The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser (With which is incorporated the “Evening Echo”). FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1880.

Ashburton Herald, Volume II, Issue 580, 20 February 1880, Page 2

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser (With which is incorporated the “Evening Echo”). FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1880.

It is only too often we hear of dumb animals being brutally treated, and it is only too seldom that the offender is brought to justice. Every day almost some instance comes under our notice of inhuman conduct towards dumb animals, more especially in the cases where that best possible servant to the farmer —the horse —is concerned. The reprehensible manner in which horses are sometimes flogged by their drivers should, we consider, be more severely punished than it is, for in most cases it occurs where some stupid lout is driving or riding a horse with more sense than himself ; and a bad fitting collar or a worn out saddle is oftener the cause of a horse “ sticking up ” than the natural disposition of the animal. A case heard to-day disclosed the fact that a man used a chain as a persuader to make a refractory horse go, and one witness stated that the beast was so much knocked about that it was unfit to walk, and that its head had the skin torn off in some places and it had evidently been severely beaten about the head. Unfortunately, no proof was obtainable about the assault and batteiy on the poor brute’s frontispiece, and the conviction was obtained upon the evidence of two witnesses to the punishment received with the chain on the body of the animal. The sitting Magistrate stated his regret that there-was not sufficient evidence to warrant him in inflicting the full penalty of twenty pounds. However, the owner had to pay L 4 23. 6d. for his amusement. Not only horses, but other animals are subjected to cruel usage, the larrikin element in Ashburton having apparently broken out in the direction of amusing themselves by torturing the lower animals. Only last night a contingent in the neighborhood of Moore street found vent for their exuberant feelings by hanging a tin kettle to the caudal appendage of a dog, and were highly delighted with the tortures of the poor brute when he got wedged in a gorse fence. We would remind the larrikins that they are apt to be severely punished for such acts, and that a game of cricket is a much more manly occupation than inflicting wanton cruelty on dogs.