CONSTABLE RHODES.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 157, 31 January 1868, Page 2

CONSTABLE RHODES.

(To the Editor of the Westport Times and Charleston Argus.) Sib, —It certainly does seem as though this officer was born to trouble of one sort or other, for he is regularly subjected to a series of attacks for alleged malpractices in his vocation, but the, most singular fact is that nothing is ever proved against him. A few months ago a butcher, with a saddle on his back, who was prowling round the town at 2 o'clock in the morning, peeping in at hotel windows and otherwise conducting himself, to say the least of it, suspiciously in the eyes of a stranger, was arrested by Rhodes, as he declined to give any account of himself. He was indignant, wrote a letter to the local paper, which was replied to by a friend of the Constable's, and on the facts being properly explained the butcher went to the wall, and Ehodes's conduct was shown to have been no more than what that of any zealous member of the

force ought to be. Another grievance has now cropped up, and the Chni-les-tonians, after having enjoyed a long immunity from police interference, are indignant at having an active Constable amongst them. In one case, judging from the case stated, Rhodes seems to have made some mistake in the arrest of Mr Evans, what it was I do not know, as the correspondence in which the " indignation meeting " is chronicled does not give any particulars. Granting, howover, that this was so, is one error sufficient -cause to get up an " indignation meeting." As to the interference with business people, the Resident Magistrate would be a sufficient shield against any illegal or improper interference, and if Rhodes, or any other constable, was to be guilty of it, he would soon be brought to his bearings far more effectually than he can be by any " indignation" so absurdly expressed. Now, the real fact is this—a Mr Drury, a lawyer's clerk, who acts as pseudo counsel under the mantle of Mr Dodd, (who by the way, has recently immigrated to the Thames goldfields under pressing circumstances) wishes to render himself famous; and as his electioneering efforts in this direction have not succeeded as well as he could desire, has turned his attention to the police in general and Rhodes in particular. Now, we know that if one will open a cry a. whole pack will follow suit, and as police are not always popular with a certain class it is a true cord for a popularity seeker to bark at them. This gentleman seems to be the top, bottom, and sides of their movement, the Alpha and the Omega, the pariah pump to spout a volume of grievances in which Rhodes is inextricably bound up. He draws the petition, he obtains signatures, and of course his conduct is not rewarded with anything substantial. Mr Drury stands out in the position of public accuser, the police being the object of his attack. I happened at one time to be in a place not one thousand miles distant from Cobden, when this self-elected police prosecutor was humping his swag along the coast en route for Charleston. He was footsore, hungry, and tired; he was without means to pay for his food or shelter, when he fortunately, for himself, met with a police constable who hid known him elsewhere, under what circumstances lam not aware. The constable asked permission of his chief to invite Mr Drury to dinner as he was hard-up. The request was heartily acceded to by the man in question, who is now resident in Westport, whose hospitality he may have from time to time shared. Whilst sitting at dinner Mr Drury, in keeping with the old fable of the dog that bit the hand of the man lifting it out of the well, commenced with the gentlemanly feeling and good taste for which he has since been so distinguished, to rail at and take exception to the conduct of the gentleman who was his host, and ultimately, so offensive had he become that it was necessary to eject him. The friendly constable taking pity on him, notwithstanding these offences against the ordinary usages of society, went to a leading hotel where he secured quarters for the night for the said Mr Drury, Between the time of reaching the hotel and going to bed, this gentleman managed to quarrel with nearly every one in the house, and ultimately on going to bed, he so misconducted himself that the landlord complained to his friend the policeman for bringing such a guest to the house. I omitted to say that when turned out of the gaol he threatened all kinds and manner of punishment to the indignant host, and boasted in the first place of his intimacy with. " Kynnersley" (sic) ; and in the second, that he (Drury) had already dismissed two policemen in Hokitika, and would serve the man whose meal he had just been eating, the same concluded by saying, "by Q- d, you may look out for yourself, as you have me for an enemy." Comment is superfluous ; but that Charleston people should run a drag when such an individual as this trails the herring, is to me extraordinary. If any solid ground of complaint could be shown against Constable Rhodes or any other officer, why do not the business men of the place come forward and state their complaint in a manly way ? and not put forward a man who, beyond a certain gift of the gab and perfect indifference which side he takes, has no recommendation, position, or influence. It will, I feel sure, take stronger reasons than the " police prosecutor,** and self-styled friend of "Kynnersley" has, as yet, adduced to bring the shadow of a reprimand on Rhodes, or a chance of removal from present quarters. If the chief accuser, is Drury, the authorities will scarcely care about investigating the case. I am, &c, An Old Cobdenite.