The Evening Star TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2662, 29 August 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1871.

It is nothing new for lads to be mischievous ; but it goes by a new name in the Colonies. At Home it was called mischief ; here it is called Larrikinism. Where the word came from we do not know; it is however significant, and means, uot that mischief which is inspired by the spirit of fun, and inflicts no harm beyond “ taking a “ rise ” out of a companion or some one whose peculiarity of temper or circumstance points him out as a butt for

amusement, but a spirit of ■wanton destructiveness. Scarcely anything is safe from the attacks of larrikins. Flowers in gardens are not only plucked, but the plants are often destroyed : fruit is not only taken from trees, but the branches are broken. Then science, busy equally with means of production, destruction, and children’s toys, has added the shanghai to other weapons of mischief, and practise with this improved sling is directed against things living or deadbirds, beasts, and panes of glass are all objects of merciless attacks. The evil is not confined ‘to New Zeaand, but is equally rampant in Victoria, where it has been the subject of special legislation ; and because of the present difficulty of dealing adequately with offenders of this class, something of the sort will have to be done here. Our existing Acts do not meet the case. The punishment awarded for offences of this class requires to be carefully considered and judiciously awarded. So far as punishment can be deterrent, it should be made so ; but there is a natural reluctance to severity where the fault is committed through exuberance of spirits and thoughtless levity. If it be made too severe, there is not a man worthy of the name who would not suffer loss rather than subject a tine spirited lad to it : and if it be a mere apology for punishment, it is an invitation to commit the offence through mere bravado. Beside there is always danger in such cases of inducing a greater evil than the one existing, by injudicious penalties. If, for instance, a lad convicted of such an offence were sent to prison, unless he were subjected to solitary confinement, he would learn more wickedness in a week than in half-a-dozen years of intercourse with the world, without that gradual advance in intellect that would enable him to reject the evil as a rule of action, and look upon it as a beacon warning him of danger to be avoided. He would come out from the prison either as a hero in the eyes of his companions, and thus as an acknowledged leader in future mischief; or, as one who had suffered a degradation that unfitted him for companionship : and thus he would feel like Cain, that a mark was upon him, that would drive him from society of his own rank and station. Either of these must be avoided if possible. The first, because of the danger to others, and the consequent increase of the evil sought to be avoided; and the second, lest the whole of the future prospects of the youth should be clouded by a punishment exceeding in severity the demerits of the offence committed. In passing sentence upon two larrikins on Friday, the Mayor expressed the opinion that much blame rested with parents in such cases. In many instances, no doubt, they are not sufficiently careful to lead children to habitual respect for the feelings, persons, and property of others ; and we are inclined to think that this points forcibly to the direction in which legislation should proceed. We grant that it would be manifestly impossible for parents constantly to be watching over children. They cannot always keep them in leading strings, but on the other hand, if parents do not carefully train up children to a habit of attending to their duties to other people, it cannot be right that the child alone should bear the punishment. Were it in the mind of a boy that breaking a window with a stone from his shanghai would render his father or mother liable to penalty of some sort or other, the wildest larrikin that ever slung a stone would hesitate. It is manifestly a branch of family education that has not been sufficiently attended to. We may mention that on behalf of one of the culprits on Friday no one appeared—neither father, nor mother, nor friend. He was left to the magistrate to deal with, no one seeming to care what became of him, nor what his punishment. Can it be wondered if one for whom so little care and affection were manifested, should grow up regardless of moral obligation? But there is another view that society ought to take of this matter. The natural love of lads for athletic sports and games of skill should not be repressed, In fact it should be encouraged to the utmost. Our fault lies in repressing it on account of its evil, instead of training and directing it to "ood. Every attainment involving cultivation of the truthful working oi the hand and eye must be good in itself—every skilful use of the muscles must be an advantage to the individual, and, indirectly, to the community. , Even these amusements, therefore, if ; well directed, would tend to training up an active and intelligent population. If, instead of trying their skill at a window, lads were induced to compete at marks, with careful arrangements to avoid endangering the safety of persons or property, they would learn to use and not abuse tbe instruments in their hands. And SO with all other faculties. Our system of education of will never be complete nntij. we Jearp to aid Nature— not to thwart apej repress her.

Legal.— Mv T. W. Hislop, son of Mr J. Hislop, Inspector of Schools, was to-day admitted and enrolled a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Personal. —The report that Mr Warden Pyke had sent in his resignation is devoid of foundation, such a step not having been even meditated by him. A Court Scene.—The following scene is reported by a Nelson paper to have occurred in the Magistrate’s Court Nelson, lately Cross examining Counsel (coaxingly) ; ‘Now, tell me little girl, didn’t your mother tell you what to say in Court?’ Little Girl, nine years of age (affrightcdly) ; ‘ Ye-e-s, sir. ’ Counsel (triumphantly) ; ‘ 6 Oh ! she did, did she ? ‘Now, what was it you were told to say ?’ Little Girl (bravely) ; ‘ Please sir, she told me to speak the truth.’ Counsel resumed his seat.

Permissive Bill.—With reference to a petition in favor of the Permissive Bill, signed by 1650 inhabitants of the electoral district of Hokitika, presented to the House of Representatives by Mr White, some may be interested to know that the town of Hokitika contains 3,500 inhabitants, of whom nearly 1000 are children, and that it supports 98 licensed houses, besides a large number of sly grog shops. Westland, with a population of 15,300, supports 300 licensed houses, besides the Sly grog shops.

Port Chalmers.—A meeting for the purpose of establishing a Mutual Improvement Society at Port Chalmers, was held last evening in the Mas mic Hall. The meeting was well attended, and tlie addresses of the various speakers elicited general approbation. The Mayor (Mr 11. Dench), who presided, introduced the matter for consideration, and dwelt on the advantages, social, moral, and mental, which it was the aim of the society to accomplish. He heartily recommended the movement, and wished it the greatest success. Interesting addresses were made on behalf of the movement by Messrs Mausford, Golder, and Asher, and a committee was formed to frame rules and report at a meeting to be held on Monday next. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the chairman at the termination of the meeting.

Mining.—For some time past small parties of miners have been working on the Serpentine, braving all the inclemencies of the winter severely felt in that locality, and sticking manfully to their claims, which, if common rumor may be relied on, yield them more than an average return for their labor. Lately the inevitable Chinese have found their way there, and they also seem to have struck good payable ground. The Dunxtan Timex are informed that a Chinaman brought in two hundred and fifty ounces of gold, and and disposed of it at Alexandra, a few days since, and, from inquiries made, it appears the gold was taken from a claim on the Moke Creek branch of Drunken Woman's Greek, at the Serpentine. Port Chalmers Town Council.— The regular meeting of the Town Council was held last night in the Town Hall, Port Chalmers. There ■were present the Mayor (Mr H. Dench), Councillors B «lton, limes. Morgan, Neale, Cordon, M’Kinnon, and Easton. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the correspondence of the Town Clerk vas read in reply-to Mr C. Anderson, accepting his tender for town erection, as per application ; as also Mr W. Borlase’s application for lease of quarry, which was granted. Fresh tenders w.-re called for sections 8(5, 87, block 4 Mr Edward Perry’s application to lease section 293, at L 3 10s per annum was granted. The report of the Public Works Committee was left over until next meeting. The report of the Water Committee having been read, considered, and adopted Councillor Neale moved that Harrington street be formed, and that the dray road and footpath along Wickliffe terrace be made and formed beyond their termination. The recommendation of the Lighting Committee, that ten lamps be placed in different parts of the town was adopted. A number of accounts was passed for payment, and the meeting adjournal until Monday next.

Flax Exhibition, —Speaking of the Colonial Jlax exhibition at Wellington, the Post says : —On the 20th inst. the Governor visited the Colonial Museum, to sec the specimens of flax—the growing plant, the the dressed fibre, and manufactured articles —which the Royal Commission have collected during the past twelve months in the course of their labors. These specimens were classified and arranged in a complete manner, that reflects great credit on the care and laber bestowed by the Comnrs sion, or, rather, by Col. Ilaultaiu and Dr. Hector, on the work which they have undertaken. It is impossible for the most careless to glance round on the articles exhibited without being impressed with a sense of the extent to which the flax industry might be developed in New Zealand, and also with a feeling of how little really has been done as yet. In one part of the exhibition is to be scon a case containing all known fibres, and in another all those in use. In one compartment arc exhibited samples of flax sent up specially to the Museum, and which may be accepted also as specimens of what the different dresses can accomplish by their several processes. Some of these exhibits are really beautiful, while all are of a cjuality that would doubtless command a go id sale in the home markets. In other compartments are shown hanks of flax, obtained out of bales that have actually been sold in the Loudon market, and which, therefore, are faithful specimens of the articles really sent home. The price at 'which these specimens were acfually sold is affixed to each. A glance at many of these will explain the low figure which most of the flax exported fromNNcrw r Zealand cemmauds, and a comparison between the hanks sent up to the Museum and those purchased in Loudon will convince any one that dressers have only to spend a little more pare on the fibre to make every bale exported command a high pi ice. Native dressed flax and machine Manufactured articles are exhibited, also fancy goods made out of flux dyed with European dyes. Some of these latter arc peculiarly beautiful, and scarcely to be distinguished from silk. The wall of the museum are decorated with Maori mats, and probably there nev. r have been collected together so many and such beautiful specimens of this kind of Maori manufacture. Many of them are only lent to the museum for the occasion by chiefs, who would not part with them for any sum.

iV meeting of the Dunedin Abstains Uf)ion wil} be held in the Congrega-

tional Hall to-morrow (Wednesday) evening at eight o’clock. We have been requested to call the attention of jurors to the notice appearing in our advertising colums, stating that their attendance will not be required until Monday, the 18th September.