DISPLAY OF CRUELTY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 76, 29 May 1945, Page 5

DISPLAY OF CRUELTY

YOUTHFUL OUTLAW GANG OHOPE RESIDENTS VICTIMISED Inhabiting Ohope Beach at present is a young gang of boys whose ages range from six to 12 years and who ( during, the school holidays have shown themselves to be a pack of hoodlums without thought or care for other people's property and without any res"pect at all for other residents of the beach. Their activities many of which would lie dealt with severely by the law, during the fortnight's holiday grew to such an extent that not only did they cause much inconvenience but became definitely dangerous. Armed with shanghais, which arc, by the way, included in the. list of weapons which may be confiscated by the policc, these young outlaws occupied their time, by shooting at anything within range. Doors, roofs, windows and walls, were all targets which still bear the marks of their endeavours. A particularly cruel aspect of their activities was the manner in which they sought out and fired on any cats they could. Four at least were killed in this way. the bodies of the .victims telling their own tale of the manner in which they had met their end. Not content with this, they must needs go one step and in an effort to annoy other residents placed the carcases in such inaccesv siblc spots as under the floor of the Captain's Cabin Hall, and in the culvert in front of the tennis court. As a means of further mischief they blocked up the keyhole of the door to the butcher"s shop with match heads and altered the notice showing the days of attendance. The nuisance created by the boys concerned reach such a pitch a short time ago that numerous complaints were received but fortunately, as the holiday period closed and school reopened, occupying their time once more no action had to be taken. At the -same, time however, it would appear that the practice has not been thoroughly stamped out ? and it is up to the parents of the boys concerned to see that something is done about it.