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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 8, 22 August 1861, Page 3

To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Times. Sir, —When, an Inspector of Police was appointed, and the Province inflicted with the amount of his salary, people imagined that great moral improvements were to be brought about, and that the social condition of the town would be considerably improved. I confess, sir, I was inclined myself to believe that something in the way of reformation was intended, when I found that the police force was considerably increased, our present very good looking inspector appointed, and the edifying instructions for the force printed in conspicuous type in the Herald a week or two ago. I thought to myself—won’t the pigs and the goats have to look out now ; and as to cows and larger animals, my eye, sir, I made sure they wouldn’t venture to town at all except in strict charge of a keeper. Drunkenness, thought I, will now be checked—those noisy street brawlers and swearers severely punished. Alas! sir, for the vanity of human expectations— We dream, Bui rarely does the glad fulfilment coins! and the Province of Hawke’s Bay, which has earned for itself the soubriquet of the " Drunken Province,” is not yet likely to retire from its degrading pre-eminence. Seriously speaking, there is not, perhaps, in the whole colony of New Zealand any' town of equal size to Napier where less attention is paid to the various nuisances that the corrective influence of the police ought at least to diminish, if not in many instances entirely to prevent. I am more particularly induced to write

these lines in consequence of some recent scenes of the most disgusting nature occurring at the Spit. Drunkenness, fights, swearing, in its frightful intensity, occur, and with perfect impunity, and very often in the presence of children and the hearing of females. I admit that to take up a number of men, excited by drink and passion, a distance of three miles to the lockup is a thing almost impossible. But is there no remedy ? Aro these offenders against public decency utterly beyond the reach of the law ? Aro they to bo allowed to repeat their acts of disgrace and annoyance ? In a word, can they not be summoned and punished ? A policeman’s duty I conceive to be, although perhaps not mentioned in the “ instructions,” that when he has not the power to secure an offender, he at least ought to note his name, and summons hun before the bench of magistrates. He ought to make an example of every outrage of decency ; not to select one or two eases in the course of six months or so, but to allow no instance within his observation of a breach of the law without adopting the necessary measure of punishing the offender. In conclusion, I would observe that, if the Province could afford the expense of building a Native Hostelry, rarely if ever used for the purpose intended, surely a lockup at the Spit, so greatly needed and so likely to be used, is an undertaking that I would wish respectfully to introduce for the consideration of the Provincial Council when next in session. I am, sir, Yours, &c., ss. & Costs.