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Otago Witness, Issue 1155, 17 January 1874, Page 22

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COCKFIGHTING AND CRUELTY.

Though dojjs dcliylit to bark and bite, You must not set them on to fiirht — Which gamecocks al.so lo\o to do ; But mind you don't provoke them to, Although by Nature they're inclined ; Or you will be .severely fined. Tis true they like it ; but what thcu ? You deem it sport? You cruel men ! O, how such sport can you enjoy, As .seeing' airiin.il.s destroy Their kind, and one another maim? Out on you, wretches '. Fie, for shame ! Bets laid on them that you may \\ in, You'd have them iiyht ? The more the sin. To cruelty you add the vice, Which makes it \vorsi>, of a\ariec. And then, poor creatures, after all, The stakes they surfer tor, how small ! Our battle-, arc another ease ; The .slaughter of the hunuu raco : The mutilation of nur kind. But these tiring must be— never mind. We have sufficient reason for Our every great or little war. Battles, wherein moil make men bleed, Somewhat bunt cnckfightiiig, indeed. But then there's honour to maintain, " Prestige " to keep up or regain, Or to be gained, C) Christian friends, Our Commerce has important ends.