EIGHT YOUNG BOYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 78, 1 April 1922, Page 11

EIGHT YOUNG BOYS.

VISIT AN EMPTY HOUSE. MUCH DAMAGE DONE. RINGLEADERS PROSECUTED. Eight Poneonby lads went through a window into an empty house in Russell •Street not so long ago, and, once inside, they started to make their presence remembered. In the t words, of a constable who had seen the damage the urchins had done, and who gave his impresoions to Magistrate Poynton, in the Juvenile Court this morning, the condition of tb? house after the surreptitious visitors had gone was just scandalous. Though eight youngsters were concerned with the affair, only U<■•■•(■ of them were prosecuted, two of '. 11 and the other 14 years old. Mr. "Young, the juvenile probation ollieer, hud inquired into the'affair, and he reported tfiat o"f the eight two had not actually done any damage, three others were too young to prosecute, and the throe before the Court wore the ring-leaders of, the mischievous party. ! The damage done to the house was estimated to represent £20 worth of tlio furniture and iittings, and Sergeant Rowell considered that there wae no doubt whatever t'.iat thp party had carried out their niwe.hievou. intentions in a thorough manner. Everything that boys could do to make the place desolate, he said, had been done. Paper had been torn oft the walls, dirt rind filth had been left on the floor*, in the sinks, and in the bathroom, and had even been strewn over the walls. The gas fittings had been broken, a costly chandelier destroyed, and even the stove was clamaffed, while the copper in the waeKhouse had been broken. Venetian blinds had been broken, and all *orts of other damage was done. These were the three boys who were represented by one only, who attended the Court last week, the other two remaining away. On this occasion t-*ho fathers of all the Inde were there, and they gave their sons good <-hara.cter*. The boys were admonished, they were told this would be their la-t chance, and their fathers were ordered to pay £0 13/ each as reparation for the damage done.