Good old days of policing

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 244, 31 May 1988, Page 5

Good old days of policing

'Policing the River District 1886-1986' by Charles Spicer is a comprehensive history of the first 100 years of the Police in the Wanganui District. The area encompasses Ohakune, Raetihi, Waiouru, Horopito and National Park. The Bulletin this week features excerpts from these chapters. Ohakune: "Many stories are told of the 'good old days' o f Ohakune. Some are believable, some are not. Like one about a mayor who owned a large draper's shop during the dry years. He was good at making speeches

urging the police to crack on down on those criminal sly groggers, until one day an excited railways clerk rushed into his crowded shop, crying out, "Come quick Mr Butler, your drapery is leaking". It was well known that he kept his botlles hidden in the gumboots suspended from the shop ceiling and did a great trade in gumboots. There are also stories about Gardner and Adsett and the illegal liquor trade. With no Waiouru hotel, soldiers from Waiouru would visit Taihape on Friday night and Ohakune on Saturday night. This related to the times of

the main form of transport of the day, the trains. Ohakune Junction had shops open and put on a Saturday dance to attract the soldiers. Not that they needed much attraction as there were f e w women in Waiouru and most were married. The Ohakune liquor outlets

did a great trade with the troops as none dared compain when caught and the liquor confiscated. Up until 1953 it was a dry area and being caught was a horrendous crime, s o being let off with a warning kept everyone happy. Raetihi:

A local story tells of the speed with which Constable Wilfred George Conrald Haar of Raetihi could change his clothes when the necessity arose. One evening when he was off duty and drinking with some mates in the local bar, the hotel was

Good old ways of policing

From page 5 Constable Donald Harvey Claasen arrived at Waiouru in September 1952 and described the police station as being "a one room army hut with a three inch gap under the door for the snow to blow in as it will". A second police house built near the original and a larger office, both built in 1964, ensure the policemen at Waiouru are a far cry from that one room army hut with the three inch gap under the door. Horopito: Constable Alexander McLeod arrived in Horopito from Wellington in June 1908 as the first and

only policeman. he was well known for his swift dealing with local dealing with local brawlers o r troublemakers and many older and former residents remember him with respect, not only for his swift boot or hand, but for his gentle concern. He was kept busy with the usual liquor offences and the two-up schools. National Park: A lot of police work in the area during the 1960's and earlier. Both the illicit and legal trading took a lot of time on the part of the local police. I n many cased they knew the offenders, but knowing was not enough and obtaining proof could be a time consuming, disheartening business.

The next constable was John Joseph Charnley, and herein lie a mystery. Everyone locally called him Dave. A good swift kick to the centre of the seat of the trousers from Dave helped many a young man stay on the proverbial straight and narrow." a bit tardy in closing. A sergeant and constable from Taihape paid a surprise visit. No one was as surprised as the local men drinking with the constable. He moved so fast, no one saw him leave and he re-entered in full uniform before the sergeant and constalbe had started taking names. Constable William Douglas Feasey was a possum hunter on no mean repute and the smell of dead possums about the old police cell ensured a great reluctance amongst the young men of the town to avail themselves of a night's accommodation. Waiouru: Constable Strawbridge is remembered by older residents of Waiouru who say they can still see him standing just inside the bar door of the newly constructed Waiouru Hotel every night punctually at 6.15pm. He would quietly stand against the wall and watch the patrons leaving. The carpenters still working on the interior of the hotel wanted to cut a recess into the shelf along that wall so that he would tuck in neater. He was never known to imbibe.