WICKEDNESS IN MELBOURNE STREETS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3364, 16 November 1872, Page 5 (Supplement)

WICKEDNESS IN MELBOURNE STREETS.

(JJaHi/ Teleijmph.) There is ono flagrant and intolerable nuiaanco connected with the most frequented street in the city, and it is absolutely imperative that something should be done to alter the existing state of affairs. The number of abandoned women who parade Bourko street every night is legion, and the behaviour of many of them ia such that it is impossible for a. respectable female to pan* along the street without seeing the most disgraceful of sights and hearing the (foulest of language. At different times, the more aristocratic locality of Collina street east has been made the resort of a number of " unfortunate^ " and the police very properly interfered to keep, at any rate, one leading thoroughfare of the city free of such company ; but if it was necessary to clear Collina street of thorn altogether, it is quite as essential that they fihould be compelled to conduct themselves with common decency in Bourke street, if it is accepted as a necessity that that street shall be act apart for their special use. This is in reality the case, and there in no other city in the empire, perhaps, in which its leading street ia thus practically given over to the vilest of purposes. It is not to be contemplated that such women should be made prisoners in their houses, aa such a course would only bo shutting the evil up to fester in secret; but it does not follow that they should behave as they please throughout the entire city. Hitherto this has been the case, and their invasion of Boiu'ke street has assumed such proportions that it becomes a question whether or not it should ba .placed under as strict rules as have been put into operation with inspect to Collins street. In fact, it might be urged that of the two streets Bourke street requires the more severe supervision, for there is a great difference between the class of women whoreiider "nighthideous" in it, and those who attempted to turn Collina street into their nightly promenade. Tho presence of the latter was the only evidence of their avocation. Neither their language nor their conduct was such as to outrago common decency, as ia the custom of the wretched creatures who infest Great Bourke street, It is simply the main channel into which all the lanes.and less public streets empty their streams of dopravity, and it is certainly tho receptacle of the filth and offgoburing of as polluted a. locality tw could probably be fou,nd either south, or north of the line. It is rather a mystery that the portion of JVJelbouvne which includes Romeo lane and tho adjacent aquares, streets, and rights-of • way should be allowed to remain'the head-quarters of all the vagabondism, of the city, Tho rogues and reprobates who inhabit tho '< dena " with which the neighbourhood abounds, must undoubtedly live Homewhere when they are out of gaol, but why they should be allowed to occupy the heart of the city is a education which is worth consideration Nodountthe "veated interest' of the owners of the properties might be injured were their disreputable tenants obliged to remove, but that assuredly i« a matter ox no consccjueuce at all. There may be other obstacles in the way of removing the social plague from the place where it'unfortunately became localised in the earlier days of the city, there ia no reason whatever that it chould not be kept within reasonable bouuda of decency, instead .of being allowed to run riot at all hours of the night, and oven of the day, as is at present the case. .Even in the daytime the eastern end of Bourke street is frequently the scene of the moßt disgraceful sights ; but \inless,th,e women who

frequent it are guilty, of some such breach of tho law as fighting or drunkenness, they arc not interferred with. They can stand at the corners of the lanes, or in the middle of the footpath, and discuss their vile affairs with the utmost publicity and 'impunity, and it is-not even required of them that their hideous-looking bodied should bo decently covered. This is no exaggerated picture, or fancy sketch, but simply a description of what is frequently to be witnessed in broad daylight, and, in justice to the public, the women who thus expose themselves should .certainly bo obliged to confine their orgiea to the lanes and dens which they inhabit With respect to tho night side of Melbourne as it is to be seen in Bourke street, it can o-.ily bo described as a. disgrace to the city, and the question really arises whether or not the authorities should not insist upon the abandoned -women who parade it changing their " beat;" at all events they can and should be prevented from assembling in groups and blocking up the footpath, and those of them who indulge in the foul blasphemies which are constantly to be heard.. should bo arrested and punished. No respectable females can go to any place of amusement in Bourke street without risking the most horrid insult*, unless they win afford to drive to and from the doors, and it is surely not too much to expect, that a man should bo able to take his family on foot without having his wife or daughter's eyes and ears outraged in tho manner to which they are now subjected.