The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JANUARY 3 1885. Police Offences Act, 1884

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 86, 3 January 1885, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JANUARY 3 1885. Police Offences Act, 1884

As the above is now in force, we deem

it advisable to again point out a few of its most salient features, and certain clauses which are likely to prove stumbling blocks and snares to the unwary. A penalty of five pounds may be inflicted for throwing glass or rubbish of any kind upon any public place, or for leaving a truck, wheelbarrow, or any packing cases or crates or other encumbrances in the street ; burning litter of any kind so as to endanger any building; drawing any sledge or timber or other heavy material on any public place to the in j uiy of such public place ; having an awning or signboard not eight feet clear of the footpath ; allowing the drippings of the eaves of any house to fall upon a public footpath ; exposing for sale any article so as to encroach on the road ; hanging meat or offal over a public place ; neglecting to clean a private yard or passage; selling unwholesome food of any kind ; beating carpets, flying kites, using bows and arrows, or catajjults, or playing any game to the annoyance of any person ; wantonly disturbing any inhabitant by 1 ringing any door-bell, knocking at any door, blowing any horn, beating any drum, or using any other noisy instrument in any public place. (As there is no exception made in the last instance, local bands will have to be very careful.) Throwing stones or other missiles; discharging firearms or setting off fireworks so as to endanger or annoy passers-by. (As tho last is becoming a very popular amusement in Feilding, we warn persons so indulging to be careful not to get within the clutches of tho law. ) Using threatening, abusive, or insulting' words or behaviour in any public place; disturbing a congregation assembled for public worship, or any public meeting or lecture, concert or entertainment. (We particularly commend this clause to the notice of our Feilding larrikins, who are too much inclinetVfor this sort of thing.) The 4th clause of the Act provides a penalty of ten pounds for being a driver and riding on any cart, dray or waggon without reins, or who is away from his horse or cattle so as to be unable to have fuU control thereof; or for taking the wrong side of the road, or for furious driving, or driving any vehicle laden with material which projects on either side more than five feet from the centre of such vehicle, or for wilful delay on the road, and getting drunk and abusing the passengers, or overcharging ; allowing cattle to be at large, or unlawfully obstructing the driving of any cattle ; starting a dog-fight or setting a dog on to any person. Clause No. 5 provides a penalty of twenty pounds, or to be imprisoned for not more than tliree months, for placing any obstruction on a public place, whereby life or limb may be endangered, or leaving any hole or dangerous place upon or near any public place, without enclosing the same or keeping a light burning upon such enclosure from sunset to sunrise. (We particularly recommend the attention of the Town Clerk to this clause.) For the following a penalty of ten pounds may be inflicted — Breaking a pane of glass in the window of any building ; extinguishing or breaking a lamp ; trespassing in any place; removing or injuring any bell, knocker, signboard, or gate; setting fire to timber or scrub on any land not his own or in his occupation. Clause 7 provides a penalty of twenty pounds,* or two months' imprisonment, for cruelty to animals either by torture or starvation, or dog or cock-fighting, or inflicting unnecessary pain in killing, branding, or conveying any animal. If any conviction under this section takes place before a R.M. or two or more Justices, they may, instead of inflicting a money penalty, forthwith sentence the offender to be imprisoned for six months. For indecency, drunkenness, vagrancy, obscenity, the punishments are very severe. In conclusion, we consider this Act almost a death-blow to larrikins, and it woidd be so entirely if the use of the " cat " was properly introduced. We hope to see it discreetly carried out, for we cannot help remarking that the constable who does his duty under the Act and endeavors to enforce all its nrovisions will have a most onerous task to fulfil, and probably render himself the best hated man in the community. Fortunately the constables stationed in country places are invariably selected for their good sense and discretion, and we do not fear that any unnecessary trouble will be given. Yet do we most strongly advise all persons who desire to be law-abiding to be very careful in all matters refer- , ing to the sanitary clauses of the Act. The.c will hu rigidly eid'orr...