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Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 9, 9 December 1862, Page 2

To the Editor ofthe Invercargill Times

Sir, — Often have euloguims been passed on our police, many the raphsody on their efficiency, and verily not without reason.

Tremble ye criminally intent, shake in your shoes ye evil minded, keep a tight rein equestrians, for fine or imprisonment await, nay rather, are eager for offenders of whatever description ; yet despite these facts, men are to be found who affirm tlie force is not sufficiently powerful or alert. Not powerful indeed ! when five constables are to be seen carrying off one unruly individual. Nofc alert ! when a hen's nest cannot be robbed bufc the offender is taken in the act, though {vide police report to-day some doubt maybe entertained whether the presence of the constable afc the hen house might not he attributable to an ovate partiality, or (we will be mild) that he was there rather with a view to the prevention of the possilility of egg stealing in that quarter, than with any idea of catching a culprit. However that may be, who can doubt but the presence of such a powerful and alert force, backed by the B. M. we possess — who considers their veracity unimpeachable — who indulges in an acquital about as often as Paddy did in suicide — and whose generosity confers "all he has to give," to those who come before him. Who can doubt but that they render Southland in the eyes of transgressors a place to be avoided, a perfect Hades, over whose portals the inscription "fine, hard-labor, imprisonment, stands ominously prominent. Truly happy should be the (good) people in such a Province. Yours &c, M. Invercargill, December 4, 1862.