Hurriedly finding another boat and
undaunted by his experience, Brew
continued his journey and arrived in
Victoria only a day behind schedule.

With Chartres Brew and Augustus
Pemberton at the helm, the little
body of law officers were faced with
a most difficult task. They entered
into the spirit of their pioneering
enterprise, and soon their fame spread
throughout the country.

‘The story is told of Viscount Milton
and Dr. F. Cheadle making an over-
land trip across Canada. They arrived
at Kamloops in 1862. One of the party,
a white man, had incurred the wrath
of an Assiniboine Indian packer. The
Indian, infuriated, was about to at-
tack the elderly white man when
Viscount Milton sternly warned the
redskin: ““There is law in_ this
country.” A serious disturbance was
averted merely by the mention of law
protection.

The main source of worry for the
police in the early days, apart from
Indians, was the wild surge of
humanity to the Fraser, when the
word went out of the discovery of
gold along the banks of that historic
river.

”

B.C. Police a Pioneer Force

Brew’s first duty was to survey con-
ditions first-hand in the vicinity of the
gold strike and report to the Gover-
nor. His findings prompted him to
suggest the need for 150 members of
the Irish constabulary, to be brought
immediately to the Colony. The Secre-
tary of State vetoed the suggestion,
feeling that the revenues of the
Colony would not permit the trans-
portation and maintenance of such a
body, and his previous recommenda-
tion was carried out. The Police in
British Columbia was truly a pioneer
force, recruited among the residents.

Brew and his gallant force did splen-
did work under existing conditions.
Then another menace was unearthed.
Low-grade white men were selling the
Indians whisky in return for furs.

The government hastily called for
aid from naval vessels from the Esqui-
malt station. Police officers traveled
up the coast by frigate and sloop, and
retribution for the offenders was
swift and severe. Brew, for all his
jovial Irish personality, was a stern
law enforcer. He wasted no sympathy
on whites who sold liquor to Indians.
After intensive investigation, caches
of whisky were found by the police
and promptly destroyed.

Back to the goldfields, Brew and his
fellow officers found themselves in
the midst of a money-mad horde of
men from all parts of the world, all
intent on one prize—gold! Trouble
began when the new-comers attempt-
ed to jostle the native residents out of
place. Among the miners, the best

TWENTY-SECOND EDITION

method of settling an argument was
the quick use of a gun.

Rather than confine themselves to
police work alone, the newly organ-
ized Canadian constabulary was
pressed into service as collectors un-
der “The Goldfields Act,” which
assessed the miners for a licence. Gold
commissioners had been appointed
under the Act, and to each one was
assigned six officers.

First Police Orders

The first orders ever issued by the

government to its police, indeed, the

first orders of their kind issued in

Canada came from the Governor.
‘They were:

“Your establishment will consist of
six men.

“You will hold courts of Petty Ses-
sions at a place near to your head-
quarters, which may be proclaimed for
that purpose on such days as shall be
most convenient, giving — sufficient
publicity to same.

“You will carry out the general
policing of the district, taking especial
care that drinking and gambling are as
much as possible put down. ‘The

Former Commissioner Thanks Force

COMMISSIONER ROGER PEACHEY, M.C. (RETIRED)

eeu

“I am grateful to THE SHOULDER STRAP for this opportunity to send a message
to all those who served under me in the B.C. Provincial Police, not only those who are now
serving with the R.C.M.P., but those who declined the opportunity and also those who, like

myself, were not acceptable.

The thought uppermost in my mind ts your kind thought expressed in the beautiful gift
presented to me. Mrs. Peachey and I were overwhelmed with emotion when we learned
about it, and for her and myself, I can hardly find sufficient words to express our thanks.
It ts something that will live with us for the rest of our days and always be a remembrance
of the splendid men I was privileged to command.

In the days to come, I shall be thinking of you all, and your kindness when I visited the
detachments. My one hope is that you will al! carry with you in your new sphere the fine
traditions of the force to which you gave so much. I am confident that each and every one
of you will be a credit to the force in which you now serve and doubtless make your mark
tn whatever field you may be called upon for duty.”

Page Seven