THE GARDEN ROBBERS.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2791, 27 January 1872, Page 3

THE GARDEN ROBBERS.

To the Editor.

Sir—There is a gang of thieves who go about the City and literally strip bare of their fruits all the bushes and trees. D.iring the past week 1 find tree after tree of my own garden denuded of apples. Cn several occasions I took the trouble of lathing the ga];e, facing York place, a strong cord, and next day I found that it had been cut or taken away, and the trees stripped almost bare. Several people complain of having been served in the same fashion. In fact orchards in Dunedin are quite valueless to their owners. Had the robbers waited till the apples were fully ripe, and then asked me for some, I should gladly have served them. But Ido grieve to si e the trees laid bare so prematurely, and in such an unwarrantable way. There is very littie protection for property afforded beyond the preempts of Princes street, where indeed there is the leajst possible risk, Why is this ? With so many schools and churches, one would expect more honesty in tins City. Some time ago you gave us a graphic account of the punishment inflicted upon two lads for stealing cherries from a certain garden. I confess that, when I read such a description, I was indignant at the treatment: “As fhe cat fell each time, an instant yell of pain told of the succeeding smart. Kach of the boys appeared to suffer in the same degree of intensity, and each gave indications tf the severity of the pain by incessant aorean.a and cries, repeated witli every stroke.” Considapipg ’ the' 'depredations pevpeti at :d throughout the City—and even subiPbaby thieves since that time, I have chafig k! considerably my opinion of that well-merit id punishment. But, Sir, I hold the parents or guardians are even more criminal than the children. Why are children suffered to prowl about the streets at all hours of the day and night? Why permitted to disturb the citizens with hideous beating of kerosene tin cans, and throwing of stones, and hideous yellings ? In the old land, respectable children never play in the streets. It is time to stop such evils ere they assume larger proportions. 1 hope you will direct public attention to such juvenile abominations of embryotic thieves and depredators. : ' I am, &g., J. Cl. S.