Royal Commission report day 4 page 10
The Royal Commission evidence for 29/3/1881
(see also introduction to day 4)
Assistant Commissioner Nicholson giving evidence
1047 You are pointing out this as a portion of your ordinary duties?- Yes.
1048 The object you have in view is to show that your recommendations were not attended to?- Yes.
1049 What was done in that case?- The correspondence does not show, and I am not aware of it.
1050 What will show that?- It ought to be on the papers, and its not being so is a proof of the irregularity. "With reference to the receipt for prisoner Murdoch, the watch house book at Hotham will show the prisoner was lodged there. I consider that in a place like Donnybrook, where the clerk of petty sessions only visits twice a month, and the clerk requests that the proceeds of distress warrants may be paid over to the plaintiffs, there is no objection to the constable doing so, providing he holds a receipt from the person to whom he paid the money, which was done in these cases. I am not aware how Mr. Nicolson became aware that Constable Redding is wanting in discretion, and requires looking after. He has been a long time under me, and I have not discovered it; on the contrary, I have found him a most zealous man, and most anxious to do his work, and a man in whom I can place the greatest reliance."
1051 It then, from that version, becomes a matter of difference of interpretation as to what is properly the duty of the constable?- Yes.
1052 You considered he was guilty of dereliction of duty; Mr Hare, on the contrary, considered he performed his duty under the circumstances?- Yes; I am quite prepared to show that my system was the correct one. I reported: "Mtd. Constable Redding, 1990, general appearance clean and creditable; kit clean and in good order, the leather pad under hilt of sword worn out and the mouth of scabbard loose and requires immediate attention. He has had no practice with his Webley's revolver; permission given to fire six cartridges and report result." "Mtd. Constable Redding, 1990, is a man of considerable police experience, but wanting in discretion, and requires looking after; otherwise, from the opportunities of distinguishing himself which he has had, he might have occupied a better position in the force." I sent this as usual to the Chief Commissioner.
1053 Soon after resuming again you said you had been frequently interfered with by Mr Hare, and sometimes by Captain Standish; is that one of the cases by Mr Hare?- Yes, that is one of them.
1054 Are the cases generally that you have deferred to in which Mr Hare has interfered with you of a similar character?- No.
1055 Are there some of a more serious character?- Yes; this was done. Mr Hare says, "I am not aware how Mr. Nicolson became aware that Constable Redding is wanting in discretion, and requires looking after. He has been a long time under me, and I have not discovered it; on the contrary, I have found him a most zealous man, and most anxious to do his work, and a man in whom I can place the greatest reliance. "He praises him up, and contradicts me about the man, and asks my reason.
1056 Would Mr Hare have greater opportunities of seeing the way in which this constable performed his duty than you would as visiting inspector?- As a rule, he would, but I might have special knowledge of the man.
1057 You were only paying a visit of inspection to this particular station-how often?- I had no knowledge of the station.
1058 But, as a matter of fact, the Bourke district was under Mr Hare?- Yes.
1059 Would you or Mr Hare have a better opportunity of judging of the merits of any particular constable?- As a rule, he would. I may remark further; here is the result of this. On the 26th June 1876 Constable Gill reports from Wallan Wallan:- "For the information of the Superintendent in re accidental death of Constable Redding. "The day of this man falling off his horse, I said the man wanted looking after, and I find the man fell off his horse after a night's drinking, and broke his neck. "It appears from information received from Mrs Redding, together with the evidence given at the inquest, that he (Reading) left Donnybrook at about half past two or three o clock on the afternoon of the 23rd instant, for the purpose, as he stated to his wife, of going to Wallan Wallan on duty. He reached Beveridge at about half past three or four o'clock, and went into O'Connor's store for the purpose of paying a small account. After the account was paid, Mr O Connor asked him to have a drink, which he (O'Connor) says is usual with him when an account is being settled. He (Reddling) had the drink, a little brandy. He remained at O'Connor's for an hour or so, and went from there to Mrs Wall's hotel, where he had another smal1 nobbler of brandy. He remained at Wall's for some time, but had only the one drink there. He went back; to O'Connor's again, where he remained for another hour, or an hour and a half, and had a drink or two more. In short, it appeared from the evidence given, that he might have had a half dozen drinks altogether while at Beveridge; but it was also stated that he could carry a good many drinks before they would show on him. Mr McCormack, farmer, of the Red Barn, and Mr O'Connor, the storekeeper above referred to, were the last to see him alive at Beveridge, between nine and ten o'clock on the night of the 23rd, and both stated in their evidence that he looked to them to be perfectly sober. They saw him get on his horse and ride away quietly, although Mr O'Connor stated that he must have commenced to gallop soon after leaving his place, for he said he could hear the noise of the horse galloping along the Donnybrook road. Nothing further is known of him until next morning, about half-past eight or nine o'clock, when McGann, a butcher from Donnybrook, finds the body on the Sydney road, about a mile from Beveridge court. Redding's troop horse was found in a paddock, on the side of the road close to where the body was found, in a paddock on the side of the road, with the saddle and bridle on." It is just simply I made the remarks about this man, and I think my remarks proved correct. ..
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