POLICE COMMISSION.

A meeting of the Commissioners of Police was held on Monday—Mr Sheriff Gordon in the chair.

The watching committee, to whom a petition by the criminal officers for increase of pay was referred, recommended that its prayer should be refused, except in so far as M’Levie was concerned, whose weekly wage, they suggested, should be raised from 25s. to 30s. in respect that he had been 18 years connected with the establishment. This was agreed to.

APPOINTMENT OF AN INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.

The same committee recommended that Mr Haining should have leave of absence for six months, in consequence of the state of his health, and that Mr Moxey, the clerk, should be appointed interim superintendent during his absence, Mr Moreham to assist him in the duties as clerk.

Dr Renton said, he hoped it was understood that Mr Moxey, if appointed, would not be tied down to follow the present system of police. The board had now tried that system for five years, and it was now time for it to determine whether it should be continued, or a recurrence made to the previous plan of distribution. With that view, he gave notice of a motion calling for returns on nine different points connected with the distribution, &c. of the force at various periods.

It was agreed to remit the motion to the watching committee, with power to order the returns therein referred to, if necessary.

Bailie Stott said, so far as he was capable of forming an opinion, the police force had ceased to possess any moral weight, and that the stature of the constable was more looked to than the character of the man. The consequence was, that the Magistrates, in exercising their judicial functions, were always desirous to obtain the concurrent testimony of other parties than the police officers. This was a great evil, and if he thought that Mr Moxey would be tied down to continue the present system, he would throw every obstacle in the way of the appointment.

Mr Souter said, that most certainly he would never agree to the arrangement proposed unless Mr Moxey was to have as much power as any permanent superintendent ought to possess.

The proposal of the watching committee having been approved of,

The Chairman said he believed he spoke the sentiments of the Lord Provost, as well as his own, when he intimated that it was with the greatest pleasure he received the recommendation of the board, that Mr Moxey should be appointed interim superintendent, a gentleman who was so conversant with police matters, and who had seen the working of the system now going on. At the same time he received him as a person pledged to no system—(hear.)

Caledonian Mercury Thursday, Feb. 10, 1848