South Canterbury Times, THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1882.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2807, 23 March 1882, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1882.

Thu frequent recurrence of boat accidents calls attention to the recklessness with which boating is everywhere carried on, and is full of warning to the Timam community, No recreation is more inviting than boating. To those living .beside'a' navigable river, or at the seaside it is irresistible. But it is always attended with great danger to the inexperienced or unskilled.; A' party of young fellows and their friends charter a boat, set the'sail, and go forth into the stream, with the sheet fastened securely/ For a time all goes well, but suddenly a gust of wind smites the little craft, and in an instant she is capsized and her occupants are struggling in the power of a devouring element. This is an oft-repeated tale whose dreariness is sometimes relieved by deeds of devotion and heroism, as in the case of the recent shocking occurrence at Invercargill. A,s the .port, grows and our population increases boating will become a recognised institution, and it will be necessary tp take steps to prevent the occurrence here of similar casualties.- Youngsters equally ignorant of swimming and boating hire a boat without difficulty and Jset forth in all the' careless joyousness of youthful' strength, energy, and When the danger comes, which can h» avoided only by skill and practical knowledge, those who are destitute of these qualities inevitably com© to grief. There is a moment when the danger is apparent, another while the poor wretches wildly, but vainly strive to avert it—in the next all is over, and there is an upturned boat with sinking and drowning persons. We must not wait for accidents like these, which indeed will occur often enough. We must institute some provision I whereby they may be if not entirely prevented, at. least reduced to a mini-, mum.; It must be strictly enforced upon the proprietors of boats not to lot out their boats to manifestly unskilful persons, to youths, or in doubtful weather. Certainly a sail should not be let with the boat unless the boatman has satisfied himself that there is at least one of the party whp understands the management of it and that the party are all sober. Should a waterman violate these conditions knowingly and a fatal accident follow he would bo morally guilty of manslaughter. But it is for the public themselves and all who go boating or have the control, of those who, do so to take warning by the sad accidents that so often happen. Wo contend that no one ought to begin boating who is not proficient in swimming and practised in various movements in the water. If then an accident occurs the occupants of the boat are not confused, they are. able easily and at once to do what their judgment tells them is best —to swim, float, or what not, or in some way to support themselves until assistance arrives. When a boat

capsizes and nobody can swim or perhaps only one, there is a panic. Everybody clutches wildly at his neighbor and all go down together. The one swimmer is caught at by everybody and his knowledge avails nothing to him or them. We hope this matter will receive attention.

We have been informed, on yeiy good authority, that a few evenings ago an elderly couple, perfectly quiet and inoffensive, had their peace disturbed by a band of young street marauders, who amused themselves by giving vent to a series of fiendish yellings ; and, finally proceeding to actual violence, smashed open the door of the cottage and would have gone to greater lengths but for .the, timely arrival on the scene of a man who speedily dispersed the mob of young scoundrels; The poor old couple had been, of course, shockingly terrified. Such proceedings as these might have had fatal consequences, and there' is no knowing when death from fright or actual violence may not follow such outrages.. The danger to which we pointed the other day, viz :—that of the growth of larrikinism in the community is a real danger and must he dealt with. Street prowling is becoming a general habit of some of the youth of this town. Anyone taking a walk round the borough (not merely along the Main North and South Roads), may satisfy himself of this, and it is precisely this which most leads to larrikinism. Lads out at night band together and of course betake themselves to mischief; to harmless mischief at first, and thence by degrees to outrage of every 'kind on the persons and property of citizens. If the police had power to arrest all lads found in the streets after a certain hour in the evening, obviously not out on special errands, and to eharge the parents before the Bench with allowing their children to wander at large; ~ and if such law were vigorously Carried into effect, we should speedily see an alteration. For the proportion of children in the colony who are without home and parents is infinitesimal. Our larrikins have homes and parents—and it is now time the law examined into the condition of these homes and the control which these parents exercise over their children.