The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas t Prevalebit. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1884. Ashburton Larrikinism.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1404, 13 December 1884, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas t Prevalebit. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1884. Ashburton Larrikinism.

A philologist would probably be puzzled to decide the exact etymology of the word “ larrikinism,” but, unfortunately, we are only too often reminded of the existence in our midst of that phase of society which is designated by the term. The larrikin, indeed, is an animal of modern growth, and consequently a new word was required tofdescribe him, and the one that was is sufficiently expressive to suit the purpose, although it is not to be found in any dictionary save that devoted to the study of slang. The Australasian colonies have been an excellent forcing ground for the larrikin plant, which has flourished like a green bay leaf. In a settlement like JSfew South Wales or Tasmania, it was only natural that a certain proportion of the population should bear an hereditary criminal taint, the rowdies being the direct descendants of convicts from the Mother Country. The same reason cannot be urged for the presence of larrikinism in a colony like New Zealand ; yet, in spite of this we not only find it here, but to all appearances it is on the increase. This, at any rate, is the case in Ashburton, and we have been afforded ample evidence of this during the past few days. The local larrikin is a creature suigeneris. Coarse - and brutal by nature, he is an arrant coward and seeks for his victims among those who are practically defenceless. He musters in full force in the cheap seats at public entertainments, and delights himself, while he disgusts every other person not equally brainless, with making personal allusions to other people in the hall. Were these allusions in the slightest degree witty there might perhaps be less reason to complain, but the men and boys who thus amuse themselves are incapable of uttering anything that is not senseless or indecent. While the Pollard troupe have been here the larrikin fiend has been particularly rampant, and we are only giving expression to a very general opinion when we record our astonishment that the police did not interfere. If this sort of thing is allowed to go on, respectable people will find it impossible to attend entertainments of any kind, and theatrical companies will avoid the town as a plague spot. In fact, Ashburton bids fair to develope a reputation of a very unenviable kind, as a hotbed of the most discreditable class of rowdyism. The majority of these disturbers of the public peace are probably boys, in whom the instincts of civilisation are either weak or entirely absent, and whose parents, if they knew their duty, would give them a sound thrashing; but there is still a fair proportion of men among them. What enjoyment they can find in annoying their fellow creatures it is impossible to imagine, and we regard them at least as low in the scale of human nature ss the London costermonger who spends his spare moments in jumping on his mother. The latter, at any rate, confines his attentions to his own family, while his Ashburton prototype is quite indiscriminate in the insults he throws broadcast. Our worth R.M. has shown a commendable disposition to deal ■severely with these larrikins,jand we sincerely hope that the police will not neglect such a prolific hunting ground for this objectionable class of offenders as is afforded at public entertainments in this town. The total indifference to people’s feelings that is displayed by these wretches is a very long stride towards criminality of a more dangerous kind, and if some attempt is not made to stem the tide Ashburton will ere long provide more than her fair quota towards the population in Her Majesty’s gaols.

A complaint signed by thirty-five passengers of the steamer Kaikoura against the behaviour and manner of Captain Orutchley has bean forwarded to the Directors of the New Zealand Shipping Company.

Last night’s Dunedin Star says :—“We understand that Mr James Fulton, M. H.R., has returned to the Treasury the sum of LIOO voted to him last session as Chairman of the Waste Lands Committee.”

The privileges in connection with the annual Caledonian Gathering and the Wakanui Sports were sold by Mr T. Bullock at the Arcade this afternoon. Ths following prices were realised : Caledonian : publican’s booth, Mr Alexander, L2O ; confectioner’s booth No 1, Mr Davidson, L 6 10s ; confectioner’s booth No 2, Mr Randall, L 7 ; cards, 8s per doz, Mr Zouch. Wakanui : publican’s booth, Mr Randall, L 9 10s ; confectioner’s booth, Mr Davidson, L 6 10s. Mr H. S. Valentine, who has been appointed General Manager of the New Zealand Agricultural Company, arrived in Dunedin by the Kaikoura.

We are informed that Mr James Bar- j die, the representative of Messrs Mcßwan ( and Co , has petitioned the Supreme ( Court to wind up the Ashburton Woollen , Factory. The matter will come before j the Court at its sitting on Wednesday. ( 17th inst. It is to be regretted that ( Messrs Scott Bros, of Christchurch would , not consent to the voluntary winding up of the Company, as the course now adopted will involve the Company in much increased law costs. The following is a list of the brigades who intend entering for the forthcoming Fire Brigade demonstration at Dunedin, received up to date:—Auckland, Grahamtown, Napier, Spit, Masterton, Wellington, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Christchurch City, Christchurch Railway, Lyttelton, Ashburton, Timaru, Port Chalmers, Dunedin City, South Dunedin, Roslyn, Hokitika, and Kumara. Yesterday morning the second jury in Meikle’s case at the Invercargill Supreme Court intimated their inability to come to a decision. They were accordingly discharged. The prosecution intimated an intention of consulting the AttorneyGeneral in regard to the case, and also mentioned that there would probably be an application to hear the case in Duredin in February next. This will probably be done if practicable; if not, it is likely it will be heard at Invercargill next session. Carrie’s case, which hinges upon the other, he being an important witness, is also deferred. The members of the Choral Society are reminded that the usual weekly practices will be resumed on Monday evening at 8 o’clock at St fctephen’s schoolroom. The second day of the Southland A. and P. Show was very succe sful, the weati er being the finest experienced this summer, and tha takings L4B better than last year. The champion prizes awarded yesterday were For draught entire, Little and Cattanach’s Accountant; mare, J. B Sutton ; thoroughbred, Russell’s Dundee; mare, Stewart’s Tera. The lad James Wright, who jumped from the train yesterday, and sustained a compound depressed fractura of the skull, was living and conscious at 4 p m. to-day, but Dr Ross entertains little or no hope for his recovery. The High School Board met at the Council Chambers this afternoon. Present—Messrs W. C. Walker (in the chair), Cox, McLean, Williamson, Wright and Saunders. A letter was read from the County Council, notifying the apnbintment of Messrs Walker and McLean as the Council’s representatives on the Board. The financial arrangements made by Messrs Williamson and Wright with the Union Bank of Australia were approved of. After the disposal of a quantity of routine business the Board adjourned. Mr De Harven met the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon, and la : d his mission before them, and was afterwards taken to the Show Ground by several members. He returns from the north in about ten weeks. et is stated that a shooting case occurred at the Junction Hotel, about for miles from Dunedin, on the Port Chalmers road, last night. It seems a danbe took place there, during which a German rose up and shot a woman through the neck. It was not knov.n up to last night whether the woman was dead. ,

Capt. Wing, Onehunga Harbormaster formerly in charge of the pilot station at Port Phillip, has a book showing that on February 2nd, 185*, a three-masted schooner called the Osprey went into Port Phillip, going out again on June the 12th the same year. The captain states he remembers perfectly that the Osprey was staled to have picked up a boat at sea. The adjourned quarterly meeting of the Ashburton Licensing Committee (Borough) will be held in the Courthouse at noon on Monday. The owner of the Triumph has made some progress towards arranging an experimental charter tc load her at Auckland and Napier for London. The recently appointed Justices of the

Peace, Messrs H. Friedlander and D. Williamson, wets sworn in before Mr H. O. S. Baddelay, H.M., yesterday. Mr Ivess will be sworn in on Monday. The Finance Committee appointed at

the last meeting of the County Council met this morning, Messrs Walker, Megson and Harper being present. The Committee having fully examined the financial position of adopted a report, which we understand recom mends large reductions in the salaries and other expenditure of that body. At a meeting of the Oamaru Licensing Committee yesterday, an extension of the hours to eleven o’clock ,wa« granted to all publicans. The Keast and McCarthy Brewing

Company hold ita third annual meeting in Dunedin yesterday. The ac f ual result of the year’s operations was—Profit, L 3 518,

Ipsses, L 3,561. The losses were sustained by depreciation in value of hotel properties. There was a credit balance to profit and loss account from previous years and a reserve fund of LI,OOO, but it was considered unwise to declare a dividend. The man Fitzgerald connected with the Nenthorn murder case had not, up to last night, been arrested. Hancock, the English pedestrian, who a) rived from Australia a few days ago, has arranged a match with jyoang Scott. The arrangement is that if Hancock beats Scott in a 24 hours’ walk Mr Austin will give him LIOO. The Primitive Methodists at Newland celebrate the anniversary of their church to-morrow, when the Rev P. Jones, of Greandale, will preach both morning and evening. The tea will take place on the Monday following at 5 30 p.ra. Christmas presents free of charge.—Last year we are informed that over 9,000 presents were given away curing December and the early part of January by H. E. May & Co., The Hall, Christchurch. This year they are doing the same, and this is how they do it ; Every customer is presented with a ticket equal to 10 per cent, on the amount spent by them, so that if you spend Lio you can choose anything up to L l, if L 5 is spent a 10s present will be given, if L 3 a 63 present, if Li a 2s present, but if you only spend One Shilling you will get something. And every time you come during this month of December and up to J anuary the 6lh you will get a pre-

sent. If you do not wish to spend a lot of money in one day’s shopping you can get your tickets for what you have spent, and so on each time you come, and then get one really handsome tiling equal in value to all the tickets you hold,—[Advt.]