BAKEHOUSE WRECKED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 697, 25 February 1933, Page 9

BAKEHOUSE WRECKED.

Three Boys’ Celebration of Christmas. Three boys, two of them brothers, and all of them from eminently respectable homes, appeared in the Children’s Court this morning charged with damaging goods and machinery in a bakehouse to the extent of £2B 2s 3d. The boys, it was stated, got into the bakehouse, smashed bottles of essence on the floor, damaged the mixing machine, and wrote “ A Merry Christmas ” on the floor in soda. The complaint was laid by the former occupier of the bakehouse, which had not been used for two years. Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., presided, and with him pere Mrs T. Green, J.P., and Mr W. M. West. J.P. Mr Hunter, who appeared for the boys, said that one of the brothers had lost his nerve and disappeared from home. He had written to his parents, and in the letter apparently took an exaggerated view of the gravity of the offence. Detective O’Brien said that the boys on Christmas Eve went into a bakery which had been unoccupied since the owner went bankrupt two years ago. They emptied soda on the floor and wrote “ A Merry Christmas.” They did no damage that time, but returning later, they mixed up dough, cocoa, and essence in the mixing machine and switched it on. Three or four dozen bottles of essences were smashed on the floor, the liquid discolouring the walls. The machine was damaged by the mixture put into it and had to be dismantled. Repairs were estimated to cost £5 and cleaning up the walls another £4. The former occupier admitted he had gone bankrupt. His father had allowed him to use the plant, and he leased the premises at £l2 a month. Mr Hunter: How long had you had the essences for which you claim £ls ?i —They were bought in 1922. but they improve with age. like wine. Was the stuff claimed for when you went bankrupt?—They were part of my father’s assets. Is it not a fact that the Official Assignee allowed you to keep the stuff as being of no value? —I don t know. If it was of no value, why was it left lying in an unused bakehouse for two years?—You’d better ask him. Some literature which was on the premises was valued at £1 by the bankrupt. It was destroyed. Bankrupt said that £4 was his own estimate foi cleaning up. Mr Hunter suggested that if the essence was good, it could be sold in the trade, but witness said that he was too busy with other work to make the attempt to sell it. “ You were too busy to pick up £ls? queried Mr Hunter. Mr Hunter added that the essence, for which £ls 15s was claimed, was examined by a man in the business and was found to have water mixed with

it. Jn evidence the Official Assignee said that the bakery business had gone bankrupt two years ago. At the time, he examined the premises, but found in the stock of the bakehouse nothing worth dealing with. There was then no suggestion that the goods belonged to bankrupt’s father. Mr Mosley said that the Court would put down the value of the damage at £lB, which seemed to be the full value of the stuff destroyed. The machinery would have to be restored and the damage to the structure made good. He made orders of £6 against each of the boys, the money to be paid to the Official Assignee. The two boys were admonished and discharged, and the case against the third was adjourned sine die till the parents could get into touch with him. In making the orders, the Magistrate recommended that if possible, the boys themselves should be made to pay for the damage,