THE LAST THING OUT. TO THE EDITOR.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4401, 22 September 1871, Page 3

THE LAST THING OUT. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — Larnkinism in Auckland has lately assumed a new phase, having broken out in tweed suits ("newest style," thirty-five and six, complete), which threatens to be very troublesome to deal with. The police have been r ,very successful in putting down the " roughs " of our alleys and back-slurus, but they have made no progress in ohecking the lanikin young gentlemen who claim for themselves an almost exclusive right to both sides of Queen-street and the more fashionable thoioughfares of the city. The Press is now called on to fulfil its functions, and I trust, as indeed I believe, it will do so fearlessly by publishing the wanton acts i commit-ted, and the names of those committing them, which ai c now nightly perpetrated on the peaceful and order-loving residents of Auckland. The young men who do those things are the pest^ of a community. Their lives are just so much w.istc of animal existence, but unfortunately the too-iudulgent laws of a free colony fuibid that ihey should be put out of the way, aa is done with the surplus population of puppies by the process of immersion. The only excuse that I can find for the class 1 have under notice is, that they have no other resoui cc than " larriking" left them by which to eke out their lives. In the company of modest and intelligent ■women t'aey would be uncomfortable. Literary institutes, the lending libraries, and the locture-room know them not. Eeligion and the " respectabilities " are a bore j but their delight is to 101 l over a bar-count^r, and talk spooneyisms to the "stunning" barmaid, who would scarcely conceal her contempt for them if she were not paid to keep her natural feelings under control, and be civil to everybody. Next to a barmaid, or the lithograph of a half-nude danseuse, there is nothing in the estimation of those gentlemen equal to a "jolly lark," which, being interpreted, means frightening timid women, and disturbing peaceful households, where they are quite certain there are no male inmates to thrash them, or in wrenching off door-plates, carrying away scrapers, or twisting knockers whew the constable oil night duty has been ascertained to be in the next street. It is quite charming if, by linking their arms together, they obstruct th» pathway, and compel a female — so much the better if she appears in terror — to pass oier to the opposite side of the thoroughfare. They delight, too, in chaffing cabmen, in which, however, they generally get worsted ; in being mischievouawithouta meaning, and using phrases theydo not understand. Theyaboundm slaug and cheap jewellery ; but are insensible to the fact that they are putting to shame the mothers who bore them, and disgrace the sisters who would fain disown their relationship if they could do so. These men are infinitely below the snob, who may and often does possess some of the qualities of manhood j but the would-be gentleman larrikin has none of them, and this is why it is so hard to put the nuisance down. He cannot be appealed to on his understanding, of which he is totally^deficient, nor to his feelings, exceptingthosehavingreference to his cuticle. There is only one effectual way of dealing with him — the gaol-cell and bread and water, with solitary confinement. The latter would tell on him most severely, as there would be no second inanity to keep him company. The cat-o'-nine tails has been suggested. This, however, would be too severe. It requires a man to bear the punishment. The infliction of a police fine avails very little, as it rarely exceeds in amount what may be raised by impounding a watch at a. loan-office, and the tweed-suited larrikin has generally become possessed of one answering for such a purpose. I am aware that the strictures of the Press with th* class of beings lam now writing of will have no effect. I do not, sir, ask you to appeal to them ; but I do ask of you to demand of the authorities | that tbeoe offenders against law, order, and decency should be dealt with in a way that should strike terror into them, and break up for once and for good this band of larrikins. In closing this letter I wish to etate that if any three, or say four, of the j'oung gentlemen I have brought umlsr your notice make application, you are at perfect liberty to give them my address and — my dimensions. — I J am, Ac, J-B. I