MISCHIEVOUS BOYS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20710, 7 May 1929, Page 10

MISCHIEVOUS BOYS.

DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. ESTIMATED AT £2OO. (Per United Press Association.) ’ ■ NAPIER, May 6. During the week-end two boys, one aged nine and the other eleven, caused damage estimated at £2OO to the stock and buildings of W. Plowman and Sons, cordial manufacturers, Hastings. The boys, after prising a door open with a crowbar, threw tins of powder out of the windows and broke open a hundredweight barrel of tartaric, acid and spilled the contents on the floor. Several gallon jars of essences, some valued at £4 each, were broken, and the contents poured on the acid. The b>ys then swept the debris to a hole in the floor of the first storey, through which it fell to the ground floor in a great litter. Downstairs the boys threw about scores of bottles and syphons and thousands of labels. A motor lorry, in the yard was loaded with empty cases and broken bottles, and the boys then set out to* fill the petrol tanka with lemonade. - The cap had been screwed off, and the boys were about to pour in the lemonade when a constable arrived. DAMAGE IN CHURCH. INTERIOR LAID WASTE. ALTAR STRIPPED OF CLOTH. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, May 6. Attracted by the loud clatter of falling furniture and of objects being thrown in all directions a passer-by who entered St. George’s Church, Penrose, on Saturday morning was greeted with a remarkable scene inside the small building. The interior of the church' had. been almost completely wrecked. Chairs which served for pews were overturned and scattered everywhere, and the altar had been stripped of its cloth and ornaments. These were thrown on the floor. The cross was lying in the nave, and hymn books and papers littered the building, together with broken glass from electric light bulbs. Two small "boys were clambering through a window when the man crossed the threshold, and on being called back they admitted frankly that the scene of desolation was the outcome of their depredations. However, they would give no reason for their actions. The .two boys, who. are aged ten and eight years respectively, live between Penrose and Ellerslie, and they said they were passing the church when they found the door open. Going inside they at once commenced their amazing work of desecration, leaving nothing untouched, and being careless of noise the uproar they created attracted the attention of some children who were playing nearby, and of a man who was passing. By the . time the man had reached the church door the young vandals had laid waste the interior. Upon being questioned, the boys said they belonged to the church Sunday school class. An examination showed that little had been broken except the light bulbs and the woodwork at the back of a small organ ot tne pedal variety, while the mechanism inside was considerably broken. The altar presented a strange sight, being quite denuded of its vessels, none of which was broken, but thrown in all directions. The church was restored to order for service on the following morning. A special meeting of the vestry is to be held to consider whether any action is to be taken against the boys.