Night Watchman for Gore.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 298, 19 June 1897, Page 2

Night Watchman for Gore.

MEETING OF CITIZENS. The meeting convened by the Mayor for the purpose of considering the question of securing a night watchman for Gore, and held on Thursday night, was attended by some 35 ratepayers. The Mayor (Mr J. Beattie) ooonpied the chuir, and proceeded to say that .petty larcenies and more serious thefts were . becoming more numerous in the Borough, and it was high time that citizens' property should be afforded some sort of protection at \* night time. They should draw up a. memorial to the Minister of Justice, with a view to getting a night watchman appointed. The local police discharged their duties very satisfactorily, but it was not to be expected that they should patrol the streets all night as well as in the day time ; besides this, they had a very large outside district to , - look after. He thought if the Minister could ' be moved in the direction suggested the annoyances through petty thefts would almost / completely disappear. Mr Mac Gibbon referred to the present unsatisfactory state of things existing in the Borough. People entered shops and houses with impunity. He contended ' that more serious depredations than petty thefts were going on. The Town Hall had been entered not long since and £20 worth of pictures stolen, and he believed also that the local' Band's practice-room had been visited and a number of uniforms taken. What was even . worse was the fact that respectable women were frequently accosted and insulted on the , ' publio streets. With insufficient police pro- > tection matters would grow worse, hence the necessity' for taking immediate' steps in the direction suggested. He would move that c trie Minister of Justice be requested to appoint an extra policeman to do night duty, in Gore. . . , Mr J. Ballintine seconded, and drew attention to a number of recent petty thefts. - If the Minister would not help them in this matter, citizens would have to devise means to protect; themselves and property. It was a pity that those people committing the depredations complained of were not brought to boot, and he sincerely hoped, for the* credit of the place, that they were not residents of Gore. Mr A. Latham also referred to the notoriety Gore had achieved iv the way of thefts of all kinds. He contended that the stolen pictures were still in Gore. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr J. Boyne suggested that the recommendation to the Minister should go through the Borough Council. He thought, however, that the Council had been rather remiss in the matter, as they had not .troubled about it until the citizens began to make a stir. It might be as well also .to point out to the Minister that the same police strength was ~ ' ' doing duty in Gore now as when the.population of the town numbered only half its " present total. The population of the surroundingcountry districts had about doubled also. He moved that the first resolution be ' forwarded through the Borough Council. — The motion was seconded by Mr A. Latham and carried. A vote of thanks to the Mayor for calling the meeting and presiding concluded the business. . -•.