The Globe. SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 1876.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 575, 22 April 1876, Page 2

The Globe. SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 1876.

If there is one characteristic of man’s temperament more prominently pourtrayed than another, it is that of his persistent concealment of his softheartedness, or in other terms ho does not like to be considered womanish, he therefore lets pass numerous opportunities of doing good service to his fellows, that were he devoid of the feeling of seeming ludicrous he would not hesitate to attempt to accomplish. One of the principal outrages which shock the susceptibilities of our nature, is that of cruelty to animals, either wanton or thoughtless, and we know of no other vice which so completely stamps a man as a depraved and despicable wretch as when we see him illusing a dumb creature. We are aware of the existence of societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals in England, and also in Victoria, that are the means of saving a large amount of suffering to animals, and also of bringing the perpetrators of the meanest of cruelty to punishment. That there is opportunity for the philanthropist to exercise his vocation in Christchurch, may be readily observed by avisit to the saleyards at the back of Colombo street, between Cashel street and Hereford street on any Saturday; here he can see with what callous indifference animal Buffering is looked upon ; here he may see the young calf, with its four legs

tied so tightly, that when the thongs are cut it will take some minutes for the poor animal to scramble to its feet, and most likely then assisted by a few brutal kicks from the owner. To see the way that animals are handled in and out of carts and drays, pitched in and thrown out, it is a disgrace to civilization. Again, as regards the poultry, here we have seen as many as ten fowls tied together by the legs, and then thrown across a man’s arm, where they hang suspended, their legs crossed in indescribable confusion ; and you can witness them placed in bundles in the poultry pens, with their legs twisted, and their feet black, through the circulation of their blood being stopped ; you can see them panting for a drink of water, and actually undergoing torment such as no Christian should ever be the means of inflicting upon dumb creation. In England persons have been fined for carrying poultry by the legs, and those who send poultry to market have to provide proper accommodation for the birds, and all infringement of the regulations subjects the evil doer to be mulct in fines or to bo imprisoned. We fancy that our police force might find ample employment in looking up offenders who overdrive cattle, batter horses about the head, suspend smaller beings by the legs, and are guilty generally of miscellaneous cruelties. Another of the weaknesses of the age is the prevalent passion for the wanton destruction of animal life, the killing is the gratification, and the acknowledgment of being a good shot is praise that is not to be withstood; but is it necessary that all the beautiful native birds are to be exterminated on account of this insane propensity for destruction ? No matter what specimen of natural history in the shape of a rare visitor is seen, it is immediately bagged by some one, either for wanton mischief, or with the excuse that it is to be sent to a Museum. We look upon the shooting of wild fowl, when not required for actual consumption, as one of the forms of cruelty which should be summarily stopped. We know that the native pigeon and tuitui are rapidly disappearing from New Zealand, as well as other races of her feathered frequenters, which, did they meet with kind treatment from us, would be as familiar about our homesteads, as the barn door fowl or the English pigeon.