CHRISTCHURCH BICYCLE THEFTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2849, 21 October 1908, Page 61

CHRISTCHURCH BICYCLE THEFTS.

CHRISTCHURCH, October 19. The most bare-faced thefts of bicycles aiv being reported in Charir.tchurch with a frequency that is becoming alarming, and all the "evidence points to the neceseity of owners of bicycles keeping a sharp eye on their property. Two instances of the depredations of tho bicycle thief were brought to light yesterday. A gentleman who \va6 crossing the Carl ton bridge obeeived a bicycle lying in the river below, and near it a bundle tied in an ordinary sack. He landed the collection, and found that the machine (a lady's) had been despoiled of tha handleibats, saddle, driving .vheel, cranks, and pedals. The bicycle seemed to be a fairly n&w one, and, apart from tihe removal of these parts and the damage caused by its immersion, no harm had been done. The coatents of the bag, however, ehowed thalt a ■bicycle thief of the -wcieit kind had . been at work. In this case a ■man's bicycle iad^been taken, and sdmply knocked to pieces, probably with an axe. The thief apparently wanted only the Iwiheele, and lie had simply carved tt-ean out, bundled the battered remains into Ithe track, and thrown the bundle into the river. The police took possession of the -recovered property, and steps will be taken to find, the owners.

A f&rmer on Maerewhenua has at the present time a return of- 155 pairs of twins from his flock of 400 ewes, and therO are still from 50 to 60 ewes to lanibj.