LARRIKINISM.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 95, 23 April 1891, Page 3

LARRIKINISM.

♦ TO TUB EDITOK. Sir— l would like, with your permission, to draw tho attention of the authorities to ] what in becoming a very dangerous habit i praotised by our rising generation, more ] especially in the neighbourhood of Cour- , tenay-place. Every evoning there is a regular ( gang ot boys and girls congregated around the Chinaman's shop between the hours of G. 53 and 9 o'clock. They are not only becoming an intolerable nuisanoo to pedestrians, but, worso still, they buy up tho Chinamin's damaged fruit, such as bananas and oranges, . and then stand outaido the shop and throw tho skins broadcast upon tho footpath, endangering human live^. No later than this evening I witno3sod what might easily have beon a very serious accident. A younp lady of considerable weight, and who holds a prominent position in our city, whilo pioaecdin? past my shop happened to get upon ono of these sking, which caused her to slip and stumblo, but fortunately was ablo to balance herself, othorwise thero is no tolling what the consequence might have bfon. We cannot ' blamo the constable in charge of tho district for not doin? his duty, because wo oannot i expeot him to bo overywhero at the same time, and then when ho doei put in an ap- ] pearanoe, these jpunjr larrikins spy him r before ho gets within 100 yards of them, and then tboy aro off like madmen ; there is no possibility of his catching thorn. In conclusion, I would like to EHgceat that a plain clothes con stab! o bo ordered off to do dut<? in this neighbourhood for o few oventa?*, and arrest one or two of the ringleader*, and make an example of them as a warning to others. Tho howling noise is becoming qnite unbearable. Thanking you in anticipation, I am, &0.. C. COLQUHOTJN. 22nd April. (

Ministers, we hear, justify their removal of Mr. H. J. H. Eliott from tho UuderSeoretaryship of Lands on tho around that ho is not in sympathy with their Tillage settlement policy. He is also, we believe, disapproved of by Mr. John Lundon, Mr. Bullance's right-hand man in these matterß, in consequence of a difference of opinion regarding public expenditure on village settlements when Mr. Ballanco was formerly in office. It is something new that permanent heads of departments should be required to be "in sympathy " with tho fads of their politioal superiors. If such a qualification is necesnary, then tho American ay atom of Civil Service appointments must bo adopted. The non-politicil officers will have to change with eaoh Ministry, so that sympathy between the two may always be maintained. Tho doctrine is a novel one in this colony. Mr. Humphries. Commissioner of Crown Lands in Auckland, has arrivod in Wellington for the purpose of supporting his petition to bo allowed to remain in his present station, a-i ho fears that his transfer to Invercargill will injure the health of his family. A considerable portion of the plant ordered from Home to replace the lithographio appliances of the Survey Department, destroyed by the fire at the old Government Printing Office, has arrived, and more is on its way cat in fcbe ship Nelson, now nearly due. The lithosrrapbio work of tho department is being carried on under difficulties since the fire, as in addition to the want of a complete plant, tho men are distributed over four different buildings. The lato Governmoat intended to place them under one roof again, but so far the present Ministry have not shown any intention to carry out tho idea. Tho election of a Councillor for Thorndon Ward takes place to-morrow. It is reported that William Swift, who died at the Old Men's Home at Newtswn a few days ago, was possessed of considerable property. About £20 was found on his person, and it is Eaid that there is a tidy sum of money to his credit in one of the local banks. Tho fortnightly meeting of Court Sir William Jervois, A.0.F., was held last night in the schoolroom, Donald M' Lean-street, Nowtown, C.R. Bro. A. Skone in the ohair, all the officers' and a large number of members being present. One brother was reported as being in distressed circumstances, and it was decided to grant reliof out of the Benevolent Fund. Two members were initiated into the Court, and one proposed for next Court night. Tho Star of Petone Lodge, 1.0.6. T., held their weekly session in tho old schoolroom, Petone, last evening, Bro. Greig, C.T., in the ohair. There was a good attendance of members and visitors, including Bro. Sir W. Fox, wbo gave a short address, a hoarty vote of thanks being accorded him. Three new members were admitted into the Order. The Lodge closed at 8 20, and all present wont to hoar the addresses of Bro. Sir W. Fox and others in the Oddfellows' Hall. In another column appears the notification of an intonded eorios of winter popular entertainments to be held at the Exohange Hall, commencing on Monday evening next. The entertainments, whioh will include fresh attractions eaoh week, are for Monday and Tuesday evenings throughout tho winter, and they will be under the management of Mr. J. W. Foley. During the recent manoeuvres of the Viotorian navy in Hobson's Bay the hydraulic steering gear of Ihe Cerberus failed to aot at a oritiral moment, and there was considerable danger of the vessel running aground when navigating the narrow courses leading into tho Western Channel. A similar mishap ooenrred when tho naval commandant, Captain Mann, sought to take tho yessol into Corio Bay for the purpose of visiting Geelong, and, fearing the Cerberus would run aground owing to the er ratio manner in which she steered, it was decided to anchor of Port Arlington. The oruise clearly demonstrated tho faot that the value of iko Cerberus, either for offensive or defensive purpose*, is soriously disoonnted owing to tho defective nature of the steering apparatus. This aspect of the question has been brought prominently under tho notico of the Minister of Defence, who has consulted with Captain Mann as to the desirability of appointing a competent nautical engineer to report as to the steps necessary to be taken to render the steering apparatus thoroughly effective, find it is understood that an onginser will be appointed for that purpose. Says the Age of the 11th inst :— ln the Otway Ranges platinum case, tho magisterial investigation of whioh was conoluded yesterday, Mr. Gillott, on behalf of Pound, addressed the Bench at some length, contending that no case had been made out. It might be that Pound had told a lot of falsehoods, but thero was no evidenoe whatever that he had converted any of tho ore or the platinum to his own use. There was no evidenco that any platinum existed in the ore at all, beyond one pieoe spoken of by a witness as being "no bigger than a pin's head." Pound was given the five tons of ore to treat at his own expense. If he got one owt. of platinum out of tho same he was to receive JEIOOO, but the contraot had beon completed, and no one oould say that he had got any platinum out of the ore. It bad not been all treated yet. Mr. Panton eaid that Mr. Maodonald thought there was no case to HO to a jury, and he (Mr. Panton) confessed that it was a very weak case, but it was one of great importance, and there wore Bomo points oonneotod with it which required to be threshed out, so he committed tho dofendant for trial, at the same time admitting him to substantial bail. E. Pearce, bootmaker, has imported another shipment of liis famons Norwegian sliDpen, which were found last winter auch a boon to the aged and those troubled with cold feet, The medical profession are loud in their praises of these goods. For eotittnuattan ot reading matter seejourth oaan.