the paper referred to, to his Napier “ friend,” Sergeant Mahon, for publication in the local papers. The upshot was Kidd’s dismissal.”

We refrained from making the comment which must have suggested itself to every honorable mind, upon the despicable treachery of using a communication made in the confidence of jirivate friendship for the purpose of doing the too-confiding friend a fatal in jury. We hoped that Sergeant Kidd’s communication to Sergeant Mahon had fallen inadvertently into the hands of the Commissioner of Police, and we are quite prepared to receive from the Sergeant at Napier any explanation he may have to offer of his action in this matter. Bounce about legal proceedings, however, will not avail him with us so well as it appears to have done with the Napier Telegraph. Sergeant Mahon seems to be troubled with a short memory, and to refresh it we reprint below verbatim a letter by him to Sergeant Kidd asking him to use his influence to secure Mr Ormond’s return :— “Napier, 12th Sept., 1881. “ My Dear Kidd, — “ I owe you a thousand apologies for not dropping you a line before this, but the fact is I have been up day and night trying to decipher some of the burnt papers found with Rendle, in which I have been more than successful. I expected you and Mrs Kidd down last month, but I suppose you could not come. However, I hope you will try and come before Mrs Mahon’s illness. “ I fear * is still trying to do you an injury. The last time he was here he employed a lawyer to write to Mr Rolleston Do all you can to hunt him out of Waipawa. He is a great scoundrel, and the inspector is fretting for fear he may again have to

answer the villainous trumped-up charges.

“ I see our pay is to be reduced another sixpence. However, Mr Ormond has kindly consented to look after us, and has promised that next session he will do all that is possible to better our condition in pay and promotion.

“ I hear that Mr W. C. Smith is going to oppose him. 1 sincerely trust he won’t, for now that Ormond has joined the Grey party both body and soul, he is the only man in New Zealand that can put the lot out, and so do something for us. Smith is a very clever young man, and he has plenty of time to enter into political life, and I am sure he thinks too much of his party to oppose its leader at a very inopportune time for everyone.

“ Buchanan is sure to get in for Napier. Ormond will help him all he can. Russell will follow Ormond if he gets in for Waipawa, so that you will see what a complete smash will be made of the Government party in this province. “ I believe you are one of Smith’s best friends, and I think you would be doing us all an everlasting favor if you could influence him to withdraw and enable Ormond to do what he can for us this session or next. Mr Ormond and the Hon. J. N. Wilson have also promised to set at rest our claims to vote, and I believe he will be able to do so next election. However, you and Brosnahan had better send in your claims to be on the roll under sub-section two of section two “ Qualification of Electors Act, 1879.” 1 have done so. “ Will you see Mr Smith at once and coax him to retire, and if you succeed send me a collect telegram to that effect at once. However, in any case, 1 hope you will write me a long letter on the subject before Wednesday. Now that Mr Ormond has promised to be our friend, and the leader of our party, we should try and do everything for him. I feel sure that Mr O. will some day make ample amends for the offence he unwittingly gave Mr Smith. “ Kind regards to Mrs Kidd from Mrs M. and myself.—Yours, very truly, M. J. Mahon.” * The language used with reference to the person here named being libellous, we have deemed it prudent to omit the name.