ACT OF VANDALISM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 156, 15 April 1936, Page 6

ACT OF VANDALISM

FITTINGS OF HUT DESTROYED. COMPLAINT BY DEERSTALKERS. SHELTER IN THE MOUNTAINS. Complaint that vandalism has curved at TJrquhart s Hut, at t J firm of the wilberforce and Unknow Rivers, is made by two Ashburton residents, Messrs C. Freeman and L Raueher who recently inspected the but while on a deerstalking trip, and who were members of the prospecting party for whose use the hut was ong fmillv erected about three years ago. The/ stated that, apparently because If the carelessness and thoughtlessness of a deerstalker who occupied the hut last winter, wilful damage had been done to destroy the value of the hut as a shelter for musterers, deerstalkei s, 01 Among the damage which is said to have taken place is the tearing down of four bunks for use as firewood, after which they were replaced by wire foi stretching deerskins. The sum-lined food-box had been torn out and used for firewood, and seats and shehes destroyed for the same purpose. lheie was no longer a seat in tha place. The food box was in itself an asset, Mr Freeman stated. The previous party had left a good supply of provisions in it but no food of any kind remained. It was an act of courtesy to leave a supply of firewood for the next occupants' of huts, but not a stick of wood had been left. Even the tomahawk had disappeared. Originally containing 10 bunks_ Urquhart’iT Hut was the only one in this vicinity. Musterers and deerstalkers who had met Messrs Freeman and Baucher had expressed indignation at the treatment to the hut.