Leaving Coolgardie
Coolgardie Miner 6 July 1898
INSPECTOR McKENNA'S PROMOTION
ABILITY RECOGNISED
The extreme regret which is felt at the approaching departure from Coolgardie of Inspector McKenna, the head of the police force on the goldfields, was demonstrated yesterday at the function which the Mayor organised with the object of intimating to Mr McKenna that his promotion to the inspectorship of the metropolitan police district was to Coolgardieites a painful pleasure. Although the formal ceremony of bidding farewell to Mr McKenna was timed for noon, the estimation in which this official is held was indicated by the fact that between 60 and 70 of the leading citizens of the town attended to do honor to the guest. The audience included the Mayor (Hon A. G. Jenkins, M L.C.), who presided, nearly all the councillors, the Warden (Mr J. M. Finnerty, RM) and representatives of the honorary bench, the bar, and the different sections of the mercantile community.
The Mayor, with the courtesy that characterises his official proceedings made all the visitors, numerous as they were, welcome, and when the proceedings were opened, he was found in the chair with the guest on his right.
By this time it was an open secret that Coolgardie's good wishes to Inspector McKenna had to some extent been voiced in solid cash - gold at that - and although the token of esteem was only £83 10s, It was generally agreed that circumstances, not wishes, had limited the total to two where there should have been three figures.
However, as the presentation of the purses with their kindly meant, if inadequate, content, simply indicated the estimation in which the Inspector is held, the remarks of the speakers will be relished.
The Mayor in opening the proceedings said that they all knew the pleasant task which he had come here to perform. (Hear. hear) That was to make a presentation to their worthy Inspector of Police (Mr McKenna), who, he regretted to say, was leaving the town. On behalf of the town he expressed his regret at losing the services of Inspector McKenna. At the same time he congratulated him on his change of berth. He did not know whether Inspector McKenna's removal to Perth was a promotion, but he congratulated him on the advance he had made, if it were one (Cheers.) He asked Mr McKenna not to judge the small token of esteem they were giving him by its monetary value, but to recognise that it was just an indication of the regard in which he was held by all classes of the community. (Hear, hear.) He hoped that the Inspector would accept the present token in the spirit in which it was tendered, but on behalf of the people of Coolgardie he had to thank Inspector McKenna for the excellent manner in which he had always carried out the duties of his office. (Cheers.) It was admitted on all sides by all who came in contact with Inspector McKenna that he was most courteous and able. As the representative of the council, he could say that they had the deepest appreciation of his services to the town.
During the whole time he had occupied his position, he had worked with one object, and at the present time he (the Mayor) did not think that there was in West Australia a town which had better police protection than that afforded the citizens of Coolgardie during the last three years. (Cheers.)
They all knew the difficulties attending the administration of police duties on a goldfield, and the fact that Inspector McKenna had gained the esteem of all sections of the community under some very trying circumstances warranted him, in the name of the townspeople of Coolgardie, in handing him over the purse, expressing regret at the loss the town was sustaining, and felicitating him on the accomplishment to some extent of his desire to get to the metropolis, where he had ties which almost served as an excuse for his wish to leave Coolgardie. (Cheers).
Mr J. M. Finnerty, R.M., said that he would like to say a few words both on behalf of the bench of the town and personally regarding the estimation in which they held Inspector McKenna.
On behalf of the bench he would like to say that the cordiality of the relationship existing between the head of the constabulary and the bench made a great difference in the manner in which the magistrates were able to carry out their work. The difference was that if a case were not brought into court in a proper manner the bench had a great deal of trouble. On the other hand, if the constables' work was overlooked they had very little trouble, and he could say that since Inspector McKenna had been in the district they had had very little trouble. (Hear, hear.)
While he had been in the district matters had gone on very smoothly, and although he had always insisted on fulfilling his duties he had gained the esteem, not only of himself (Mr Finnerty), but of the resident justices of the town. (Cheers.) Personally speaking, he said that Inspector McKenna and himself were old friends. (Hear, hear.) They were together in the Kimberley district in the old days, when he (Mr Finnerty) was in the police. He was delighted when he heard that Inspector McKenna was to be sent to Coolgardie. He could only say that he never wished to meet anyone who could work better or more loyally than Inspector McKenna had, both in the old Kimberley days and up to the present time. (Cheers.) He was quite satisfied that wherever Inspector McKenna went his qualities would recommend him to all with whom he came in contact, and he (Mr Finnerty) had to thank the Inspector for the assistance he had given him on the fields, and in congratulating him on his promotion Mr Finnerty expressed the hope that his abilities would be recognised and eventually place Inspector McKenna at the top of the tree. (Cheers.)
Mr T. Stodart, J.P., as a resident of Coolgardie, expressed his pleasure in endorsing the appreciative remarks that had been made regarding Inspector McKenna. At the time that that officer came here the position was a most difficult one, but their guest had proved himself equal to any position and had displayed a tactfulness and fairness that was sufficient evidence of his fitness for the position he had occupied. During the time the Inspector had been on the fields he had won the respect of all classes of the community, and his departure would be a source of real regret. (Hear, hear.)
Mr Shaw, on behalf of the legal profession of the town, testified to the esteem in which the Inspector was held. He admitted that, while a hard fighter, the Inspector was always courteous, and his treatment of the members of the bar, even when fighting a different cause to that which he was, in the pursuance of his duty trying to establish, was marked with a sincerity which always commended the Inspector to their respect.
Like all the other speakers, he wished Inspector McKenna long life and prosperity, a successful career, and all the gratification that could attend so deserved and notable a promotion. (Cheers.)
The health of Inspector McKenna was then drunk with enthusiasm.
Inspector McKenna, who was received with cheers, thanked those present most sincerely for the kind remarks that had been bestowed upon him. He could assure them all that It gave him great pleasure to find after serving amongst them for a little over three years, that on the eve of his departure his efforts in a professional and personal capacity were appreciated. (Cheers.) He had seen in the Press the remarks of the Commissioner of Police in which he stated that the Department had absolute confidence in him. (Cheers.) All this was very gratifying, but he attributed much of the success that had attended his efforts to the able assistance he had received from the police In the district and the general public. On that occasion he wished to thank Sergt. Bellenger for the able manner In which he had assisted him - (cheers) - in the discharge of his duties. He hoped that before long he would see the sergeant a commissioned officer in the service (Cheers.) Regarding his successor, he could only say that he did not know very much of him personally, but from what he had heard from men who had served under him he gathered that the new inspector was an able and efficient officer, and he was sure that If they gave him a fair trial he would prove the right man in the right place. (Hear, hear.) He hoped that his successor would be treated In the same manner as he had been while serving in the district, and he had little doubt that the result would be satisfactory to the officer and the public. (Hear, hear.) He thanked them again for the complimentary remarks made about himself, and he assured them that he had only tried to do his duty. At the same time the fact that his efforts were appreciated was most gratifying to him, and he trusted that the success which they deemed had attended his services at Coolgardie would mark his career in the metropolis. If he were not successful in his new sphere of duty it would not be his fault, as he would do his best to fulfil the duties of the office. (Hear, hear.) More he could not do, but he hoped he would always be able to keep with him pleasantest recollections of his stay in Coolgardie. (Hear, hear.)
The proceedings then terminated.
Coolgardie Police Station and Staff, 1898.
Inspector McKenna ,OIC, seated front in braid jacket
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