Southland Special.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5269, 12 July 1888, Page 2

Southland Special.

[BPEOIAI. 10 DAILY TELEGRAPH.]

[OWN COBEKSPONDEirr.—BY TELEOBAPH.]

Inveeoaeoiu,, Last night SOCIAL DISGRACE.

A case surrounded by painful circuraatanoes.carao before tho R.M. to-day, when John Simmons was summoned under tho Destitute Persons Act to contribute towards the support of his sister, Sophia Gasson, a widow. She deposed that she was without means. She had a daughter who was recently married. Witness could do needlework, but oould not get sufficient to support her, and was unablu on account of ill-health to go out as a servant. Her brother had no family. She could got along , with five shillings per week from him. .Witness, on beitijif pressed to say why she would not live with her brother, stated that ho had seduced her daughter, and she (witness) kept tho child, her daughter being now married. Defendant's couusel said that this was a downright untruth, but Mr Pinn replied that he had letters to prove it, and until the daughter was married defendant had been contributing towards tho child's support. Harriet Mills, .sistc of tht. plaiutitt', said she had hoard what was stated regarding , the child, and it was quite correct. The defendant had contributed towards the support of the child till the daughter got married. Her brothor was well able to assist her, having been a railway guard for ten or twelve years. She was surprised . that her brother, who had brought disgrace on the family, was not to come into a public Court and expose his deed. Mr MoAlister (defendant's lawyer) submitted that the oaso was brought to obtain money for tho support of the child, which had not been proved to be defendant's, and he argued that as plaintiff was ablo to do needlework, she was in a position to obtain her owti living, as she had no fumily to suppor-t. His Worship said that although plaintiff admitted being able to do a little needlework, it had not been shown that she was in 11 position to earn sufficient to maintain herself. He asKod if there was any evidence to bo called for the defence. Mr MeAlister called defendant, but when the witness got into the box ho said ho (His Worship) did not think ho would take witness's evidence. Plaintiff's counsel remarked that it was a very prudent stop not to do so. His Worship hold that it had been proved that plaintiff was uuablo to obtain her own living , , and made an order for the payment of 5s per week, with costs £1 Ss. FERRETS AND EABBITS. Tho Southland News, in an article on tho largo expenditure for ferx-ets, remarks:— "There has boon a good deal of talk lately about the desirability of encouraging local ! productions, but it may bo doubted whether any other has received such aid from a paternal Government as that of ferret rais- i ing. True, it is at present in but few ~ hands—those of certain favored individuals, !; who, having had what in sporting parlance is callod tho ' straight tip 'in advanoo, have * tnkon time by the forelook and ' made a corner' in pink-eyes. Somo of them sup- J piemen t their incomes by recourse to a * somewhat ingenious expedient. Familiar as they are with the habits of the little animals, they find no difficulty in trapping thorn after they have been turned out at tbo country s oxpenso. Under those ° J circumstances, our readers will admit there T is justification for the belief that tho whole fj number contracted for were forthcoming. „ Of course, it would be impossible to brand 1 ferrets in such a manner as to prevent a recurrence of the -wholesale frauds which are said to have been going on for somo years, but it would be next to impossible to prevent the recapture for breeding purposes t< of ferrets turned loose at the Government's p; expense. Tho worst feature of tho business tc is that ill secluded distriote fcirets are re- ti gardod aa a groater nuisance than the t} rabbits, and that thoao settlers who are In above taking mean advantage, of tho Rabbit j] Department, lire just killing tho feri'ots as i n fast as they can. The impression long , \ V cntorlainod by raimy is, that the oxistence of h< tho Department is a blunder; that it is re neither moro nor less than a cover for tho ro exorcise of political patronage ; and a mere refuge for hangers-ou of parties, ie rapidly gaiμjng , ground."