WHERE ARE THE POLICE?

West Coast Times, Issue 673, 20 November 1867, Page 3

WHERE ARE THE POLICE?

TO THE EDITOE OP THE WEST COAST TIMES. Sib — I have been for some time noticing persons infringing the Harbor -Regulations, and expected day after day that the aenteness of some constable would prompt him to bring before the magistrate several carters who render themselves liable to be fined L 5 each. But I have waited in vain. In your paper, about two months ago, an advertisement appeared, notifying that " By the 12th and 13th section of the Westland Harbor Regulations any persons removing ballast or other material from the beaches of Hokitika is liable to a penalty of L 5. All ballast or shingle required must be taken away or removed from above the north end of Revell street;" yet I see at least eight or nine drays constantly used in carting away shingle from a place some distance south of the town belt, or northern extremity of Revell street, and the owners of such drays wantonly do all in their power to cause several houses at the end of the western, or beach side, of that street to be washed away by spring tides. Perhaps it will be said that the draymen are laboring under the impression that the top of the street is where the last house is on the western side of it. For the guardians of the peace, however, who are supposed to be vigilant, and to know when any ordinance or regulation is transgressed, there can be no excuse. They ought to know where the last section, on the eastern side of the street, sold by the Government, is situate ; and, being aware that freehold land in Revell street is to be found some distance further to the northward than the top house • on the beach side of the street, they must be purposely guilty of dereliction of duty in not bringing any person before the magistrate rendering himself obnoxious to such regulations by taking away sand from where it is now carted. Surely the end of Eevell street cannot be to the south of where the Government have sold the land, or be below the termination of such street as marked on the official map. - In the colonies one must expect to see the selfishness of human nature fully developed, and not be surprised at draymen — wishing to save themselves and horses trouble — wilfully destroy the property of their fellow citizens, and to continue their destruction until prevented. The preservation of one's property ,and person is, on the other hand, a law of nature, and if the law of the land is not to be properly administered, surely the persons injured could not be blamed for protecting their own, and driving away a mob devoid of justice with sticks and stones, as they would carrion or any dangerous animal. Large sums of. money have been expended, aud still must be spent, in the formation of works to prevent the encroachment of the sea on property in South ltevell street. Much property would have been saved if the authorities had only possessed foresight sufficient to prevent people from taking away driftwood from the beach. They had not such foresight, and now they permit contractors for filling up holes in the streets, and making the wharf, to obtain sand from the rear of houses in Revell street North, to the jeopardy of that property, and thus as it were rob Peter to pay Paul ; to do a good they must commit a wrong. It is a surprising thing that the holders of property near me in Revell street North, have not before done something to prevent such a barefaced injury being done them. But such is the apathy of most persons, that until someone makes a beginning in the right direction they would allow carters, I believe, to come into their yards and fill drays with sand quite tamely. Matters have come to such a pitch now, that something must be done, and if the police will not do their duty, some other way should be taken to cause men to 1 desist from bringing the -surf to wash away a partion of Revell street North. I am, &c, Obseevee.