Royal Commission report day 48 page 9
The Royal Commission evidence for 1/9/1881
(see also introduction to day 48)
'Sup Francis Augustus Hare giving evidence'
16406 You mentioned in your statement that you have never got any promotion, or that your promotion has come very slowly?— I got none but my ordinary promotion from that time. I may tell you that I was once put over the head of Mr. Nicholas , the superintendent in charge at Stawell, now in the Wimmera district. I was put over him and made a superintendent before him. It was years before the Kelly business—that was in 1865.
16407 Was it any better position for you to be in the Depot than to be out in a country district?— No, not at all. I liked it better; at least it was the head-quarters of Captain Standish , and he visited the place twice a week, but I got no extra pay for it. I did for a year get £100 a year, but my successor also got it. When I went home Mr. Ramsay gave it to me, and Mr. Winch retains it to the present day, as we were supposed to have the greatest number of men and the greatest responsibility.
16408 Are there not quarters and attendance in that to make up something?— Nothing. The officers in charge—Mr. Sadleir, Mr. Nicolson, and Mr. Winch—received the £100 a year extra beyond their pay, and I had Government quarters, and got nothing out of it.
16409 Do you remember when you came back from Europe , it was in 1878?— Yes.
16410 I see there was an order made that you should take charge of the Ovens district?— Yes.
16411 Mr. Berry put a memo. on, “Superintendent Hare to go to the Beechworth district”?— Yes.
16412 Did you go to the Beechworth district?— I did not. May I state the whole circumstances of the case. I applied for twelve months' leave of absence, for the purpose of going to Europe , to the Chief Secretary of the day, Mr. Macpherson . Previous to doing so I asked Captain Standish if he would recommend it. He said, “Yes, I will the leave of absence, but you must make your own arrangements about returning to the Depot.” I said, “Very well.” I went up to Sandhurst, and I saw Mr. Chomley, and I said, “I have got an opportunity of going to Europe, on twelve months' leave; will you take my place at the Depot whilst I am away and give it back on my return, because, unless I can get it back, I do not think I will go.” He said he would, and took charge of the Depot. On my return Mr. Chomley was fully prepared to give up charge, and carry out my agreement, but Mr. Berry ordered me up to Beechworth. I asked Captain Standish to point out to Mr. Berry the agreement that had been made between Mr. Chomley and myself. He said he had done so. I said, “Will you ask Mr. Berry if he will allow an interview with him,” and he said, to “Mr. Berry did not want to see you; you must go to the Ovens,” and he said he could not assist me in the matter. Then, I said, “I will ask some private friends to interest themselves.” Subsequently, I got a letter from Mr. Chomley , offering to carry out the agreement between us, and I sent it to Mr. Berry ; and Mr. Chomley offered to go to Beechworth himself, and I go to the Depot, and upon that Mr. Berry agreed to that.
16413 Do you remember why Mr. Chomley objected to go to Beechworth at first, and afterwards agreed to go?— No; he did not want to go to Beechworth; neither did I ;but he wanted to carry out his contract with me, and he gave me this in writing.
16414 I see that it is between the 8th and 19th February 1878 that Mr. Berry made the altered order himself. What was the nature of the pressure brought to bear on him?— I spoke to two or three friends, and spoke to Sir George Bowen, and asked him to interest himself with the Chief Secretary. I was out shooting with Sir George Bowen on two or three occasions, and in course of conversation told him I was going to Beechworth, and if he could do anything I would consider it a great favour.
16415 What is the nature of your objection to going to a distant district, instead of remaining in town?— Because I have been accustomed to the district and know it. I have it in very good order, the men know me, and I would have to begin afresh if I went up to Beechworth. It takes three or four years to get accustomed to the men.
16416 When you were allowed to remain in town, and Mr. Chomley sent to Beechworth, I see that he was a first-class superintendent at that time, and you were a second-class?— Yes, he had been at Sandhurst for very many years. He did not wish to remove from there, because I remember suggesting once that he should apply for a certain district, and he did not wish to leave Sandhurst .
16417 This was a matter of arrangement between you and Mr. Chomley?— Entirely a private arrangement, sanctioned by the head of the department. I think that now these things are being looked up against me, and a number of officers giving evidence against me, in that case you should call for papers about other officers being removed, and everything else.
16418 Do you think, from your knowledge of what occurred in the North-Eastern district, that your bringing your own men from the Bourke district to that district had any effect in causing jealousy throughout the force?— No; there were men from every district in the colony brought there; and I, knowing my own men, preferred my own men when I went up there naturally.
16419 You in your evidence said a constable, sixty miles away, had informed you about Mr. Nicolson's cave party; could you give the name of that constable?— As I said before, I can give it.
16420 I think you ought to give it. I may say there is an extraordinary delicacy shown about men by the officers, but the officers cast every possible imputation at one another. Witnesses are asked who told them what they mention, and they shield themselves by saying they do not want to tell. I think you ought to say who did it?— I told you before if the Commission ordered me to do it I would. It is Senior-Constable Johnson. May I tell you the circumstances? I was in the Depot, and doing my usual duty, and I saw Johnson cross the yard, and I said, “Halloh ! Johnson , are you here?”....
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