PROPERTY DAMAGED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 17, 21 January 1939, Page 6

PROPERTY DAMAGED

PARTY AT SfLVERSTREAM

A drinking party which was held on' private property in Whiteman's Valley resulted in the appearance of Douglas Gwello Goodall, Archibald Thomas Begbie, ana John Henry Parkinson, before Mr. A. M. Goulding, S.M., in the Upper Hutt Court, yesterday. They were charged with committing mischief on December 11 by damaging a building and table to a total value of £5.

Constable F. J. Williams said that on December 12 he was called by the 'to a property in Whiteman's Valley Road owned by Mr. A. P. Smith. There was considerable damage done to farm buildings, including a stable, a storeroom, and a room fitted up as living premises. The padlock of the storeroom was broken open, the doorjamb splintered, and two large win-dow-panes smashed. A partition was damaged, and a window and table in the other room were broken. It looked as if the table had been thrown through the door or 4he window. There were evidences of a picnic party, including bottles which had contained beer.

Inquiries revealed that those responsible had rung for a taxi from nearby premises, and had been driven to Petone. When interviewed, the three admitted causing the damage, which had occurred as the result of a hunt for rats. There were quite a number of others involved.

. "This is a serious case,", said the Magistrate. "I could imprison all of you on the evidence given. I will not do. so, however, though there is ho justification for men going on to private property, getting themselves into such a condition, and then smashing someqne else's property." [ The defendants were each fined £4 and costs, and were ordered to make restitution to the extent of £5.