CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 108, 7 May 1881, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THB EDITOB OF THH "EVENING MA11,."

Sia— From all parts of the colonies we read how fast larrikinism is on the increase, and how the fact ia deplored. I, for one, can scarcely be surprised that it is so after the verdict in the case heard in Court ou Wednesday last. When a mob of boys whose ages vary from 12 to 15 years are allowed to collect in a public street, surround a dwelling house (the inmates of wbich have never injured one of them), shower stones on the roof and vary the amusement hy rattling tins, and instead of doing as a person's feelings would prompt tbem to do and as I should certainly do in a similar case, namely, catch the ringleaders and pitch them into the river regardless of what injury I might do them, he takes legal steps to punish the offenders, there is no proteciion whatever; the law is powerless to reach them, and although the evidence produced showed they were tbe culprits, they were allowed to leave the Court without even a reprimand, naturally believing themselves at perfect liberty to repeat the disturbance wben and wbere trey choose. Not one, sir, would care to stand in such a painful position, and in the face cf sucb decisions one may arrive at the conclusion that such prosecutions are simply a sacrifice of both time and money. I am, &c,

Citizen.