The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1886. LARRIKINISM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1378, 23 October 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1886. LARRIKINISM.

The most deplorable and disgraceful feature in connection with our young colonial cities is the growing up among their populations of a class of foulmouthed foul-minded youths described for lack of a better term as “hoodlums” or “larrikins.” Their filthy language as they congregate at street corners is the disgust of all decent citizens and their evil pranks are on the very border-land of crime, and, indeed, not infrequently lead directly to its deepest depths. The recent outrages upon young women in Sydney, almost incredibly brutal in their atrocity, are the ripened fruit of this evil tree, and although the larrikins of New Zealand have not developed into such monsters in human form as the hoodlums of that city, we fear that they are fast on the way to attain that development. Only 100 plain evidence of this is afforded by recent proceedings in Auckland, the Church of England Cemetery in that city having been, one evening last week, the scene of a sacrilegious outrage of the most wanton and disgraceful character. It Appears from the accounts given by the Auckland papers that on the night in question a large number of graves were ruthlessly desecrated, many of the tombstones (some 38 in all) being pulled down, and the majority of them shattered to fragments.

The fences around the graves were torn up and the verdure destroyed, valuable marbles were broken in pieces, and a scene of wreck and ruin was produced in the midst of God’s Acre which is thus described by the Evening Bell : “ Leading from the church to the. gully two small marble stones were observed turned over, and the grave destroyed. A third was also seen, on the same path, but beyond being out of its place, it was not injured. Another was discovered cn the path about half-a-dozen yards from the grave upon which it had been erected. Two were discovered near the edge of the, hill pushed over, but not damaged. Another large and valuable stone was also knocked down. Passing along the track, and approaching a slight incline, could be seen a splendid marble stone in an iron fence, torn from its socket, and lying in pieces. Another one was shifted from its proper place. But the most convincing evidence of malice was seen in a small but valuable marble monument, which was fixed firmly between a tree. It could be seen that the scoundrels seized the stone, and with all their force threw it against the iron fence which surrounded it, with the intention of depositing it in the gully below. The stone struck the fence in transit, and carried away the side of the iron railing. It then fixed itself as

already described. Another wreck was seen in the centre of a low iron fence—a pile of valuable marble, cover • ing a large tombstone. What it was previously could hardly be comprehended. It had been a beautiful cross, and the scoundrels must have seized it and broken it into pieces against the stone. Near the bridge, where it is'conjectured the men first started their reckless conduct, stones were observed lying about in all directions, some smashed into pieces, others merely turned over. One was found about 20 yards away from its grave. On the main path the monument erected over the grave of the late Archibald Fleming was found to have fallen a prey :o the destroyers. The circular glass :overing the portrait was smashed in, xndthe portrait was hardly recognisable. Below it could be seen the fragments of 1 china jar, and a bunch of flowers, showing clearly that the jar was taken rom its stand and thrown violently igainst the glass. This is the third time ve believe this act has been repeated. I"he glass was broken twice before, and m one occasion the portrait was abtracted. The total damage done to he graves will, it is said, exceed £100.” \ll this seems to have been the work if two scoundrels, apparently about 25 ears of age, who were seen in the act if breaking some headstones and were mrsued but managed to make good heir escape, one of them it is said aving pulled out a revolver and pointed ; at his pursuers. It is to be hoped hat they will yet be arrested and made n example of, for a more disgraceful nd atrocious outrage of the kind has ever yet been recorded. But the fact hat such things as these are occurring mong us leads to the enquiry whether 'e are training up the youth of the olony wisely and well, and we greatly ;ar that in only too many instances tere is a laxity of parental control which lust in the years to come produce itter fruit. There was an age, and that ot so very long ago, when there was, erhaps, too great austerity in the ringing up of children and the ranagement of young people, but it is 3 be feared that in these days of berty and liberality we are running to re opposite extreme and exhibiting a isregard for youthful discipline, which as the most mischievous tendency, arents and guardians owe a duty to rciety as well as fo themselves in lis matter, and if our boys are not to ecome larrikins, which is only another ord for embryo criminals, those who

are responsible for their home training must see to it that that Gaining is not neglected, but that mind, manners, and morals are conscientiously cared for, and that due obedience is yielded from the earliest days to the wise restraints of a judicious discipline and a just authority.