POLICE OFFENCES BILL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, 17 September 1868, Page 2

POLICE OFFENCES BILL.

To thb Editor of the Nelson Evening JMah,, Sir — The Nelson people seem to hold very erroneous views as to the duties of members of the House of Representatives. How can tbey expect that such comparatively trivial matters as tho financial condition of the colony, or the alteration of : the Constitution should occupy their attention, when they are discussing such important measures as, amongst others, the Police Offences Bill, which, I should imagine, have been introduced by the Government simply to distract the attention of the House from questions affecting the most vital interests of the colony. To show the importance of the measures thus submitted for the discussion of the Parliament of New Zealand, I quote below only a few out of the very numerous clauses ofthe Bill to which Ihave already alluded. I am, &c., Cosmopolitan. Nelson, Sept. 14.

Any person guilty of any of the following offences omissions or neglects shall on convip- J tion pay a penalty not less than lUs nor more thnn £5. Throwing or placing any glass filth dirt rubbish or other matter of a similar nature (without the permission of the local authority) any earth stones or other material upon. any road footway or public place. Emptying any privy or cesspool or carting away, any night soil or other offensive matter without. _ a license from and without having given such" security as may bu required by the local author rity. , . Allowing the drippings of the eaves of any house to fall upon any pablic footway. Rolling any cask beating any carpet breakingin any horse flying any kite using, any bows and arrows or playing at any game to the annoyance of any person in any public place or obstructing, . any footpath or carriage road whether byaliowihgV i any cart or animal to remain across such footpath ' or carriage road or by placing goods therewfJoif otherwise.

The following offences are punishable with a penalty not exceeding £10, or for any subsequent conviction not less than 40s. nor more than £20:— HaVing any timber iron or boards kid across any vehicle going alone any public road or thoroughfare so that either end projects more than one foot beyond the wheels or sides of any such vehicle. Any driver or guard of a public vehicle for the conveyance of passengers wilfully delaying on the road using any abusive or insulting language to any passenger or by reason of intoxication negligence or other misconduct endangering the safety or property of any p.nssenger or other person or demanding or exuding more than the proper fare due from any passenger. Wilfully encumbering or obstructing a public thoroughfare iv any manner not before specially described. Wantonly or maliciously defacing injuring or removing nny doorplate bell knocker signboard or gate or wantoiilr or maliciously disturbing any inhabitant by ringing any doorbell knocking at any door blowing any horn beating any drum using any other noisy instrument in any street or ringing any firebell &c. Sec.

On the morning of Sunday, September 6, the good people of Blenheim were scandalised by finding an effigy dangling from the flagstaff over Mr Lawrence's shop. Information was given to the police and the figure was at once cut down. A reward was offered for the detection of the perpetrators of this practical joke, which resulted in more than one of tbem giving himself up, but they were told tbat the offer was only a joke. It appears tbat Mr Lawrence had made himself obnoxious to certain-parties iv Bleuheim by erecting a closet'in immediate contiguity with a well, Bituated on the premises of bis neighbor Mr Moritz Sclaark, as it was asserted. with a view to pollute the water in it, and was fined on the Bth inst., £0, with £2165. costs for this offence. We regret to state that, a very destructive fire took place at Taranaki, on Sunday morning, the 6th instant, by which the stores of Mr J. C. Sharland, merchant of that place, together with their contents, were entirely destroyod, and very considerable inj ury was done to the printing office of the Taranaki Herald, which adjoined the premises on which the fire took place, aud which was only saved by the almost superhuman efforts of those who assisted to extinguish the conflagration, amongst whom the officers and men of the 18th Royal Irish took a very prominent part. The origin oj the fire is not known, nor was its cause brought out in the evidence at the inquest. No one, it was stated, had been in the store after 3 o'clock on tbe day previous. Mr Sharland had a large stock, and be.ng only insured for £3700, must be a great loser. The loss will fall on the London and Liverpool and Globe for £,250 ; the Victoria, £600 ; and the New Zealand Company, £1,000 in stock and buildings.