Royal Commission report day 52 page 3
The Royal Commission evidence for 9/9/1881
(see also introduction to day 52)
[[../../people/peB/brookeSmithPinsp.html|Insp Brooke Smith]] giving evidence
17491 Did you at any time send for Twomey, who had received the information, to obtain his impression on the matter?— I might have done so. I cannot remember it.
17492 At any rate you treated the information as being unreliable?— I did.
17493 And you took no action?— Only to see if I could see the tracks.
17494 How long have you been in the service?— Since the 5th November 1852.
17495 As what did you join?— As cadet.
17496 At what salary?— I think 10s. a day.
17497 What are you receiving now?— I receive inspector's salary, £300, less £10, knocked off for guarantee.
17498 Do you receive anything else?— Quarters and groom allowance.
17499 What does that amount to?—£70 for quarters, and £10 for groom allowance.
17500 Are you married?— No, a single man.
17501 With the £10 knocked off, it makes your salary now £400 a year?— Yes.
17502 What age are you?— Forty-nine next April. I joined when I was a little over seventeen. I was appointed by Mr. Latrobe under Mr. Sturt.
17503 What retiring allowance would you be able to demand of the State?— I will be entitled to a pension in six years.
17504 And then how much would you be entitled to?— I must tell you I left the department in 1857 after an accident I had and came back in 1858—was re-appointed after eighteen months out. I am not certain, but I believe my allowance would date from the time I was re-appointed. I am not sure.
17505 Had your service been continuous, and you had now arrived at the age of fifty-five, what amount would be the retiring allowance?— About £200.
17506 Is there any special provision made for an officer when called upon to retire before that age in consequence of ill-health?— There is a gratuity, not a pension.
17507 A lump sum?— Yes, a very small sum-a month for every year's service. I might remind you that it was proposed that fifty years should be the retiring time, but it is not so, and I have done thirty years' service now.
17508 You have been suffering for some time?— I have a broken collar-bone now.
17509 If you were compelled now from this incapacity to retire from the service, would the gratuity enable you to spend your days with ease and comfort?— I cannot say that; I have means of my own' but they have only recently come. If the Government could see its way to give me a pension, I would very willingly accept it.
17510 Will you state frankly-you say if the Government were to do that: would you be kind enough to tell us, as you have not arrived at the age you are entitled to a pension, what amount you should receive if you went now?— I would leave that to an actuary, and take it according to age.
17511 I refer to a gratuity?— I think it is nearly £600.
17512 In lieu of that what amount would be satisfactory to you?— I would take £180 a year, what I began with.
17513 Taking everything into consideration, and seeing you cannot claim a pension for six years, if £100 was offered you would you not accept it?— I would rather have £150.
17514 You said just now you did not apply to the Delaneys yourself with regard to the information? —I do not remember the name of Delaney at all in the matter. I will tell the whole thing if you like.
17515 Here is an official document of yours, in which you say, “A youth (Delaney) states his mother called him up at 4 a.m. yesterday morning to see if his horse was being taken away. He looked out and saw four mounted men with hobbles on saddles, driving several horses at a rapid pace through One-mile Creek towards Peechelba road; no description can be given; may have gone to Warby Ranges.— 4th November 1878”?— I now remember. The reason why I did not put any faith in that boy's statement was that, if anybody knew those four outlaws well, he did, and he could not tell me who they were.
17516 I understood you to say just now you did not consult with him?— I did not consult Mrs. Delaney, but I had a conversation with the lad, and Twomey, and Walsh; in fact I sent Walsh down to make a special enquiry as to who they were. I asked of the lad who they were—if he knew them, and he said he did not know them; and I happened to know he knew all the outlaws well. ....
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