VAGRANCY.

Evening Star, Issue 4092, 7 April 1876, Page 4

VAGRANCY.

To the Editor.

- Sir,— ! saw in to-day’s issue of the ‘Times’ that a man named “A. Macfarlane” was arrested and “had up” before pur Worthy Magistrate, Mr Y. Pyke, on the'charge of “having no visible means of support. It turns out that the cause of his arrest was solely because he excited the Sicions of “the polaceman on duty, id ”!! It is possible that this “ polaceman” might be the man from Galway or the County Down, or it might be even Tipperary, bedad—but that matters not; he thought that poor Macfarlane was a “susrycioua car-ackter, your Wushup, and aristed him accordingly.” Well, it turned out that Macfarlane (after being told to “get down” until the other cases were disposed of) satisfactorily proved at the Court that he was a working man, and “had money,” and was accordingly discharged with “a caution.” Might I take the liberty to ask what the caution meant ? A man taking a walk in any of the streets of Dunedin at that rate is liable, bedad ! to be “arrested on suspayshun,” and afterwards (although he has not offended the majesty of the law, and even though it be proved that he “has money and is clear at the Bar,”) is to be discharged “witha caution.” May I ask you is this “the land of the free and the brave ?” If every production of Kerry potatoes orGalway pints of butter-milk encased in a blue coat feels “ suspaycious,” you, Mr Editor, as well as the rest, will require to keep a sharp look-out. (I have never seen you, but I sincerely trust you will pass muster.) I cannot conclude without expressing my sympathy for poor Mr Grant, who is at present writhing under the lash of one who signs himself an “ Irishman • and a Colonist,” and also of the mighty Iditor of the ‘ Times ’ for stating the simple truth, why the unemployed swarm in our streets? .It is difficult to pass a street comer. It is very difficult, indeed, for “the Bhoys” to keep the comers clear, and I understand one of them is at present under medicpl treatment —his throat being so much inflamed from bawling, “move on, bedad!”—l am, &c., Wag at the Wa’. Dunedin, April 5.