The Southland Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1867.

Southland Times, Issue 757, 2 December 1867, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1867.

Amongst thie last batch of Act 3 which arrived per Otago is the " Protection of Animals Act, 1867," the main feature! of which, as being likely to interest the public, and indeed prevent the unconscious infringement T>f some of its provisions, we summarise. The protection under the Act is extended to two clasaes of animals, defined as " game " and " native game ;" the first designation as per schedule 4 of the act includes pheasants, partridges, grouse, black game, quail, snipe, plover, swans, hares, antelope, deer, and imported wild duck of any species. These when we get them, and that portion of the colony in which they have their habitat, is proclaimed by Order in Council open for the purpose, can be hunted, shot, taken or killed, only during the months of May, June or July in any year ; to entitle one to do which a license of fifty shillings must be taken out ; unlicensed persons hunting or shooting are liable to a fine of £20, or in default four month's imprisonment. Sellers of game must take out a license, the cost of which isfivepounds. Unlicensed sellers can be fined £20. The Superintendent may issue licenses; balance of fees for licenses, fines, penalties, <Bsc, after defraying salaries and expenses of Bangers for protection of g»m«, is to bs paid to the Treasurer of the Acclimatization Society if any ; if none exist, it is to be placed to the credit of the revenue of the Provino ■. All penalties for infringement of >ij of the provisions of the Act may be recovered summarily, where no punishment is specially provided the fine is not to exceed £20 ; half of any fine recovered is to be paid to whoevershallhavebeen instrumental inprocuring conviction. Any one under the age of fifteen, convicted under the Act, ia liable to imprisonment, or in default of payment of fine, may be privately whipped. Any person who shall within three years from the passing of the Act, sell, offer for sale, or expose for sale any dead hen pheasant, shall, on conviction, be liable to a penalty not exceeding £20. " Native game," in terms of Schedule 5, includes wild duck of any species, bittern, pied stilt plover, wiJd geese, wood pigeon, teal, black stilt curlew, quail. None of these can be hunted, shot, taken or killed in any part of the Colony, except during the months of April, May, June, and July in each year. The Governor may declare by publication in the New Zealand O-azette, that the provisions of the Act relating to " native game" shall not be in force in such parts of the Colony as he shall define, and he is also empowered to cancel such proclamation as he thinks fit. The G-overnor may also declare by proclamation that in any district, no native indigenous bird named therein not being " native game," shall be shot, taken, or killed, under a penalty not exceeding twenty shillings. No game can be poisoned, trapped, or taken by means of traps, nets, springs, or in any other way than by hunting or shooting at any time whatever ; nor shall any such trap, net, or snare, be made, erected, or set except by persons duly authorised in terms of the Act ; such authority to be issued for the purpose of distributing, changing, or turning out such game in some other country or part of the Colony ; a license under the hand of the G-overnor for doing which must be procured. Any person in pursuit of game committing a trespass by entering or being upon any land shall be liable to a penalty of not exceeding £20. Any person introducing into the colony, or liberating if already introduced, or having in his possession any fox, yenomous reptile, hawk, vulture, or other kind of prey, will be liable to a penalty not exceeding £100 —or in default, six month's imprisonment. Bangers may be appointed to observe and take care that the provisions of the Act are complied with in the Province or district for which they may be appointed, and lodge information against infringers. The powers under the Act may be delegated by the Governor to Superintendent, & if&QUtto CwciU of MjflfomAWt

The Daily Tw*t of the 27th ult. »ys :— A ■erious accident happened on Monday evening to Mr P. C. Neill, of the firm of Messrs M'Callum,. Neill and Co., merchants in this city. Mr Neill resides at Anderson's Bay, and ho on his tray home on horsebrck when h» met with th« accident, from which he now suffers. -When passing the Gas Works, his horse shied at.somV heaps of clay which had been left on the roadside, after tha formation of * drain which cut through the road to carry off the water which had accmulated after the rain, on Sunday, and, by the sudden morement of the animal, Mr Neill was thrown to the ground, one of his feet remaining in the stirrup. In this position he was dragged along the road for a few yards, and either by the fall or the horse trampling upon him, one of his legs was broken in three places. . The accident was observed by two gentlemen who were walking along the same road, and by them Mr Neill was assisted to the cottage at the 0-as Works, and subsequently he was removed |to his own residence. It has since, we believe, I been ascertained, that the small boce of the leg | is broken in two places, and that the large bone* is alo fractured. Mr Neill is now under surgical care, and it is expected that in a few days the bones may be set, and that he will make a safe recovery from the effects of the injuries he has received. . The Bruce Herald of the 27th ult. has the following : — It is seldom that we require to appeal to that respected authority the " oldest inhabitant ;" but with respect to the unseasonable weather we have lately experienced here, his j experience justifies us in asserting that such a rainfall, and consequent floods, have not been seen in" Tokomariro for many years. Previous to Saturday last, the weather had been cold, stormy, and changeable, but towards the evening of that day, the wind veered round to the 5.8., when a steady rain set in, which continued to come down, without intermission, until Sunday morning, when, instead of abating, it increased until it became what is expressively termed an " even down pour." It was at its worst about the middle of the day on Sunday, when the Tokomairiro river very quickly rose, and overflowed its banks in several places. It very soon became apparent that families located noar its banks were liable to be flooded ; and we observed that several shay carfc^ were called into requisition to remove those who felt fearful of being inundated by the rise of the waters. Fortunately, towards the afternoon the rain became less copious, otherwise, there would have been much greater damage sustained ; as it is, we notice that the embankment of the new cutting in Salmond's Creek has been very nearly destroyed; and at the wings of the bridge on the Main Road the rush of water has carried away the clay behind the timber work, and thus left the bridge in a rather unsafe condition. At the junction of the Clutha and Tuapeka roads, the north side of the newly-erected bridge at the toll bar, has been a good deal destroyed ; and it will require immediate attention to make it right. Towards the evening, some parts of the plain presented the aspect. of a lake, particularly between the township of Milton and the toll bar. The Fellmongery establishment of Messrs Smith and Co. was, we believe, entirely surrounded by water, and had the river risen but a very few inches more a loss of wool to the amount of £500 would have occurred. The rise of the water having taken place during the day, prevented any of those sad consequences which result from flooding ; and as the river has no great fall, the lob 3 of moveable property has not been great ; at all events, no accounts have reached n3 of any losseß of a serious nature. The flats at Waitahuna, we are informed by Mr Mark Dale, were completely flooded ; and six horses belonging to him were very nearly drowned ; but after an arduous struggle they succeeded in getting safely on to dry land. Mr T. Kitchenain. had also very nearly lost a horse. Jrour bullocks were drowned ; and much damage has been sustained by the diggers, in the washing away of sluice boxes, &c, and in the destruction of water races. The flood was at its height in Havelock at halfpast twelve on Sunday. It is estimated that the damage sustained will amount to £2000. Journalism in the neighboring Province of Otago one would imagine possesses peculiar attractions. Newspapers appear to crop up like mushrooms, and we need scarcely add, as quickly disappear. It is a moot extraordinary coindence that every new journal in New Zealand, ushered into existence within the last few years, has some peculiar mission. Some imaginary abuses are to be rectified, or perhaps the principle of " perpetual motion" can only be fairly developed by the advocacy of each new aspirant to rank aa a member of the fourth estate. The latest specimen of this class is now before us. It purports to be devoted to the interests. of the working classes in Otago, and is called the People's Journal. It is very neatly printed, the selections are good, and the tone savours of high flavored democracy. Doubtless, with experience, the People's Journal will obtain a prominent rank in the class of popular literature. The following is the opening address :— " To-day wo publish No 1 ot the People's Journal. . It is small in size, deficient in fine writing, and even friends and wellwishers will find ample reason to disparage this, our first attempt. Nevertheless, we are hopeful ; and although we have to ' creep betore we gang, « we have faith in the future. We will learn as we grow olier. We will thankfully receive advice ; and we will frankly impart to others the knowledge we ourselves receive. We believe in Otago ; we believe in its resources ; we honor its Government; we yearn to assist in pioneering the way which leads to the future glorious development of our new horne — our small but magnificent (we will not say Province) country. A country whose every hill and dale recalls to recollection the dear land we have left and ne'er may see again ; a land of brave and noble-hearted men and women, whose mission evidently is the regeneration of the world. Men and women of Otago, to-day we are weak. We pray you to help us. Without your assistance we perish. Farmers, ploughmen, miners, male and female domestic Bervants, shoemakers, tailors, carpenters, bricklayers, and all the other, artisans and mechanics of Otago come to our assistance : your cause is our cause. The People's Journal is your paper. In you is to be found the strength and energy necessary to form a great nation. From men similar to yourselves, and occupying the same position in the j old world as you do here, are recruited the vast armies which, fight battles and change dynasties., j

can wia battles where your legacy is a wooden leg or a midnight .burial in a strange land, you, if you wish, can, by your, efforts in the cause of newspaper education, soar abort old world prejudices, inaugurate a new era which will enable the good/ the brave, and the true-hearted in a short tune to establish a new law code on simple and holy piinciples, based on the beautiful and ever-to-be-remembered lesson, "Do you (• others as you'd have others do to you.. You hare other tasks before you, such as insisting upon Separation, forming railroads and canals, surveying the whole of Otago, requesting our dear friend and sister Southland to again unite with us, and treating her in the moat liberal spirit ; making a bold stand as one man against northern i interference and nothern encroachments, and a: thousand other political and social improvements . which we will divulge in due time. We must be thoroughly loyal, thoroughly determined to 1 obtain right and justice, whether from the Throne ior from the Thrones representative. We must to the . very death resent all encroachment on our liberties. Let men and women of every honest grade in society ask us questions, and we will answer them if we can : : if = not we will request those having more knowledge -than ourselves to answer them. We want all and sundry of you to detail your grievances, to give your thoughts and aspirations, if for the general good. Never mind fine writing ; give us facts. Let your grammar, if ever so bad not deter you from giving us, in your own words,' your own thoughts and ideas. The finest diamond may have a coarse and rough exterior. We are from the people and of the people, and owr noblest aspiration is to be identified with the people and the people's interests. Again we say, come and help us, so that we may be enabled to help ourselves, and ultimately bur noble and glorious Otago.