PETTY LARCENY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 603, 25 April 1882, Page 2

PETTY LARCENY.

Any one coming to Akaroa is struck with the number of gardens in which there are fruit trees, and one of the establishf d queries asked by a visitor of a resident is, " You must have a good deal of fruit ? " The reply is, however, frequently in the negative, accompanied by the mysterious words, " We live too near the road." On further enquires, the new-comer ascertains that fruit is considered common property by a section of the community, and that those who live " convenient" are the principal sufferers. Occasionally there is an outburst of indignation, but as a rule the people are silent sufferers; they have got used to it, and they thank Heaven when they are spared a few apples for their own use. The other day one of the oldest residents, in speaking to a friend, pointed to an apple tree and said, " That tree bears very well, but we have never tasted a ripe apple from it yet. The fruit is very rosy looking, and it is always sirippel. However, we always get the apples from the next tree ; they are green looking, and they never take those." It will thus be seen that outfruit thieves are of a haughty kind, and discriminate. They only take what they consi lev the best, and kindly leave what they consider unpalatable for the use ot

the growers

Now, we can forgive a schoolboy for stealing an apple, but when orchards are stripped, as they have been this autumn, it is time to speak, lake Mr Westenra's case ; that gentleman is endeavoring to rear some choice fruir trees, for establishing an orchard. At great pains and trouble he selected the best varieties of apples, and cultivated them most carefully. This year he left a few apples on each tree, to ascertain if they were true to sort, so that he might reject inferior ones. The result of all his care and trouble is, that these connoisseurs in petty larceny, doubtless approving highly of Mr Westenra's choice, strip every tree. Strange to say, he does not take the affair at all kindly, and absolutely offers a reward for the apprehension of the offenders.

What we wish to point out to our fruit-stealing friends is, the danger of acquiring a habit. They may remove from Akaroa to some other place, where public opinion is not so lenient ; and as we write, the figure of a certain horse dealer, who got a lengthy term of imprisonment for taking a few apples, rises up before us. It may be all very well for a lady in Akaroa to say to her offspring, " Children, I am going to make jam to-morrow, nnd vnnf- some fruit. Mind you don't tear your pimforc-s in getting it, and let me catch you going through any goiv-e hedges, and getting prickles in your legs ! " Nα doubt hero such directions might be attended with no ill effect, but elsewhere the consequences might be very serious indeed.