The Argus at KellyGang 22/4/1881

(full text transcription)

Editorial

The Kelly Reward Board, now that it has published its scheme of distribution, is receiving much more of adverse criticism than of thanks. It may be ungenerous thus to deal with gentlemen, who no doubt have taken pains to settle a difficult matter, but we fear the result is unavoidable. In more ways than one the award does not square with men's sense of justice, and under such circumstances people will comment. If we were to hazard an explanation of the error which is generally assumed to have been committed, it would be that the military instincts of Sir Charles MacMahon have been allowed to overpower the judgment of his civilian colleagues. We are told that the "regulations in force in the "Imperial service" have been adopted as the basis of the distribution, and here no doubt the mistake occurs. Imperial regulations apply to regularly fought actions, and the men share in proportion to then rank, while at Glenrowan special services were rendered by civilians and others, and the popular and the rightful expectation was that the distribution would be according to merit and not a mere formal division for the most part according to police position. If Imperial regulations, which we venture to submit have little application in such a case, had been subordinated to equity and to merit, then no doubt what is regarded as the great fault of the award would not have occurred, and Mr Curnow would have headed the list, and not Mr Hare. Ninety nine men out of a hundred will, we are sure, agree that the substantial donation should be awarded to the schoolmaster instead of to the police officer.

We say this, of course, without reflecting in any way upon Superintendent Hare. In the performance of his duties, that officer came across the gang when he was at the head of a well equipped force, when he had been warned, and was prepared to meet them. He led his men forward, was wounded, and compelled to retire, and there was an end of his connexion with the business. It is a great misfortune that Mr Hare was wounded. The affair would have been conducted, we fancy, with more credit to the police had he been able to remain in command, but still, taking matters as they stand, it is clear that Mr Hare is entitled to no credit for the discovery of the gang at Glenrowan, and that the large award is made to him for going into action as did the other men. His wound, of course, should tell in his favour in connexion with the force. He ought to be compensated for his injury, independently of the reward fund. On the other hand, Mr Curnow rendered services that might have been, and indeed were invaluable. Before he appeared on the scene it was quite possible that the train would be wrecked in the thirty feet culvert, as the gang intended, and a disaster would then have occurred which would have thrilled the civilised world. But from the moment he heard that the line had been destroyed at the sharp curve over the deep gully, Mr Gurnow set his wits to work to avert the peril. He obtained permission from the gang to take his family home, on condition that he stopped at home, and he was warned that his brains would be blown out if he did not keep faith with the outlaws. But so soon as ho was liberated, he began to manufacture a signal to stop the tram by night, and he had his apparatus ready when he heard the far off whistle of the locomotive. Without doubt, the journey down the line was at the risk of his life. The accounts written at the moment before Mr Curnow was known, show how acutely he felt his perilous position and that of his family, and yet, despite this, he did his duty to society. Throughout the whole of the Kelly outrages he is the one civilian who displayed conspicuously both intelligence and moral courage, and as he put in peril life and limb, when he need have run no risk whatever, and did this in older to render the state a service at a crisis, the whole colony, we believe, expected that he would head the list of the men to be rewarded..

Of the police, we must say that Constable Bracken seems to come poorly off. Bracken possessed himself of the key of the inn, and hid it about his person, and when the alarm of the arrival of the train was given, he un- locked the door, effected his escape, and rushed to the station to give information. He showed great presence of mind, ran a great risk, and rendered an important service. Yet he is only fifth on the list with £275 to his credit, and an ordinary constable, for ordinary service, obtains £137. The difficulty in which the Chief Secretary is placed is obvious. It is a delicate matter to ask gentlemen to act for the state, and to set them aside afterwards. As a rule the proper course is to accept the distribution so made, no matter what may be thought of it. But there are exceptions to every rule, and in this instance we should not be dissatisfied if the Chief Secretary, in deference to general criticism, courteously invited the board to reconsider their decision, and act upon another principle.

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