ON THE WRONG FARM.

Auckland Star, 2 September 1933, Page 12

ON THE WRONG FARM.

RELIEF WORKER'S MISTAKE. Unusual circumstances surrounded the appearance in the Papakura Police Court yesterday of a .relief worker, a resident of Papakura, who was charged with the theft of wood valued at about 5/. Evidence went to show that a resident of Papakura Valley had given permission to relief workers to take rough wood from his property for fuel. Accused drove along in a spring cart, and, meeting a youth he knew, asked the direction of the property, which he received, but took the wrong road and took wood from a neighbouring property, thinking he was on the right farm. The owner missed the wood, and on making inquiries traced it to accused's back yard. He laid an information, and the police took action. It happened to to be a nephew of the man who had directed accused, and on learning the mistake the owner of the wood wished the charge withdrawn, but the police informed him they must carry on. After hearing all the evidence, Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., dismissed the case, remarking that although he was perfectly satisfied that a genuine mistake had been made, he would advise accused to make fuller inquiries before ever removing anything from other people's property.