1862

The almost unparalleled success at the Lachlan have been circulated very freely through the city for this week past. To those rumours, although thoy cSmo to us from an unimpeachable source, we declined to givo pub- licity, knowing, from past exporionco, tho sad effects that result from raising up anticipations, too often doomed to disappointment,

Tho telegraphio despatch from our corre- spondent at tho Lachlan showed that there had boen somo foundation for tho report ; 11510 ounces of gold having boen forwarded thauco by tho .last escort, an additional 5000 ounces having been loft behind, in consoquenco of tho boxes not boing largo onough to contain thom.

Somo excitement was, no doubt to bo ex- pected on tho fact becoming known that thero had boon so ‘largan deposit; but it is at such times that the greatest caro is necessary in ordor that the strict truth, and tho truth only bo publicly circulated, and that persona should not bo led away by too glowing accounts, or statemonts too highly coloured,

As yet wo aro not in a position to say lho causo to which this sudden and largo increase is to bo Attributed.

We aro in possession ot tho fact that both on tho Caledonian and tho Canadian loads, tho proprietors havo struck gold, but in both instances it has leen since tho gold was lodged at tho camp, or at all ovonts co immediately before it, as not to havo left timo for wash- ing out.

It is probably owing to tho parties ou tho old lead having sot in to wash up tho dirt, which thoy havo boen accumulating. It ia tho custom of partios having claims that aro expected to turn out very rich to fonco thom in, as it is called-that is, when thoy sink on thoir claim, thoy at onco proceed to tunnel all round ita underground boundary, thus excavating oil the wash-dirt that adjoins thoir noigh Jiour’s boundary.

By this means they secure thomsolvosfrom encroachment, as if tho next party breaks through, tho fact at once becomes known. Where this ÍB not dono, tho wholo of tho wash dirt is excavated as rapidly as possiblo until nil is taken out, nono being washed up until tho wholo of tho gold bearing stratum is removed.

Wo havo it on tho boat authority that many of tho thoso bolos on tho main load Chavo been exceedingly rich, and tho owners of thom would 1)0 almost certain to secure themselves, by ono or other of lheso methods, and thus tho present largo amount sont -down by escort is accounted for.

At tho sauio timo it cannot bo denied that tbo prospects of | tho Lachlan gold-field aro most encouraging, and that I lhoy .will continuo to improve if no undue rush bo brought I about when this escort return becomes known.

Sunday. The Escort tokes down 7000 ozs. gold and £3700 cash, leaving behind, for want of boxes, 5000 ozs. and £2000. Mining and business generally improving steadily. Kain is now much requited, aa several of the puddling machines have been obliged to stop for want of water. Gardiner, the bushranger, is again on the road between this and Lambing Plat, and on Friday stuck up and robbed two drays, taking provisions and spirits, also clothing for his winter supply, as he termed it.

LACHLAN. 8 April ‘ The escort takes 8702 ounces gold, and £«376 cash.

All the gold and money deposited at’ the camp is taken by this escort. Our next returns will show the produce weekly. ‘ On ¡saturday we had a plentiful supply of rain,’ which was much wanted.

The township is a sea of mud. With a week’s rain the streets would be quit« impassable.

The roads leading here are described as having become very bad with the rain that fell last week. A nugget weighing 117 ounces has been found on the South lead, The Canadian, Caledonian, and South leads are the favourite ones.

Shares are ranging from £50 to £600. The population is considerably greater than it Was during my last visit, and is increasing by hundreds daily. The township ia extending rapidly, and busi- ness has much improved.

Thj population is orderly, and crime decreasing. ‘ Branches of the Commercial and Oriental Banka are established here, and the Bank of Near South Wales opens next week.

Our next escort will be a large one. Storekeepers and merchants will do well to forward their goods without delay, for with our present population the consumption must be great ; and in the winter it ia certain that carriage will be very high, the roads leading to this place being almost level and very boggy.

A Supplement to the Government Gazette, issued on Saturday last, contains the following appointments in the police under the Police Regulation Act of 1862. The police districts are not yet, we believe, defined, but the superintendents will be stationed in the places mentioned, being the centres of their respective districts.

lNSPECTOR-GENERAL. John McLerie, Esq. SUPERINTENDENTS. Mr. Henry Zouch (Goulburn). Mr. Laurence Hartshorne Scott (Armidale). Mr. William Chatfield (Campbelltown). Mr. John Aitcheson McLerie (Maitland). Mr. George Markham (Cooma). Mr. Thomas Broughton Carne (Deniliquin). Mr. Edric Norfolk Vaux Morisset (Bathurst). Mr. James Garland (Tamworth). Inspectors. Sir Frederick Wm. Pottinger, Bart. (the Lachlan). Mr. Critchett Walker (Braidwood). Mr. Frederick Robertson Wilshire (Scone). Mr. Edward Marlay (Albury). Mr. Edward Montague Battye (Lambing Flat).

SUB-lNSPECTORS. Mr. William Benson. Mr. Francis Augustus Blake. Mr. John Henry Hector Bruyeers. Mr. Arthur Hartington Abbott. Mr. Thomas Andrew Moore White. Mr. John Garda Hussey. Mr. John Devenish Meares. Mr. James Singleton. Mr. George Read. Mr. James Augustus Black. Mr. William O’Neill. Mr. Thomas Hogg.

SUB-INSPECTOR OF DETECTIVES. Mr. Charles Edward Harrison. In preparation for the coming into operation of the Police Regulation Act of 1862, a Code of Rules has been drawn up and issued by the Government for the management of the newly organised force ; a copy of these is to be given to every officer and man on join- ing the force.

It is generally known that the system now initiated is based partly on those in operation in Ireland and in Victoria ; and that certain portions of the system already existing in this colony are retained —the most important feature of the new organisation being, that the entire force is now placed under one central authority.

In drawing up these rules, the regulations which were considered the most important and desirable in the systems referred to have been either adopted or modified, and the result is a com- prehensive and compendious manual of the duties of officers and members of the police force, forming a neat octavo volume of nearly a hundred pages.

In- terspersed with the directions how to act in specific cases, are some judicious and valuable counsels as to the spirit and bearing which the members of the force should display in the general discharge of their duties ; their adherence to these counsels will effectually ob- viate the complaints which, whether justly or unjustly, have not unfrequently been preferred against the police.

As a supplement to these Rules, the Parlia- mentary Draftsman is engaged in the preparation of a digest of all the Acts or parts of Acts having reference to the duties of constables. We subjoin an abstract of the more important directions

:— The “Rules for the Police Force” are prefaced with a short introduction, which states that the rules have been established by the Government in order that the force “may be conducted upon one uniform system, and that its members may not be embarrassed in the execution of their several duties from the want of proper instructions,” the leading features em- braced by the system of police being “ centralisation of authority and unity of action.”

With reference generally to the manner in which the police will be required to perform their duties, it is stated to be “impossible to give precise directions for the execution of every duty which the police may be required to perform, or to anticipate every difficulty which the members of the force may have to encounter, as from the nature of the service its duties must vary, and consequently the mode of execution must vary with them.

Every member of the force should, there- fore, endeavour to become acquainted with the nature of the duty which he may be called on to execute, and, by individual zeal, energy, discretion, and intel- ligence, endeavour to supply the unavoidable defi- ciency of general instructions.”

Officers of police who are in the commission of the Peace are not expected to take Bench duty ; but where a magistrate is absent, or where another magistrate is required, they may sit, provided their doing so would be advantageous to the interests of the public.

They are not, however, to act judicially in cases in which any member of the police force is concerned. The officers and men are to be held accountable not only for the execution of all orders given them, but also for their acts in cases which cannot be pro- vided by the instructions ; and they are reminded that their exertions will be more advantageously directed to the prevention of crime than to its punishment.

A subsequent rule impresses on the force the necessity of discharging their duties with forbearance and civility, and advises them under no provocation to conduct themselves rudely or harshly, the efficiency of the force being greatly aided by their possessing the respect end confidence of the com- munity. B

oth officers and men are directed to observe neutrality in political matters, to cultivate a proper regard for the respectability and general character of the force ; and are informed that zeal and attention in the performance of duty will be rewarded, and that neglect or disobedience of orders will render the mem- bers liable to removal.

The members of the police force are divided into the following grades :-inspector-general, superintendents, inspectors, sub-inspectors, sergeants, constables, and aboriginal trackers ; the detective police consisting of a sub-inspector and constables.

The colony is, for the purpose of police supervision, to be divided into districts and sub-districts ; each district to be placed under the charge of a superin- tendent ; and all members of the force below the rank of a sub-inspector to be distinguished by a letter and number, indicating the district and the sergeant or constable wearing it. The depot, or head-quarters of the whole force is to be in Sydney, under the immediate supervision of the Inspector-General,to whom all applications for enrol- ment are to be made.

The conditions of enrolment specify that the appli- cant is to be under thirty years of age ; of a strong constitution ; able to read and write well, and provided with satisfactory testimonials of character. He is to understand that he engages not only for police duties, but for any work he may be ordered to perform.

Before enrolment, he is to be for three days on trial without pay. The oath to be taken on entering the force is the same as that hitherto administered, excepting that the allusion to secret societies is omitted.

In order to afford newly-appointed constables the means of acquiring a knowledge of drill, a number of supernumeraries will be maintained at the depot, so as to supply vacancies in the various divisions, these receiving while there three-fourths of the pay of an ordinary constable.

Constables are to be sworn in for one year, are to devote their whole time to the public service, and are forbidden to take gratuities without the express per- mission of the Inspector-General. They are to give three months’ notice before quitting the force, and are not to marry without the permission of their superin- tendent.

The whole of the accruing pay of dismissed constables is to be forfeited. Disobedience of the orders of a superior officer will be severely punished. The members of the force are reminded that they are accountable for their conduct to the Government and the officers of their department ; and “it is there- fore not only inexpedient and unnecessary, but directly opposed to orders, that individuals in the employment of the Government should have recourse to the public journals in order to defend themselves against any reflections cast upon them.”

The rules relating to discipline point out the neces- city of establishing a gradation of responsibility, so that every individual may know his duty and position. Orders are to be given in the language of moderation, and to be received with deference and respect.

The force is divided into mounted, foot, water police, and detectives. The mounted and foot police will be distributed amongst the various districts, and the officer in charge of a district is empowered to receive and forward to the Inspector-General applica- tions for additional police protection. The rules relating to Sydney premise that the city is divided successively into divisions, sections, and beats; and proceed to state the hours of duty, the various services required of the officers and constables, who are expected (whether on duty or not), to turn out on all such emergencies as fire, accidents, or dis- turbances.

There are to be no grades in the detective body, but there are first and second cliss detectives, the former receiving 3s. per day, and the latter 2s. per day in excess of the pay of an ordinary constable. The rules next following describe the general duties of the different ranks.

The Inspector-General has the entire management and control of the whole force under the direction of the Colonial Secretary, and all communications be- tween the officers and the Government are to be for- warded through him. The duties of the superintendent are those of con- stant and active supervision and inspection ; and he is responsible for the prevention of crime, the detec- tion of criminals, and the general preservation of peace within his district.

He is to attend every morn- ing at his office at nine o’clock, to hear complaints made against any of the men of his district. The duties assigned to the superintendent are very nume- rous, and much stress is laid upon his displaying ca- pacity, discretion, and good management.

The inspector is described as being in his division what the superintendent is in his district. He should be governed by the spirit and principle of the insti- tructions to that officer ; and will be held equally responsible for the execution of his own duties as well as tor the general conduct, discipline, and appearance of his men. He has to pay strict and prompt obe- dience to all the lawful orders and directions of the magistrates, and to report to them the results of all warrants and processes issued.

Amongst the various duties of an inspector are the following : -To take opportunities of drilling the sergeants and men ; to establish a system of patrols ; to inspect minutely the men, horses, arms, and appoint- ments ; to make himself and his men acquainted with the persons and haunts of all disre- putable characters in his division ; to keep an order book and an occurrence book ; and to make up a weekly-duty and a monthly forage return.

The duties of a sub-inspector are similar, but sub- ordinate to those of the inspector. In each district, and in the city police, in each division one sergeant is selected to become responsible for the conduct and appearance of the constables, and for the state of the barracks and quarters, the arms, ammunition, and appointments at the principal sta- tion in the district ; and also to a great extent for the drill of the men of the district.

He is to report any irregularity or neglect of duty on the part of consta- bles to the inspector, and represent that officer in his absence.

The rules for the guidance of the constables enforce the necessity of perfect obedience to his superiors, and of being ever on the alert for the prevention of crime and the protection of person and property ; though frequeutly acting on specific orders applicable to the occasion, he is very generally, in the execution of his duty as a police officer, called upon to act on his own responsibility ; he therefore requires discre- tion, intelligence, decision, and perfect command of temper.

“As it is of great importance that constables should be respected by all classes, and obtain their good opinion, they should be extremely cautious in their demeanour, and by sober, orderly, and regular habits, respectful attention to every gen- tleman, and ready zeal to execute the lawful orders and commands of the magistrates, endeavour to obtain their approbation.”

The constable is expected to pos- sess such a knowledge of the inhabitants of each house as to enable him to recognise their persons, and be enabled to render them assistance when called for ; and also to see every part of his beat in the time allotted. He is only to sound his whistle when he cannot in any other way obtain immediate assistance ; nor is he on any pretence to enter a public-house except in the immediate execution of his duty.

The rules relating to the officers’ uniform require all officers to be dressed alike, but to have a distin- guishing mark of their rank ; they are to provide their own uniform. The men are supplied with a uniform on entering the force. The prospect of promotion in the force is held out as an inducement for men of a good class to enter it, and to exert themselves while in it.

Though seniority, length of service, and good conduct, will have their due weight as recommendations for promotion, effi- ciency and adaptation for the particular vacancy will be the principal considerations. The applications for promotion are to be made through the usual official channels, and no officer is to receive any gift, address, or other token of respect from the men who have served under him.

Special rewards are to be given out of the Police Reward Fund for bravery or other meritorious con- duct; and rewards are also offered by the Government and private individuals for various services. These are to be divided according to the value of the services rendered, but no officer is to receive any part of the reward unless under special authority.

Provision is made for the infliction of punishments upon the subordinates by the officers under certain restrictions. The Inspector-General is alone invested with the power of dismissing a man. Superintendents, and inspectors having charge of districts during the absence of superintendents, may inflict a fine not ex- ceeding three pounds ; inspectors in charge of sub- . districts may inflict a fine not exceeding forty shil- lings ; sub-inspectors in a like position may inflict a fine not exceeding twenty shillings ;—the punishments in these cases being subject to the approval of the superintendent and the confirmation of the Inspector General.

Rules are next given, providing for leave of absence, for complaints, and for the supply of arms, ammuni- tion, and appointments. It being necessary that the Police Force should be able to act in concert as an armed body, instructions in drill are to be given. For this purpose the con- stables will be instructed at the depot in marching and the platoon exercises ; and those selected for mounted duty will be taught riding and the sword exercise.

They are, however, reminded that, “they belong not to a military, but to a civil force, and that unne- cessary military parade and show is discountenanced,” and that their principal object in exercises in the use of arms should be to render the force effective.

The rules following convey directions with respect to barracks, stables, horses, forage, escorts, patrols, duties at the watchhouse, conveyance of letters and despatches, and instructions respecting correspondence, reports, &c.

The second part of the Manual consists of “Gene- ral instructions for the guidance of the Police Force, issued by the Inspector-General.” By these constables are informed as to how they are to act upon informa- tion of the commission of felonies and misdemeanours, and in what cases they may arrest without a warrant.

The instructions also relate to the serving of sum- monses, to the procedure of constables in cases of violent or sudden death, and to the circumstances in which they will be justified in the use of arms. The volume concludes with rules for the distribu- tion and appropriation of the superannuation and police reward funds, and regulations for police pensions.

AN occasion has very fortunately arisen, just after the initiation of the now police system, for the administration of a public and strong rebuke, by the Colonial Secretary, as the ultimate and responsible head of the police department, to an officer high in the service.

Sir Frederick Pottinger, formerly a clerk of petty sessions, more recently employed in an offioial oapacity on the gold fields, and who has boen appointed one of tho inspectors of police under the new system, and a magistrate, was unlucky enough, in a quarrel in tho gambling room of a publio house, to assault a Mr. Watt.

Mr. Watt sued him for damages for tho assault in the District Court, and the whole particulars of the gambling scene came before the publio, and were duly reported in the local newspapers.

Our oolonial moralists have very frequently commented on the prevalence of the degrading vice of drunkonness in the colony. And they have had ample grounds for the statement, that it was the speoial vice of theso colonies, dragging down its hundreds and thousands of votaries to destruction, here and hereaftor.

But we have never observed any publio comments on the second groat vice of tho Australian colonies gambling. Yet it is as fatally prevalent as drunkenness, and corrupts the very vitals of our society.

Drunkenness corrupts principally the poorer men in our community : gambling consigns to perdition numerous victims from the middle and the upper ranks of colonial society.

To a man coming fresh from the non gambling life of England, nothing appears more striking, or more alarming, than the easy cool- ness with whioh jieople in those colonies speak of frequonting billiard rooms, and other gambling scenes.

Tho foot ia that habit Imo so inured’the colonists to the generality of the practioet that they do not regard gambling with any horror, fow of the non-gamblers even speak- ing of it as that fatal vice which it is thought in England.

Sir Frederick Pottinger has had the ill-for- tune-not to gamble, for that others have done, with impunity-but to drag his gambling habits into notoriety. And for nearly the first time within our colonial experience, of over twenty years, a publio rebuke has been deservedly ad- ministered to a high police officer, and a magis- trate, for frequenting a gambling room, and .pending hours in a publio-house.

We trust the preoedent now set by the Colo- nial Secretary will be rigidly followed up, and that in future policemen, high and low, fro quonting public-houses, and beooming well known (locally) gamblers and betters, will bo severely reprimanded, and the reprimands made publio through the newspapers (as now), or be dismissed the sorvico.

The majority of our police force, and most of their officers, have, we believe, been entirely free from the fatal habit of gambling-but the defeot of our practioo hitherto has been that where a policeman acquired the habit, and prac- tised it, although it might be well known in the locality, his superiors never notioed it in the way of reprimand.

Unless, indeed, as in the present caso, the policeman was unwise enough to so conduct himself as to force tho gambling ‘ scenes he shared into publio notoriety, and into the columns of the newipapcrs. Nothing will, we fear, absolutely cure the evil unless some vital chango comes over oolo- nial publio opinion in respeot to gambling.

So long as the repute of being a gambler-that is, of frequenting gambling places,-is held gene- rally as not seriously damaging a man’s charac- ter as a man of business, as a citizen, as a Chris- tian, so long will policemen naturally think it no great sin to do as their neighbours, provided they do not create any publio scandal.

The following is tho Colonial Secretary’s reprimand, as published in the Sydney daily papers of Wednesday : Colonial Secretary’s Office,

THE CONDUCT OF SIR FREDERICK POTTINGER.

THE following letter, conveying an official reprimand to Sir Frederick Pottinger, one of the police inspectors, on account of charges upon which he was recently found guilty in the District Court at Yass, was, yesterday, forwarded from the Colonial Secre- tary to the Inspector-General of Police

: — “ Colonial Secretary’s Office, “ Sydney, 25th March, 1862. “ Sir,—I am directed by the Colonial Secretary to in- form you that he much regrets to be obliged to address you in reference to the conduct of an officer in the police depart- ment which has recently been brought under his notice. “

2. In the public newspapers an account has lately appeared of proceedings in the District Court at Yass, in which Sir Frederick Pottinger was defendant, and a verdict was obtained against him for an assault under circum- stances which the Colonial Secretary feels bound to say were highly discreditable to that gentleman. “

3. In the rules established under the Police Regulation Act, officers, as well as other members of the police force generally, are cautioned against frequenting public- houses, and Mr. Cowper cannot too strongly impress upon them the absolute necessity which exists for a strict observance of this salutary regulation. “

4. It is impossible for the community to entertain any respect or confidence in officials whose conduct is charac- terised by proceedings such as those which it was proved in evidence disgraced the night when Sir Frederick Pottinger committed the assault of which he was found guilty.

To be occupied in gambling and betting during the whole night must unfit those who indulge in such un- seemly practices for the efficient performance of their duty. “

5. It occasions the Colonial Secretary considerable pain to be under the necessity of animadverting in such strong terms upon the conduct of an officer of whom he has enter- tained a high opinion, and who had just been promoted. But, considering the state of the country, more especially at the present crisis, from the large influx of diggers from the neighbouring colony and elsewhere, the officers whose par- ticular duty it is to protect life and property, especially at the gold-fields, cannot be too circumspect in their general behaviour, and the Government will feel called upon to visit with the severest mark of their displeasure those who may be found acting at variance with this principle. “

6. Mr. Cowper requests further that you will send a copy of this letter to each superintendent, in order that its purport may be communicated to the officers of the police force. “ I have, &c., “ W. ELYARD. “The Inspector-General of Police.”