The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 534, 17 January 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1878.

Moxi.trnr.-s are .in intolerable nuisance, i There w ti'>r. as ;i rule, a feature in them to | recommend tlitui to the notice of any sane person, i sept, as w too often the ease, thev nui ;-ft*.r one's horse, and harass it by their continuous yelping, until their inisorab!.. 1 >vill no longer stand the stride. Ti;-.; Majority of people keep a im.rv.i..':—:.'i-r!i;-iu t".vc> or three—according to rl.u .".i.ioiint of property they j pos!Uss t!i:ir l-.cnU protection. We observe r'.-:x'f tl'o--,> wi;c have the least dead have the ti('S livi- >ioek in the shape of nondescript dogs. From the appearance of iomt) of the owners we are led to the

wful conclusion that these animals are allowed to prowl about without a license so to do. "We hare not closely investigated this matter (this we leare for the protectors of law and order), but we are seriously impressed with an idea that the strict imposition of the registration fee would reduce the :..u»i...r of tl.—-e audacious cars that run riot in o.w sometimes at the heels of their i:)i.--i-is. who, whatever may be the m'saeeds or habita of their "faithful" animals, will protect them to the last; and nothing but a continuous round of appeals to Justice, which becomes very unpalatable or many reasons, can procure anything ] ike satisfaction. It is becoming a serious natter, and one that we trust will receive ' ;he consideration it deserves at the hands >f those whose business it is to deal sith it. A lady or gentleman riding ihrough our streets., from the country, apon a spirited horse, is not unfrequently uraoyed by a horde of clogs running between the horse's leg*. Some of these ire registered, and others are not, and we presume that the owners of the former class consider that their animals are licensed to be mischievous. It is just possible, however, that in the case of a spirited horse, more especially if mounted by a timorous lady, or an indifferent rider, an accident may sooner or later occur. If owners of dogs—registered or unregistered—would only reserve all the pleasures of their companionship to themselves, there would not be so much cause

for complaint, except that, in the ease of the latter, the revenue would suffer. But, even when confined to the premises of their owners, the nuisance does not altogether disappear. You go to see a "friend." A terrible suspicion creeps over you that he keeps a large dog, for yon hear his graft* voice in the distance. The sound draws nearer and yet nearer, and presently you discern in the dusk the form of an animal of whose ferociousness you can have not the slightest doubt; but he travels round you so insidiously that you are not epiite certain whether lie is not the very" next moment likely to leave the impression of his grinders on your anatomy. Yon scarcely know what to do. The brute possesses not one particle of refinement of feeling. You may, therefore, charm never so wisely ; but all to no purpose. He trots round you until you arrive at the house of your friend in a state of terror, and anxious for the door to open to let you in. You breathe a sigh of relief when you have a thick plank between you and the brute that has made the last few moments of your existence a burden, and your friend shakes your hand heartily, and asks after your health. You tell of your discomfiture, and are informed that there was not the least reason to fear : ' : Our dog Toby is as quiet as a lamb '." That is just what we object fo. The keepers of dogs invariably under-estimato their liability to d'.> damage : but if they would only keep these animals on the chain people would feel much more at ease. We admit that there is a vast difference in allowing doga to run loose in the streets to the annoyance of equestrians and others and keeping them loose on one's own premises ; but these are both evils which should be abated : the one by the interference of the upholders of the law, and the other by very proper consideration for own's nerves and personal safety.