The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas, et Praevalebit. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1886. THE NEWSPAPER THIEF.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1336, 8 September 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas, et Praevalebit. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1886. THE NEWSPAPER THIEF.

Perhaps there are no people in the world who suffer more seriously from petty pilfering than do newspaper proprietors. Indeed, respectable and estimable citizens who would scorn the mere idea of dishonesty as connected with themselves, and who might safely be trusted with untold gold, are yet utterly disregardful of the dictum of Dr Watts that It is a sin To steal a pin, Much more to steal A greater thing—that is to say when that greater thing happens to te a newspaper. Indeed there are worthy persons in all other respects who are entirely oblivious to the immorality of annexing papers which not only do not belong to them, but are intended for, because paid lor (or rather, to be strictly accurate, expected to be paid for) by somebody else, and to which the annexationists have not the smallest shadow of claim or title. The amount of annoyance caused by this sort of thing is known only to those who have daily to experience it, for scarcely a day passes in the life of a newspaper proprietor but from some direction or other complaint reaches the office of one or more missing papers. Now and then, of course, it turns out that an address has been over-

looked, bat this in well-regulated offices is an exceedingly exceptional circumstance, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred enquiry revealing the fact that the paper which has failed to reach the person for whom it was intended has been quietly and surreptitiously annexed by some person for whom it was not intended. This, too, usually occurs when there is something in the paper , which people are specially

desirous of reading, and hence the annoyance of the disappointed subscriber is correspondingly intensified. In the case of morning papers left on the doorstep, or thrust, if there be room, under the door, but still just visible from the pavement, these, or some of these rather, fall a prey to the early morning stroller, generally of the genus “ loafer,” who, spotting the prize, transfers it to his pocket, whence, after turning the street corner, he draws it forth, and proceeds at his leisure to read his stolen news pout passer h letups. In the case of those forwarded to country stores, by coach or rail, not infrequently the parcel is descried when somebody’s back is turned, and one of the papers quietly slipped out and trans-

ferred to the pocket. Or the paper is taken openly, the wrapper being torn off, with the remark that “ So and so—the person to whom it is addressed won’t mind.” In this case it is usually a neighbor of the addressee who annexes, and whose coolness and confidence prevent remonstrance. And while the respectable settler who thus thoughtlessly and openly appropriates is not to be placed in the same category as the loafer who steals from under the door, yet the effect is the same in the annoyance caused to the subscriber and publisher, and the probable loss to the paper of that subscriber. It is in vain t hat specj|l care is taken to ensure

accuracy and certainty in addressing and despatching, the newspaper-lifti t upsets all calculations, and it is often exceedingly difficult to detect him. Indeed, it is only now and then that he is caught in flagrante delicto , and in all the other cases blame falls upon the office or upon its arrangements, and frequently upon wholly innocent individuals. We ourselves have recently had seripus cause for complaint in this direction, papers which have certainly been despatched from the office in due course by the usual channels having failed to reach their destination, the reason for this being evidently such as before described. Now, as regards the thoughtless persons who, deeming it a matter of little consequence, take French leave with copies for which they do not subscribe, but for which other people do, we ask them to reflect that the modest penny, which is the price of a single copy, does not represent at all the total loss to anybody concerned, but to bear in mind that irregularity in the arrival of the paper means sooner

or later the loss of a subscriber, and to the newspaper office perhaps a good many pounds in the long run. For that fact remembered we feel sure that this sort of thing would not be repealed. As regards the dishonest persons who deliberately steal—and there arc, in towns especially, a few such—we should be obliged if any subscriber can assist us by detecting one of these, and so putting us in a position to make an example of him, as we most assuredly will at the first opportunity. Of course we write feelingly, being interested parties; but if there be one thief walking the earth who is meaner than another, nay, who is meanest of all, then, in our opinion, that meanest thief is assuredly the newspaper thief. FIRE BRIGADE EXPENSES. The Upper Ashburton Road Board has for the second time refused to refund to the Borough Council the expenses incurred by ffie Fire Brigade on the occasion of Quinton’s Brewery which was, as our readers are aware, within the boundaries of the Upper Ashburton Road district) being burned down. The reply of the Board evoked considerable discussion at the meeting of the Council on Monday night, and there was some talk of publicly notifying that in future the Brigade would not attend any fires which might take place in the Road District referred to. It was ultimately agreed, however, that before such a decisive step should be taken the Board should have another opportunity of reconsidering its decision, and, in the event of its again persisting in its refusal that it should be forthwith given to understand that in future it could not expect to receive the benefit of the services "of the Brigade. We hope the Board will see its way to meet the Council in the matter. The latter is only seeking a refund of money actually expended, and in the interests of ratepayers beyond its boundaries. We do not know what influenced the Board in icfusing this reasonable demand ; but we can* not think that it expects to receive the services of the Brigade and throw the cost on the Borough Council. It may be that the Board thinks, that these services, owing to an inefficient water supply, are of small practical utility, but even if no water be available, good work at a fire may be accomplished by a trained body of men, where the efforts of the neighbours, though well meaning, would be misplaced. We do not believe that the ratepayers in the district acquiesce in the action of their representatives. The amounts the Board is likely to be called upon to pay are but small, and in the interests of property holders within its own boundaries it is sincerely to be hoped that it will not persist in a line of conduct the effect of which will be to compel the Borough Council to adopt the extreme course of withholding the services of the Brigade.

COLLARED AND COLLARED. Despite the pianoforte-iike look of the above heading, our subject is not music or anything connected with it except the connection which may appear to exist between “ cano,” I sing, and “ canis,” a dog, as indicated on moonlight nights by the performance by those interesting animals of sonatas that beat Beethoven. The fact is, without meaning to pun, we don’t want anybody to be pun-ished, at any rale without fair warning, and for that reason we prominently call the attention of owners of dogs to the action about to be taken under the direction of the Borough Council. “ Know all men by these presents ” then, that from and after this date Sergeant Felton and his myrmidons are about to collar all collarless canines and to subject them to the “hakodadt” which is, we understand, good Japanese for “the happy despatch.” Don’t let there be any mistake about it though; the police who “ collar ” the dogs are not going to

provide collars for them, but propose extinguishing the collarless animals because they are coliatless. It doesn’t matter a bit whether they are registered or not, the law being (see section 13, of the Act of 18S0) as follows :—Dogs without collars having the proper registration labels thereon shall prima facie be deemed to be unregistered, and any person or his agent upon whose land such dog may be found, or any person authorised by the local authority , may destroy any such dog.” By the amending Act of 1882 it is provided that “ any dog, instead of being destroyed, may be seized and kept by the police, or any one duly

authorised, and if not claimed and the expenses of the dog’s keep paid by the owner within seven days from the time of such seizure may be sold and disposed of to any person, and such person shall thereupon become the 'awful owner of the same; and the proceeds of any such sale as afore-

said shall be paid into the funds of the local authority.” There is also a local bylaw of the Borough of Ashburton, empowering the detention of dogs found without the registration collar and badge for three days, within which lime they may released on payment ol a fee of ten shillings, but owners will do well to remember that while such dogs are liable to seizure there is no obligation, either under the Amending Act or under the bylaw, to keep them for a single hour, but they may be destroyed forthwith if the police so desire. The motto of all owners of these interesting animals should, therefore, clearly be “ Cave caocra!”