MELBOURNE BEGGARS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4790, 29 July 1876, Page 3

MELBOURNE BEGGARS.

(From the Telegraph of July 15.) Not long since a distinguished visitor to these shores, when asked his opinion of Melbourne, “the Queen City of the South, said “ Well, it is a remarkably fine city in point of buildings. and that sort of thing, but it is uncommonly low. Every fifth man you meet is a beggar." The remark was not original, for the sentiment has been expressed by nearly every intelligent stranger that comes amongst us. A few years ago Melbourne afforded a parallel with Constantinople, in one respect, at least, and that was the number of vagabond dogs and homeless mendicants that infested all the leading thoroughfares. Thanks to the interposition of the police and municipal officers, the city has been rid of the first nuisance, hut, from some unexplained cause, the profession of begging—one of the most ancient on record, it is true—has just now more followers than ever. Any person not blind themselves may, by walking round the city, become convinced of this fact, by meeting hordes of importunate beggars, clothed in the most approved bundle-of-rags fashion —greasy and filthy—in almost every thoroughfare of importance. A clean, decently-attired beggar is liable to he regarded until suspicion, hence the followers of the ancient vocation are apparently imbued with the notion that to enlist the sympathies of the charitably disposed they must be objects of aversion as well as of charity. From the wellfed loafer, with beer-stained visage, and the grease exuding from every pore of his skin, to the shambling old dodger, who plaintively asks for only a penny to buy iood for his “ missis sick in bed,” and the street urchin—shoeless and wanting a coat —who first asks a lady to buy a box of matches, aud then failing to do business, . whines out a request for “ somethink to buy a penny bun with ” the same utter disregard to the leading rules of health is uppermost. Considering the immense amount annually expended on the support of charitable institutions 'iu this city, the presence of so many beggars in the streets can only be explained by the theory that either the pauper population is far in excess of a just proportion, or that there is something wrong in the administration of the law relating to vagrants. For years past the city has labored under the disgrace of the presence of hordes of beggars, the very appearance of whom offends the eye of passengers in our streets, and it is high time that the city should be swept dean. If the present institutions for their relisf are inadequate, then other accommodation should be provided without delay, for it is absurd to keep up two systems. Cases that come up occasionally at the City Court have illustrated the necessity for a change, and yesterday another argument was afforded at the same place.. An old fellow, sixty-three years of age, named Callanan, an old colonist of over twenty-five years’ standing, called on Mr. Sturt, and said he was starving, although following the profession of a beggar. His eyes were bad, and he was attired in three ragged shirts, two waistcoats, three coats, all of various colors and sizes, and sundry pairs of trousers. Round his neck was suspended from a chain a huge tin plate bearing a halfobliterated appeal to the charity of the public. In his hands he bore an’old tattered belltopper to receive the coins of the charitable, aud another disreputable head-covering for its legitimate object. He also carried two walking sticks, altogether presenting a curious study of dilapidated humanity. The chairman of the Bench asked him what he was going to do for a living, and the old fellow replied shortly, “ The hospital.” Ho then went on to assert that he had been treated for chronic ophthalmia at that institution, was discharged, but wanted to get back again. Mr. Sturt said the institution could not receive chronic cases, and sent the old gentleman to gaol for Ihreo months as a vagrant, wherehe would undergo the salutary process of washing with soap and hot water.