THE LOAFER IN THE STREET.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2263, 4 July 1881, Page 3

THE LOAFER IN THE STREET.

The question of dog poisoning is really assuming a very serious aspect in the town of Christchurch, a d the worst part of the business is that it always happens that the best dogs are the ones to suffer. I have recently been told of a lady residing in a Christchurch suburb who habitually has poisoned meat planted all over her garden, and has already caused the death of several really good dogs, notably an English pointer whose value it would be bard to reckon. To get at such a canine Marchioness of Brinvilliers is not an easy business, it is so hard to prove that the dog took the poison on the ground of the poisoner ; but I remember a case here where the offence was proved, and where it cost the party connected with the laying of tho poison, including costs, value of dogs massacred, &c., just about £7O. I who write have bad four valuable dogs sent <c to the majority ” by strychnine, and I speak feelingly on the subject. These poisoning people should recollect that if a dog does damage, his owner can always be made to pay for it, and that in destroying a dog he is robbing his master of a good friend, whose real value in this world is just about twenty times that of his destroyer. A correspondent who has had an opportunity of reading Captain Hume’s report to he Government on the “New Zealand Prisons,” sends me the following story from the North in reference to the duties a prisoner may occasionally have to perform : A young fellow was run in ; what for does not appear, but anyhow ho was a short sentence man. One day one of the warders belonging to the place where he was incarcerated had occasion to go into tho town to purchase some small article of ironmongery, for Government use, and the young fellow was told off to carry tho luggage. This wos very pleasant for him, being well known to all in town, wearing his prison clothes and following the festive warder all over the place. If a man is ordered hard labor, let him have it by all means, but I should scarcely think this young man’s job would come under that heading. It was simply showing him up before his friends and rubbing his disgrace into h-m in a style never contemplated by those who drew np the regulations for prisoners and warders. It was good little Binks who recently started a new shop, where, ho being a good tradesman, will do well. But trade must be pushed in these times, and Sinks was on for pushing it. One day another tradesman doing a very big business called on him. Sinks was away, but hearing who had called, and knowing that tho man could put a lot in hie way, he fled swiftly on his feet, like unto Joab’s brother Aeabel, down to the emporium

of the big man, who thus addressed him “■Ah, Sinks, So glad to see you. Just put your name to this and fork out the sugar like a good fellow.” It was a subscription-list for a Sunday School treat. Sinks signed, antied up, and came back a wiser if a sadder one. He expresses himself, however, of the opinion that the bread thus cast upon the waters will return before many days. She was what is very rare in these times, a good servant, and was accordingly highly thought of by her employers. It befel however that this good domestic was smitten with sickness, and the doctor on being called in recommended a glass of iced wine or beer per diem. His diagnosis proved so correct that the domestic pulled round, but, thinking that a abort holiday would do her good, she applied for leave, giving her boas her account. Ho said it was quite correct, but he should have to charge her for the iced drinks supplied in her hours of sickness. The girl referred the case to her paps, who replied that if her employer persisted in the charge he should summons him for selling drinks without a license. The gentleman passed on this, but now is very particular not to engage any servant likely to become an invalid or likely to require “spiritual aid.” A triend from the South writes me word that in his neighborhood a new borough is to be formed, and a supposedly future councillor came rather to unexpected grief over the matter. He had recently sold the Government a piece of land whereon to build a police “Lock-Up,” and, strange to say, he was like the man who invented the gillotine, the first to be hoisted on bis own petard. Taking that slight drop extra that is on the other side of the line marked sobriety, he got looked up on Saturday night, and had to spend the following day in the confines of the Lock-Up moralising on the quaintness of human affairs generally. “ Wanted, a smart boy to assist in a milk cart, and make himself generally useful on the farm. Apply, &o.” Now what does this mean ? I allude to the phrase “ assist in a milk cart.” Does the “ smart boy ” shove in the milk, or what ? Tour _ Kaikoura correspondent writes—l hope unintentionally—a very droll paragraph in a letter he sends in reference to the Presbyterians’ second anniversary, the account of which he finishes thus: “Votes of thanks were passed to the choir and lady who presided at the harmonium, also to the ladies who provided the tea, and to the ’young men’ who kept them in hot water." The italics are mine, but I only want to observe that the “young men’s” behaviour seems to have been a little singular to say the least of it. USB THE BOD.

Use the rod ; there’s virtue in it, Give the whip its proper place; Idle talk is worse than useless, Evil habits grow apace. Boys require to be corrected When they do or utter wrong; Beat assured that evildoers Dread the sight of birch and thong. Use the rod ; let no false pity Cause your purpose to relent; - Let the culprit know your meaning When on reformation bent. Q-ive the boys a thorough, beating When the same they do deserve ; And they soon will learn with promptness Ail your mandates to observe. Use the rod ; ’tis vastly better To inflict a wholesome pain Than to foster greater evils By indulgence soft and vain. Whip the boys, but not in anger, Let no evil passion rise ; Saif-control is always needed To secure the wished-for prize. Use the rod : I well remember How it used to be applied As a cure for all offences, If the culprit laughed or cried. Needed still, let naught replace it, Modern times have not improved, Moral suasion’s all a fizzle, Ancient customs stand approved. TJsa the rod ; its sacred functions Are essential for the child ; Teach him strictly to obey you Minus pout or gesture wild. Spare no just or wise endeavour To eradicate the wrong, Childish faults must be uprooted By a process firm and strong. Use the rod ; the wisest monarch Spoke this precept to condole ; " Q-ive the lad a sound correcting, Whip his back and save bis soul.” By a Public School Tbaohee. The above, as will be seen from the signature, has been sent by a public school teaoher. On the whole, I do think I should like to be a pupil in his show.