A DANGEROUS NUISANCE.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1612, 12 October 1885, Page 2

A DANGEROUS NUISANCE.

(To the Editor Lvangahua Timks.) Sir — Public attention having been s.i often directed to the above without any beneficial result, it now appears to be but a mere waste of ink to persist in advocating any reform for this truly unfortunate place— unfortunate, I mean as far as local government is concerned. What ought to be everybody's business appears to be nobody's business, and vice versa. It is not only unsafe, but absolutely dangerous for women or children to walk the streets of Reefton after night fall. Only a few nights ago while people were wending their way *o an entertainment at the public hall, some women and children narrowly escaped being run over by stray lmrses which were galloping at full speed from the opposite direction. The street being narrow and the moments precious they had neither time or chance to escape, and but for the presence of mind of a gentleman who rushed in front of tint horses with an upon umbrella, thtn che'Cfcipg their onward career and causing them to turn back, the consequences might have been very serious. Surely there is a law, if properly administered, to prohibit owners from allowing horses and cattle to make camping grounds of our streets and verandah's i I have myself on more than one occasion got up at 2 and 3 o'clock in j the morning to drivo horses off my verandah, and clean up after them. Now wh;> ' is to blame ? Is it the owners, or is it the law, or is it those whose province it is to administer the law ? Which of the trio would be responsible in a case of damages ? Why is Reeftou behind all other places in all things affecting the safety ami wellbeing of the people? But if there is ono virtue more than another (if virtue it be) that the people of Reefton religiously adhere to, that one in my opinion is the very doubtful moral of " when smitten on the one cheek to submit and expt»se the other for like treatment." The one savors too much of despotism, the other too much of servility and cowardice. I nm, etc., Spectator, Reefton, October 10th, 1885.