THE POST OFFICE ROBBERY AT OHAEWAI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7824, 18 December 1886, Page 6

THE POST OFFICE ROBBERY AT OHAEWAI.

Oob Kawakawa correspondent writes: — The Ohaewai Post and Telegraph Office is situated in an isolated position, about twelve miles from Kawakawa, on the main interior road leading from Waitangi to Ohaewai township, from which it is distant about two miles, and at the junction of tho Okaihau Road, leading to Horeke and Herd's Point. There is no house within half a mile, except the atables of Messrs. Bindon, mail coach contractors, where a groom lives; but on the day in question he was absent on his employer's business. There are two gentlemen's places within half-a-mile—Paheke, Mr. Gray's place, on the Okaihau-road, and Mr. Lndbrook's, at the back, half-a-mile across the fields, and where the postmaster, Mr. A. D. Olemonett, resides. It appears that on the night in question the postmaster, as usual, left the Post and Telegraph Office about half-past eight for Mr. Ludbrook's, and when returning to the office at an early hour on the 11th instant, he found the door open, and one of the windows broken. On entering the house he discovered that the iron safe was gone. It being about three hundred pounds in weight its removal damaged the door and window frames, where it was carried through, and from its size and weight muet have had more than one person to remove it. The house being isolated there is little traffic in the daytime and none at all at night. The robbery was thus easily effected, even without precaution. The Kawakawa constable (Coughlan), was immediately telegraphed for, and was soon ou the ground, and a careful examination made of the premiees and surroundings. After a diligent searoh, assisted by Mr. Ludbrook and others, the safe was found in the adjoining scrub, completely smashed and broken, evidently with a sledge hammer and iron wedges, whioh it appears have been in use in & gravel pit not far from the place, by the contractor for the metalling of the road, Mr. Hazor Dixoo, near which also is a camp for the men employed at the work. Suspicion led to the arrest of one of these men, Joseph Hood, who was absent from the camp on the night in question, and was known to be at the Oheawai Hotel the evening before with two or three others drinking. After his arrest, he was taken before Mr. T. P. Moody, J. P., and at the instance of the police, remanded to the lock-up at Russell for eight days, in the hope of obtaining further evidence. From the fact of a larger deposit being in the safe than usual, it ie supposed that the robbers must have had good information, and laid their plana accordingly. Tho treasurer of tho race committee bad lodged oaah with the postmaster for safety, tnd he had also about £30 private cash, but only £8 odd of public money. Still the full amount stolen was £58 in cash and notes, and £56 in cheques. These latter have been advertised, and their payment stopped. There were also in the safe two small cash boxes left with the cash deposited, whioh have not as yet been discovered. As this matter has oansed a profound consternation in the district, there is little doubt that no effort will be spared to discover the perpetrators, and bring them to justice, although it is feared the loss of the actual cash is beyond recovery.— iOwn Correspondent.]