463
The Hongkong Telegraph
HONGKONG, SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1883.
the staff of the Army Pay Department, once think it would be advisable to place an acted as superintendent of Victoria Gaol inexperienced outsider over this deserving during the absence of the late Mr. M. S. officer's head. Unless Lord DERBY has TONNOCHY. Captain DEMPSTER is no doubt changed his views on the subject, an officer and a gentleman, thoroughly we are inclined to think that the A Few days ago an announcement ap-acquainted with every branch of the duties appointment of Captain DEMPSTER may peared in one of our contemporaries to the to which his life has been devoted; but Downing Street, and it shall not be our fault meet with considerable opposition in effect that Mr. W. M. DEANE, captain su- what knowledge can an army paymaster if his lordship is not placed in possession of perintendent of police, had arranged to go and honorary captain have of the technical full particulars of the business, as well as home on leave, and that Captain DEMPSTER working of the somewhat cumbrous ma- the opinions of the Hongkong public. had been appointed as his locum tenens. chine known as the Hongkong Police Believing this report to be merely one of Force? What can he know of the special
Chief Inspector HORSPOOL has been some the numberless cards constantly circulat-duties essential for such an important which his term of service has been one twenty years in the Hongkong police, in ing throughout the Colony, we did not position? Where has he acquired that consider it worth while to allude to thorough intimacy with Chinese criminal that the talent of success is nothing more long continued success, It has been said it in any way. However, although we life, and the jumbled up ordinances than doing what you can do well, and are still inclined to think that there of the Colony which have hitherto been doing well whatever you do without a can only be at most a vestige of truth regarded as a sine quâ non? If it is thought of fame. Mr. HORSPOOL may not in our contemporary's statement, the mat- possible for an army officer without any have spent years at Eton or Harrow, nor ter has been so generally discussed and is previous experience of police duties, to graduated at Oxford or Cambridge; but apparently regarded in well informed cir- assume the supreme command and sole it is perfectly well known, and has been cles as a settled thing, that the time has control of our large police department, a frequently acknowledged, that he per- arrived when our duty to the public very great deal of unnecessary fuss has formed the duties of captain superinten- renders it imperative that the subject been made in the past as to the value of dent of the Hongkong Police on several should be no longer ignored.
the services of Captain DEANE, and his pre- occasions in a manner that has never been It is seldom that our opinions on the af- decessors and assistants. And if the fairs of this Colony, or in fact on any sub- duties of captain superintendent can be effi- to the entire satisfaction of Governor Hex- surpassed in the history of the colony, and ject of whatever description, coincide with ciently performed by a gentleman who has Nessy, and the community at large. If those of the enterprising Individuals who had no experience, which we do not for one Captain DEANE leaves the Colony, there is periodically contribute to the columns of moment believe, why is it necessary to go only one man capable of efficiently filling the Daily Press under the nom de plume outside the officers of the Colonial Govern the vacant office, and that man is Chief "Banian." But on this particular question ment to obtain a suitable person for the Inspector HORSPOOL, we are conscientiously able to thoroughly appointment? It any person can ade- himself and the best interests of Hong. Fortunately for endorse every word the "tripartite al quately fill this office--and such ap- kong, Mr. HORSPOOL is quite Independent liance" have rendered themselves respon-parently is the idea, as the duties of a of the Colonial Government, and besides sible for. "Banian" writes in this morning's paymaster in the army can have nothing has too high a regard for his own re- paper as follows:---
in common with the direction of an intric-putation to allow himself to be made ate police system-there can surely be the puppet of any piece of political no just reason why the civil servants of the chicanery. It must be apparent to all Crown should be put aside for a gentle-thinking men that the temporary appoint- man who has not the slightest interest ment of Captain DEMPSTER to the superin- in the welfare of the Colony!
"The appointment of Captain Dempster to the Superintendency of the Police seems to me to smack of a job. I allow that the gallant gentleman has all the qualities to suit him for the command of a regiment, the government of the Gaol, or the Superintendency of the Police, but when I call to mind that Mr. Chief Inspector Horspool came from home to join this specific department, has served many years, and on four different occasions acted during the absence of Capt. Deane, I am forced to the conclusion in which the majority of my readers will concur) that the appointment of the present incumbent distinctly savours of partiality, and at the same time puts an unwarrantable slight upon an able and exemplary Police officer. It is not only a slight, but a cruel hardship, Who can dispute the fact when I mention that on the former occasions when Mr. Horspool acted for Captain Deane he received not a cent of compensation (Captain Deane being on full pay?, whereas now that the Captain Superintendent goes home on half-pay another is found to reap the benefit? If Mr. Horspool was fit to act with no remuneration what excuse can be made for not nominating him now that an advantage will accrue from the acting appointment? This is one of the fantastic tricks worked in high places. others, but for the present will leave this case to be digested."
I know of
DANIEL O'CONNELL once said that nothing is politically right which is morally wrong. If it is true that Captain DEANE is going home on leave, and that Captain DEMPSTER has been appointed chief of the police, a "job" has been perpetrated which is not only grossly wrong in principle but is also a huge political blunder, and for which there can be no possible justification. Unfortunately there has been a good deal of jobbery rampant in connection with the police department for some considerable time past. It is no secret that an attempt was lately made to place as Mr. C. V. CREAGH's successor in the de-
We will go a little farther than the gentleman (or coterie of gentlemen) who penned the above paragraph, in our animadversions on what does not merely "smack of a job," but is one of the most scandalous and bare-faced pieces of dis- gusting jobbery ever associated with the government of any British Colony-always providing that the report of Captain DEMPSTER'S appointment to temporarily puty superintendent-ship, a junior clerk in succeed Mr. W. M. DEANE in command of the Hongkong Police is not an idle rumour. Who is Captain DEMPSTER? We have carefully searched the Colonial Office list, without finding a trace of this gentleman's record of services. Army List we find the name of " T. C. On turning up the DEMPSTER, hon. capt. and paymaster in The Gloucestershire Regiment "the old "Slashers," and an idea strikes us that this Captain DEMPSTER, who is actually on
tendent-ship of police would practically mean, that Mr. HORSPOOL would do the work and the gallant Captain draw the salary. We venture to say that, unless the position is a mere sham and totally un- necessary for the proper management of police affairs, it would take Capt. DEMPSTER or any other inexperienced outsider at least twelve months to be of the least practical use to the department.
Under all circumstances it is to be hoped that the rumoured appointment of Captain
DEMPSTER is without foundation. We should be sorry to see Sir GEORGE BOWEN commence his governorship with such a
gross blunder. In all likelihood the public one of the government departments, who would protest, and although we should knew absolutely nothing of police duties. be reluctant to inaugurate an opposition This quiet little "job"--for it was nothing against His Excellency, in a flagrant case else was frustrated by the Earl of DERBY, of this kind no other honest alternative Secretary of State for the Colonies, who would be left us. It is, however, satis- pointed out that Mr. GEORGE HORSFOOL, factory to know that Mr. HORSPOOL holds chief inspector, had been able to satisfac-in his own hands the key to the situation. torily perform on several occasions the If Captain DEMPSTER Succeeds Captain duties both of chief and deputy superin- DEANE, Mr. HORSPOOL will undoubtedly at tendent, and therefore had deserved so
once resign-he could hardly do other. wise and maintain his self-respect-and we shall then have the comfort of knowing that the most important department in the local government service is under the sole control of a novice, who owes his appoint- ment, not to any special merits of his own but entirely to the favor of the Governor.
well of the Government that he did not
463
The Hongkong Telegraph
HOMONG, SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1883.
the staff of the Army Pay Department, once think it would be advisable to place an acted as superintendent of Victoria Gaol inexperienced outsider over this deserving during the absence of the late Mr. M. S. officer's head. Unless Lord DERBY has TONNOCHY. Captain DEMPSTER is no doubt changed his views on the subject, an officer and a gentleman, thoroughly we are inclined to think that the A Few days ago an announcement ap-acquainted with every branch of the duties appointment of Captain DEMPSTER may peared in one of our contemporaries to the to which his life has been devoted; but Downing Street, and it shall not be our fault meet with considerable opposition in effect that Mr. W. M. DEANE, captain su- what knowledge can an army paymaster if his lordship is not placed in possession of perintendent of police, had arranged to go and honorary captain have of the technical full particulars of the business, as well as home on leave, and that Captain DEMPSTER working of the somewhat cumbrous ma- the opinions of the Hongkong public. had been appointed as his locum tenens. chine known as the Hongkong Police Believing this report to be merely one of Force? What can he know of the special
Chief Inspector HORSPOOL has been some the numberless cards constantly circulat-duties essential for such an important which his term of service has been one twenty years in the Hongkong police, in ing throughout the Colony, we did not position? Where has he acquired that consider it worth while to allude to thorough intimacy with Chinese criminal that the talent of success is nothing more long continued success, It has been said it in any way. However, although we life, and the jumbled up ordinances than doing what you can do well, and are still inclined to think that there of the Colony which have hitherto been doing well whatever you do without a can only be at most a vestige of truth regarded as a sine quâ non? If it is thought of fame. Mr. HORSPOOL may not in our contemporary's statement, the mat- possible for an army officer without any have spent years at Eton or Harrow, nor ter has been so generally discussed and is previous experience of police duties, to graduated at Oxford or Cambridge; but apparently regarded in well informed cir- assume the supreme command and sole it is perfectly well known, and has been cles as a settled thing, that the time has control of our large police department, a frequently acknowledged, that he per- arrived when our duty to the public very great deal of unnecessary fuss has formed the duties of captain superinten- renders it imperative that the subject been made in the past as to the value of dent of the Hongkong Police on several should be no longer ignored.
the services of Captain DEANE, and his pre- occasions in a manner that has never been It is seldom that our opinions on the af- decessors and assistants. And if the fairs of this Colony, or in fact on any sub- duties of captain superintendent can be effi- to the entire satisfaction of Governor Hex- surpassed in the history of the colony, and ject of whatever description, coincide with ciently performed by a gentleman who has Nessy, and the community at large. If those of the enterprising Individuals who had no experience, which we do not for one Captain DEANE leaves the Colony, there is periodically contribute to the columns of moment believe, why is it necessary to go only one man capable of efficiently filling the Daily Press under the nom de plume outside the officers of the Colonial Govern the vacant office, and that man is Chief "Banian." But on this particular question ment to obtain a suitable person for the Inspector HORSPOOL, we are conscientiously able to thoroughly appointment? It any person can ade- himself and the best interests of Hong. Fortunately for endorse every word the "tripartite al quately fill this office--and such ap- kong, Mr. HORSPOOL is quite Independent liance" have rendered themselves respon-parently is the idea, as the duties of a of the Colonial Government, and besides sible for. "Banian" writes in this morning's paymaster in the army can have nothing has too high a regard for his own re- paper as follows:---
in common with the direction of an intric-putation to allow himself to be made ate police system-there can surely be the puppet of any piece of political no just reason why the civil servants of the chicanery. It must be apparent to all Crown should be put aside for a gentle-thinking men that the temporary appoint- man who has not the slightest interest ment of Captain DEMPSTER to the superin- in the welfare of the Colony!
"The appointment of Captain Dempster to the Superinten dency of the Folice seems to me to smack of a job. I allow that the gallant gendeman has all the qualities to suit him for the command of a regiment, the government of the Gaol, or the Superintendency of the Police, but when I call to mind that Mr. Chief Inspector Horspool came from home to join this specific department, has served many years, and on four different occasions acted during the absence of Capt. Deane, I am forced to the conclusion in which the majority of my readers will concur) that the appointment of the present incumbent distinctly savours of pardality, and at the same time pute an unwarrantable ligh: upon an able and exemplary Police officer. It is not only a slight, but a cruel hardship, Who can dispute the fact when I mention that on the former occasions when Mr. Horspool acted for Captain Deane he received not a cent of compensation (Captain Deane being on full pay?, whereas now that the Captain juperintendent goes home on half-pay another is found to reap the benefit? If Mr. Horepool was fit to wet with no re- meration what excuse can be made for not nominating him now that an advantage will accrue from the acting appointment? This is one of the fantastic tricks worked in high places. others, but for the present will leave this case to be digested."
I know of
DANIEL O'CONNELL once said that nothing is politically right which is morally wrong. If it is true that Captain DEANE is going home on leave, and that Captain DEMPSTER has been appointed chief of the police, a "job" has been perpetrated which is not only grossly wrong in principle but is also a huge political blunder, and for which there can be no possible justification. Unfortunately there has been a good deal of jobbery rampant in connection with the police department for some considerable time past. It is no secret that an attempt was lately made to place as Mr. C. V. CREAGH's successor in the de-
We will go a little farther than the gentleman (or coterie of gentlemen) who penned the above paragraph, in our animadversions on what does not merely "smack of a job," but is one of the most scandalous and bare-faced pieces of dis- gusting jobbery ever associated with the government of any British Colony-always providing that the report of Captain DEMPSTER'S appointment to temporarily puty superintendent-ship, a junior clerk in succeed Mr. W. M. DEANE in command of the Hongkong Police is not an idle rumour. Who is Captain DEMPSTER? We have carefully searched the Colonial Office list, without finding a trace of this gentleman's record of services. Army List we find the name of " T. C. On turning up the DEMPSTER, hon. capt. and paymaster in The Gloucestershire Regiment "the old "Slashers," and an idea strikes us that this Captain DearSTER, who is actually on
tendent-ship of police would practically mean, that Mr. HORSPOOL would do the work and the gallant Captain draw the salary. We venture to say that, unless the position is a mere sham and totally un- necessary for the proper management of police affairs, it would take Capt. DEMPSTER or any other inexperienced outsider at least twelve months to be of the least practical use to the department.
Under all circumstances it is to be hoped that the rumoured appointment of Captain
DEMPSTER is without foundation. We should be sorry to see Sir GEORGE BOWEN commence his governorship with such a
gross blunder. In all likelihood the public one of the government departments, who would protest, and although we should knew absolutely nothing of police duties. be reluctant to inaugurate an opposition This quiet little "job"--for it was nothing against His Excellency, in a flagrant case else was frustrated by the Earl of DERBY, of this kind no other honest alternative Secretary of State for the Colonies, who would be left us. It is, however, satis- pointed out that Mr. GEORGE HORSFOOL, factory to know that Mr. HORSPOgl holds chief inspector, had been able to satisfac-in his own hands the key to the situation. torily perform on several occasions the If Captain DEMPSTER Succeeds Captain duties both of chief and deputy superin- DEANE, Mr. HORSPOOL will undoubtedly at tendent, and therefore had deserved so
once resign-he could hardly do other. wise and maintain his self-respect-and we shall then have the comfort of knowing that the most important department in the local government service is under the sole control of a novice, who owes his appoint- ment, not to any special merits of his own but entirely to the favor of the Governor.
well of the Government that he did not
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