A SAFE BLOWN OPEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 23

A SAFE BLOWN OPEN.

BURGLARS AT WORK

About a quartet- to 3 o'clock dii Snmmv morning many of the residents of the Kaikorai Valley were startled by hearing- a loud explosion, which was followed half an hour later by an equally loud report. The disturbances were attributed to the Easter encampment forces, a detachment of which is. camped on the Brockville road. At 7 o'clock on Sunday morning it was found, however, that quite another reason existed for tho explosions. A young man named James Hitt. when pacing the Kaikorai Tramway Company's *hod. observed that, tho office windows wpi-e broken and that the front door was; open. Mr Hitt, being acquainted with lh« manager of tho company (Mr James Hunter), entered the pi-e-mises, expecting to sec him supervising some necessary work, but was surprised to find that someone h"tl evidently been upon the premises Tor the purposes of robbery. Mr Hunter, who was summoned, found the office a perfect wreck. The door of a large safe had been smashed, and books and papers were thrown about in confusion. The contents of tho safe had been taken out, evidently in search of money, and thvown on tho floor, but the intruders were rewarded with nothing- moio "valuable than a few bundles of ticket^. A larg-e cupboard bad also been forced open, and its contents ransacked. 5s in money being abstracted. A piece of burnt fu^ i=; all the trace ;hat couM be foun.l ol the thieves.

It is quite evident the "burglars rho-uaht tho holiday takings of Thursday, Fiiday. and Saturday would be in the" <-a r e, but Mr Hunter does nor r^r" to Vave rho hikinss in such a place id mow of o vents that have occurred in oilier m.i^ of thecolony. But for his fore-i^lir" ri>.-> thics es would have secured a good hauL