LOOTING ON MOTUTAPU.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 137, 12 June 1922, Page 4

LOOTING ON MOTUTAPU.

YACHTING PARTY FIXED. Damage done to the extent of £20 on Mr* Andrew Craig's farm at Motutapu in April by half a dozen young men. wlu> were members of ;i week-end yachting party, resulted in the party coining before Mr. J. VV. Povnlon, S.M., to-day. The story elicited from the accused by Detective Gourley was that on two occasions mamlbers of the party took a week-end trip on tlii , yacht Ornate;e, from St. Mary* Wai h. to Motutapu. where they raided a patch of water melous and pumpkins on Craig's farm. These vegetables were taken back to their home? iby those who took part m the trip. Mr. Craig estimated that on one occasion about half a ton of pumpkins and water melons was taken, and the accused admitted that there were only four in the party that trip. The accused were Frederick Mackay (33), the owner of the yacht, and five young men of about 20 years, Harry Mackay, Stanley Fisfiier. Basil Speer, Colin McKinven, and William McWhirter. They were charged with the theft of the pumpkins, and Mr. A. Moody made a plea for leniency in view <xf previous good character.

The magistrate remarked that he looked on the matter as a serious one, which could not 'be lightly passed over. Frederick Mackay would be fined £10, and the rest of the party £5 each.