Vandals Ordered To Restore Pool

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31865, 18 December 1968, Page 34

Vandals Ordered To Restore Pool

(New Zealand Press . Association) WANGANUI, December 17. Two men who smashed 70 road signs north of Wanganui were today ordered to restore the William Birch Memorial Park swimming pool.

About 15 miles north of Wanganui, the park was once one of the best tourist spots on the North Island’s west coast. It is still surrounded by native bush, but the facilities have degenerated and the swimming pool covered with silt.

He ordered them to make restitution of $62.26 each. “I have been impressed with the probation officer’s inquiries in this case. 1 learn that there was once a delightful swimming pool in the area in a lovely setting, given by a public benefactor, which has been allowed to fall into disrepair. “You are to restore it to its former condition insofar as labour is concerned,” the Magistrate ordered. He placed each defendant on 18 months probation, and ordered both'to live and work where directed, to undertake the community works already outlined, and to abstain from liquor, which “apparently was the spark which set them off on this road of destruction.” Each was ordered to pay 820 costs.

The offenders are Raymond Charles Uff, aged 22, a mechanic. and Murray Winston Reardon, aged 24, a farmhand. Last week, they admitted smashing the signs, worth [8124.52, on November 9.

Neither defendant had anything to say when they appeared for sentence today in the Magistrate’s Court. Mr J. C. K. Fabian, S.M., said signposts were erected for the safety of the motoring public, and no-one had the right to interfere with them.