Marlborough Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, SEPT, 6, 1886

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1951, 6 September 1886, Page 2

Marlborough Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, SEPT, 6, 1886

Here as in other parts of the colonies the larikin is gradually developing. True he is a harmless, mild, silly enough sort of felW yet. There is no method in his misbehaviour, no real wickedness. He knows better, yet, out, of pure cussedness, he refuses to conduct himself properly. But he is laying up for himself and others harm in the future, and, unless he is checked, he will bring us trouble,as already he has brought us annoyance. And, although he is not dangerous, he is becoming an intolerable nuisance. Our entertainments and public meetings are being delivered up to bis abnormal craving for noise and disturbance, and respectable people are beginning to say

they must stay at home. At the Cnurch of the Nativity, the other evening, the larrikin si rove hard to excel himself, so much so that we almost expected to see the Rev. Mr Grace, who is a muscular looking Christian, step from the platform and proceed to throw him out. If the rev. gentleman had only taken the initiative we are sure he would have had plenty of assistance, for the temper of the audience was fairly roused. What fun the larrikin sees in spoiling the enjoyment of others is a thing that passeth understanding. But if the larrikin is a nuisance at an entertainment he is a very fiend in the street. What with him and his half-drunken associates of riper years <he streets of the town after nightfall are a disgrace to a well-ordered com-’ inunity. They congregate at the corners-these ill-mannered fellowsand monopolise the footpaths, never offering to stand aside, even for ladies. The air reeks with tobacco and stale beer, and the ears of the passer by are often-times offended with snatches of coarse song, the ribald jest, the idiotic shout of lauhgter and, very frequently, obscene and profane language. This may be a serious accusati n to make, but it is not an exaggerated one. The thing must be put an end to, once for all. Here in the heart of this small town this corrupt thing is growing up and developing itself in our midst. Harralese enough it may be yet, but, still, a very serious matter until it is crushed out. Beneath the very noses of our police the larrikin is learning bis dangerous lessons, the comfort of the respectable portion of the community it destroyed, ladies are insu'ted and frightened as they pass along the streets, and in fact, the whole thing is becoming so serious that some steps must be taken to effect an improvement. It might be well to try soft measure!. Kindness often cures such evils. We believe thoroughly in the g >odness of human nature, and we feel sure that these erring boys only require to be properly taken in hand to effect their reform and secure their future good behaviour. We have Churches and Literary Societies and Temperance organisxtions. Can they do nothing 1 Will not our clergymen come out and lend a hand to rescue these youths 1 Whilst denouncing the larrikin and his acts, we cannot help thinking that the fault, after al', may be as much ours as his. If we could only find something to interest him and keep him employed ! A gymnasium, for instance, where he might box. or fence, or wrestle or in any other way work off the exuberance of his spirits. Anything to keep him off the streets, and anything to teach him better behaviour in our public halls.

Elsewhere appears an announcement of peculiar interest to the future of this district. Messrs Fell Bros, as agent of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Steamship Company, have been advised of the intention of the Company to berth p woolship at the Picton wharf, early in December, for London direct We congratulate Messrs Fell Bros., as the representatives of the Company, and the- district generally in the achievement of an object so much in the interests of the woolgrowers and the district at large. The advantages of direct communication —the shipment of our produoe direct to the market—are so selfevident that we need do no more than just refer to them- For years the matter has been in quiet but steady agitation, and the thanks of the community are due to those who have worked so j erseveringly to bring about this desideratumWe believe Marlborough can export about 10,000 or 12,000 bales of wool annually, and, as one ship can only take about 4,000 bales,there is no reason why three or four ships fthould not loid at Picton wharf every year- We trust the Helen Denny may be the fore runner of incny more of her class, and that the direct communication now inaugurated may be fairly estab* lished. Mr Holmes, of Holmes and Bell, has been a persistent agitator for this boon, and it was chiefly due to that gentleman’s efforts that the ship Lyttelton, of 1100 tons was berthed at Picton wharf, abe-ut two years ago, and took in a cargo of frozen meat. It was mainly through his efforts in urging this question the railway rates — a kindred sufi|ect —were reduced during the present year. Mr Holmes will be afforded peculiar satisfaction et the realisation of his hopes, and will join liearti'y with us in congratulating Messrs Fell Bros, on the enterprise now displayed by their Company.