Royal Commission report day 51 page 6
Story of the KellyGang - the Royal Commission evidence
The Royal Commission evidence for 8/9/1881
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full text
(see also introduction to day 51)
[[../../people/peN_P/nicolsonPAC.html|Ass Com Charles Hope Nicolson]] giving evidence
17197 Where was that?— At Benalla, close to the township.
17198 As a matter of fact, did he keep greyhounds?— I believe he did. I do not reflect upon him for that. I might have kept them myself. I am very fond of sport and shooting, but I have never found leisure in the colony to do so. I do not think an officer of police has the time to do so, more particularly a superintendent of police. I do not know any superintendent of police about the country who has leisure for indulging in that pleasure. They have not the leisure for it.
17199 When you relieved Mr. Hare, did he show every disposition to give you every assistance?— Yes.
17200 There was no jealousy displayed till the second withdrawal-it did not show itself till then?— No; as you see from that. I have had my opinion of Mr. Hare , and so they all had.
17201 But you assisted one another?— Certainly. Up to the very lust I assisted him, and when met him I always met him courteously; but I was not intimate with Mr. Hare , and have not been for years, I was very often in the habit of meeting him. I avoided his society a good deal, I must admit that.
17202 Were you in the habit of visiting Mr. Hare's district to report, up to the time of the Kelly capture?— I have not visited there singe the period of the Redding matter. That is a matter I merely happened to come upon accidentally.
17203 Did you complain, when you went up a second time to the north-east, that you had not sufficient men in the district?— I did, in this way: Soon after I went up, the Chief Commissioner followed me up-the first visit he made to that district; when I went op he came up with a proposal to reduce the district still further, and I had a consultation with Mr. Sadleir on the subject, and we formed a resolution that we would not submit to it.
17204 But you were aware he was acting under instructions from the Government to reduce the expense?— Yes, as much as he possibly could; and, after enquiring into the matter, and seeing what we could do about concessions, and what reductions we could make, and, acting under the system I had decided upon, I resolved that I would rather withdraw from the district —that I would decline to reduce the force; but I think we did spare him one or two foot constables.
17205 And what you did complain of was that the seventy artillerymen were taken away and about twenty constables?--Yes; I do not complain about the twenty constables, because they were gone before I went there. I expect that is one of the necessities of the case; but subsequently to that he wanted to take more away, and we had the consultation I have spoken of, and I remember Captain Standish replying sharply.
17206 I see by this paper that in December 1878 they had 107 mounted troopers in that district and 74 foot constables?— Yes.
17207 That is 181 altogether?— Yes.
17208 In July your highest was, mounted constables 78, and foot constables 51; but they were higher in July when you took charge. They were then 76 mounted constables and 54 foot constables?— Yes.
17209 That is 130 as against 181?— Yes.
17210 Besides the loss of the artillery?— Yes; I believe there were about 50 or 70 artillery, not 30 as stated.
17211 That was 120 taken away, and you had 130 left?— That was all.
17212 They added half the number again while Captain Standish and Mr. Hare were there?— Yes. I may say also that, with reference to the men that even with a hundred men there are always a few men off duty through sickness. At one time we were short of six or eight, and these men left the district, and were replaced by cripples. They sent me up one man with an unset log, a cripple for life, and two men dying from consumption, and one did die there.
17213 Sent for that special duty?— Yes.
17214 Who had the selection of those men?— They were sent up from the Richmond depot under Mr. Hare. I do not know what explanation Mr. Hare makes about the matter-perhaps he can explain— but that is the fact that on that day I left there were about six men short. on the sick list.
17215 Who was responsible for the expenditure in the district during the time the search was going on?— I consider the officer in charge was.
17216 It appears that this Kelly business cost the country something like £50,000?— I have not seen that.
17217 There is only £1,226 secret-service money, and I should like to have the particulars of that?— I would draw your attention to the return in the evidence furnished by the Accountant of the Police Department. I think a reduction was made in every outlay during the time I was there.....
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