THE AUCKLAND HOODLUMS.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3535, 24 April 1880, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND HOODLUMS.

A Raid on Stbeet Pbbachebs.

For some time past there hare been in Auckland a number of men who believed themselves inspired with a call to go out into the highways and byways in search of stray souls. These men hare, in fact, acted as evangelical gleaners where the regular clergymen where doing the reaping. But, unfortunately, the stray souls have evinced no desire to be gathered into the fold—have, on the contrary, received the preachers with scorn and contumely, not to say violence. Some of the scenes which have been enacted lately hare been a disgrace to the city, and the fact has become patent that a regularly-organised gang of larrikins regard these Saturday, and Sunday evening preachings as opportunities for holding Saturnalias and heaping contempt on religion of any sort. Last evening a gang of embryo-oonvicts and empty-headed rowdies hooted one of the Christian Brothers who essayed to preach in Queen street, following him and his friends up the street and effectually preventing the intended service. It is stated that one of the * preachers was roughly handled and injured. The police interfered, but were not present in sufficient force to arrest the ringleaders. In another main thoroughfare a mob assembled to witness a rough-and-tumble fight between two hoodlums. The police ought to make a salutary example ofsome of these young rowdies. Whatever opinions may be entertained as to the efficacy and good taste of street-preaching, the men who conscientiously practise it in the belief that they are doing good, ought to receive all reasonable protection from insult and violence.—Star. -