AGAIN THE SNEAK THIEF.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 7, 8 July 1909, Page 8

AGAIN THE SNEAK THIEF.

Periodically the sneak thief commits some of his meanest sins at the Public Library. Books and magazines have been pitilessly mutilated, and sometimes tho vandals' abstractions have been from very, precious volumes. Among recent acts of meanness is the lifting of an article from the May issue of the Contemporary Review. The pur loi tier was so interested in a treatise on "The Naval Controversy" that he diagged the treasure out entirely, and incidentally removed the first page of another topical essay on "The Causes of Unemployment." It is suspected that the ignoble robbery, with violence to the feeling 3 of all respectable users of the library, has been done by somebody preparing for an amateur debate on thn Navy question. In accordance with that theory, the sneak thief's idea, was to benefit himself in two ways — by commandeering tho article and by thus preventing any of his rivals from getting access to it at the library. A careful watch is kept for the conscienceless individuals who serve a selfish end by an injury to tlie public. They are so cunning, so careful to await a good opportunity for their depredations, that their capture is not easy, but the authorities .are determined that if convicting evidence is secured against one of them, then he or she, and the others-, will re-member the lesson that the magistrate will be asked to teach.

Sir Charles Lucas and Mr. A. Pearson, .the Engli=h Trade Commiw-ioners. spent the greater parl of the moining in consultation with the- Acting-Prim? Minister (Hon. ,Jas. Carroll) and the other members of the Government who are in town. A tram car motor exploded with a loud report in Queen-street, Auckland, on 'Monday night, at about 6 o'clock. Flames issued from the motor, and the front piu't of the car caught fiie. The firo was promptly extingvriFhed, There wevs only & few poa&ongoia in the car . st.*b states "the-'Star.