Royal Commission report day 2 page 21
The Royal Commission evidence for 24/3/1881
(see also introduction to day 2 )
Assistant Commissioner Nicholson giving evidence
626 In your opinion, do you not think it probable that the want of harmony that should have existed between the officers at the head of the police force at this time that failure which occurred is to be attributed more to that cause than any other cause?- Not up to then-not at that time.
627 How many years have you been in the service?- Nearly thirty years.
628 What position has Mr. Hare among the superintendents?- There is Mr. Winch, Mr. Chomley, Mr. Chambers, and then Mr. Hare-He is the fourth.
629 You being, up to this time we speak of, Inspecting Superintendent; that is the legal term of your position under the regulations?- Yes.
630 Did you, in that position, constantly visit and inspect the stations under Mr. Hare's charge, and were you in constant communication with him?- No.
631 Were you on unfriendly terms with Mr. Hare?- No.
632 Was your position with Mr. Hare as strained as with Mr. Standish up to that time?- No, Mr. Hare was a man (excepting about ten years ago) that I had very little communication with. I only inspected his district once.
633 Did you communicate anything about your opinion on the Kellys to Mr. Hare on his assuming your place, or at any subsequent time?- No, I had no communication with Mr. Hare.
634 There has been a strained feeling between you and Mr. Hare for some time?- No; we had been as acquaintances friendly enough, but no intimacy.
635 Did you accompany Mr. Hare to capture Power?- No, he accompanied me; I was the superior officer.
636 And you went there-that is some years ago?- Yes, that is about ten years ago.
637 In this same district?- In the Benalla district.
638-9 You did not communicate with Captain Standish, the Government of the day, or Mr. Hare, any information that you had learned by your experience as to how the Kellys would be best captured till you resumed duty?- I did. Any information that came to me or I could gather I forwarded them on to Captain Standish. Some of this used to be returned in a contemptuous manner, and often the only allusion he made as to some information I had sent him would be to sneer at it.
640 That was between the 12th September and the 6th July?- Yes.
641 And during the whole time, in any of those communications you had with Captain Standish, you never expressed the opinion that they were pursuing the wrong course?- I did not do so officially. It was not an uncommon expression on my part on that subject.
642 Was it in consequence of the feeling between you and Captain Standish that he abstained from communicating with the Government the opinion you all formed as to the mode of procedure?- It was not; nor from any feeling between Captain Standish and myself that prevented me from communicating with him; but at the time that I left I was too prostrated to do so, or to think of it; and from Captain Standish's manner towards me when he visited town it drove anything of the kind out of my head. I would not have presumed, under the circumstances, to have offered any suggestion whatever, as it was subjecting myself almost to insult.
643 Then there must be something in that question I asked you, that it was in consequence of the discourteous manner that you withheld the information?- I say I might have thought of it, and would have been only glad to give the benefit of any thought that came into my head, but that prevented it.
644 You had arrived at a certain conclusion before you left on the 12th, that if the search party had failed you would take another course?- I did not say that exactly. I would have tried something else. . .
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