THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1881. THE EFFICACY OF THE CAT.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2402, 14 December 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1881. THE EFFICACY OF THE CAT.

A great deal of what wo cannot hnfc regard as maudlin sympathy appears to have been excited by a recent decision of Mr. Mellish in regard to a juvenile offender. These merciful gentlemen have, however, overlooked one very important point in connection with the case which has caused such a display of the Christian spirit of forgiveness. It is quite true that the offence for which, the juvenile delinquent was sentenced to the wholesome discipline of the cat was in itself but a slight one. While, however, this was so, there was also this fact, that the boy had been an inmate of a reformatory at home. The check thus put upon his downward course appears, from his subsequent conduct, to have been quite insufficient as a reforming agent. It therefore became necessary in the interests of society here, and as a means of reclaiming if possible tha individual from becoming a member of the criminal classes, to try a still stronger remedy. Henca we contend that Mr. Mellish was but doing his duty in ordering in addition to the term of imprisonment corporeal punishment. It is not as if this lad was an ordinary first offender, overcome probably by the temptation of goods being exposed so as to bo easily removed. In that case we should have felt it our duty to have joined with those who seem to think the punishment unnecessarily severe. But it was not so. It was a case in which a lad after having undergone a probation, as it were, in a reformatory at home immediately on arriving in a now country with every chance of beginning a now life and being honest and respected, deliberately relapses into crime. It is not a matter for consideration whether what he stole was worth five ponce or fifty pounds The guilty intention was the same, and under tha circumstances we cannot but regard the sentence as one fully and amply warranted by the facts of tha case. As to the anonymous letters, it is to be hoped that the police will be enabled to trace the writer, so that an example may be made. It is monstrous that a Magistrate, acting as Mr. Mellish decidedly has done in the interests of tha community, should bo exposed to threats of such a kind. We are fully inclined to give all credit to the sympathising correspondents for the gouuiuness of their intentions. It is no doubt repugnant to many minds that corporeal punishment

should ho inflicted. Bat in some cases it is absolutely necessary, and the one now under notice is just such an one. THE DRAINAGE WORKS. During the past few days, and more especially since the calling by the Drainage Board for tenders for pipelaying, there has been an uneasy feeling in the public mind. This feeling has found' vent in the shape of rumors that the scheme of pipe laying covered by the tenders Just accepted, though costing a large sum of money, will be practically useless, because they will not connect with the main scheme, and secondly, that the ratepayers will bo called upon to find a very largo sum of money indeed to complete the works now in hand. These matters were brought up before the Board this morning at the special mooting, and it is very satisfactory to find that as in many other instances rumor has by no means told the truth. The engineer informed the Board that the scheme of pipe-laying now under tender will connect with the main intercepting sewers already completed, and all that will remain to bo done will be to provide for its exit at the Sandhills, and plans for this work are in course of preparation. So much for the first point, which we ftel sure will be of a great relief to the anxiety naturally felt by the public. With regard to the second rumour, which has reference to quite as important a subject, Mr. Hobbs, who has taken considerable pains to master the subject of the estimated cost of the whole work, informs us that after a careful consideration of the area proposed to be covered by the pipes in the contract just let, he is of opinion that the Hoard will be able very nearly to finish the work with the funds now at their disposal. Of coarse this is a subject upon which a member of the Board can only, to some extent, speak conjectnrally, but, as we have pointed out, Mr. Hobbs has had special opportunities of becoming acquainted with the matter he is discussing, and therefore his opinion should have some weight. We quite agree with Mr. Hobbs as to the necessity of an official return such as that contemplated in his notice of motion being published. The general public, as a bedy, are in the profoundest ignorance as to the amount spent, the work done, or the cost of that which yet remains to be completed. This affords those who are opposed to the Board au opportunity of making statements not quite consistent with facts, which are believed by the public. Therefore, it is both in justice to the outgoing Board, and also as a means of public information imperatively necessary, that such a return should be issued. Then the ratepayers will bo able, at a glance, to see what they have got for their money, and how much more will be required to make the scheme perfect.