HEROISM IN "THE FORCE.'

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 377, 15 June 1889, Page 5

HEROISM IN "THE FORCE.'

It is fashionable to poke fun at the harmless, necessary policeman, and to represent him as shirking all dangerous and unplea" sant tasks and possessing no higher ideal of duty than is contained in ordering naughty little boys to " move on," or acting as knight errant to soms greasy area belle. Occasionally, however, we meet Avith examples ot devotion on the part of policemen which entitle them to be ranked as heroes of the highest order. Such an example was aliorded by the story which we published yesterday of how young David Sutherland met his death, at the call ot duty, from the revolver of a Sydney ruffian. "Faithful unto Death " might well be inscribed in golden characters on his tombstone, for he stuck to his duty till seized in the srrasp of the grim Destroyer, while his life-blood streamed over the murderer, and was the means of leading to his arrest. New Zealand colonists may well feel a thrill of satisfaction when they read that Constable Sutherland was a New Zealander by hiibh. He deceives to receive all tho honour which is accorded to the brave soldier who dies on the field of battle. He fell, it is true, by the bullet of a miserable cowardly ruffian — one of the lowest type of marauders who infest large cities ; but none the less he died bravely, fighting for the protection of society and the maintenance of civil order and security. There need be no fear that the British race will degenerate in these sunny Southern lands so long as New Zealand can produce men of the stamp of David Sutherland ; and while it is to be deplored that his lifo should have been taken by a human beast of prey, it may be hoped that his death may prove a noble and inspiring example to men and women in every sphere of life— an example ot devotion to duty regardless of all considerations of personal ease or safety. Constable Sutherland, as we have said, deserves all the honour that can be bestowed upon one who died at his post. He appears go have been a frugal and prudent young man, as he had money in the bank, and had insured his life for £250. Wo do not know what may be the social standing of his widowed mother ; but if she is at all in straitened circumstances, it ought to be the pleasure of the New South Wales Government to vote her a handsome sum of money to compensate her ever so slightly for her irreparable loss. " A noble mother must have bred so brave a son."