LARRIKINISM.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 8, Issue 28, 5 April 1907, Page 4

LARRIKINISM.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,-Can Nothing be done by "the powers that be" to stop larrikinism and wanton mischief? A few weeks ago a number of young gentlemen (six) devised a scheme for amusing themselves at the expense of a half-caste widow woman at Ruapaka. Half of the number went into her house and accepted her hospitality, and one bright genius having dressed up a batten in a sack and a petticoat showered stones upon the roof; then when she ran into another Maori house belonging to Blucher, and rented by one of the Harts, the occupants (certain flaxmill hands), pretending sympathy, ran out ostensibly to look for the " Taipo," and knocked and pelted stones upon the roof there, the object being, presumably, to frighten the woman into the belief that she was haunted and that her time on earth would be short. After three nights of this folly she complained to the Constable, but when he came up they (the larrikins), having been warned, lay low and played the injured innocents, What was the testimony of one Maori against twenty reliable and respected pahekas? Thereupon Mrs Wells borrowed, with great difficulty, a gun and five cartridges, and has been boycotted ever since and branded as an informer. At Canvastown on Easter Monday night, and during the " wee, sma' hoors " of Tues- • day morning, the roads and lanes from Muttontown, Totara Hill, Taituku, and Havelock were full of larrikins, male and female, in various stages of sobriety, and it is hard to say which were the worst—the white, the half-caste, or the Maori. It is useless to blame the Police, and it is also most unfair. How could the most energetic man that ever wore brass buttons contrive to beat Osaramio, Mahakipawa, Rai Valley, Deep Creek, and Canvastown all in one night and at one particular time ? When with great difficulty he gets evidence enough to convict, the culprit often turns out to be the son -or daughter-of somebody who is such a respected " citizen " that for his sake the "indignant" and learned Justices let the " poor dear boy " go with a caution " not to do it again." Or else when the J.P. is going to try the case a letter is sent to his daughter : " if your fatherjgives us a heavy sentence he had better not ever come up the Road after on a dark night for we will lay for him and kite him to death ! " This is no exaggeration, and I can prove my statement up to the hilt. "Indignant" "Citizen," flower of the pine, Fling off your nome de plume; I'll fling off mine. "Elaus."