BOOKS STOLEN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 23, 12 November 1943, Page 5

BOOKS STOLEN

OPOTIKI LIBRARIES DESPOILED

YOUX(I MAORI CHARGED

The story of how a young Maori, Nuki Haronga,- of Waiotahi regularly stole volumes of books from the two existing lending libraries in Opotiki was related at the recent sitting of the court in that town before Mr E. L. Walton, S.M.

Haronga was charged that on divers dates between June 1 and August Ml, at Opotiki he stole books valued at £10 7s fid. the property of William Fred Cresswell; and also that between the same dates lie stole 12 books valued at £4 2s, 9d, the property of Harry Lewis Parkinson . Defendant elected to be dealt with summarily and pleaded guilty. Sergeant Isbister, avlio conducted proceedings on behalf of the.police, said that accused was just over 18 years of age and had been employed at Waiolahi. He used to visit Opo-tik-i and spent most of his time in the two libraries. He left his employment at Waiotahi, and it was found that he left behind him two large boxes, of books, mostly of the wild west type. Marks had been erased from the books. He had loaned some to friends and sold some to a second-hand dealer in Opotiki. Accused had said that he did not know how many lie had taken; he just put them in his pocket when nobody was looking and walked, out. of the shops.

Accused: was admitted to probation for a period of. 12 months.