STORY OF MISSING NET

Chronicle (Levin), 22 February 1947, Page 2

STORY OF MISSING NET

THEFT CASE HEARD IN OTAKI Charged with the theft of a fishing net, valued at £18, the property of E. G. Sundgren, of Waikanae, Nohoma Parara appeared before Mr. A. M. Goulding, S.M., m the Magistrate's Court, Otaki, on Thursday. He was represented by Mr. B. H.- Rhodes. while Constable W. Calwell pr'osecuted. Sundgren stated that the net was kept in a shed at the back of his house. When he missed it he .mmediately informed Constable Calwell, who had made enquiries. Nobody had any right to take the net, and he had no idea who had removed it. The net had peculiaricies by which he reco'gnised it. In answer to Mr. Rhodes, witness stated that he had never accused Parata. of stealing other articles of his. He would admit, however, that he had missed articles from his property, but could not say who had taken them. There had been trouble over a plough and maui, and • he denied taking the maui from Parata's. He had never even borrowed it. He knew nothing of a shaft and pulley, and he had never removed a motor vehicle. Further, he had never had a dispute over a boy and his wages. Detective Leslie Smith stated that on January 4 he accompanied Constable Calwell to Waikanae^ when enquiries relative to the net I were made. Parata had stated that j he had two others, and parts of I others. Constable Calwell stated that i when they called on Parata they I explained the reason for their visit. i Parata then said that he had twc jnets, one of which he had purj chased about f our years ago anC ' the other three vears ago. Latei j Parata had stated that he had j purchased the two nets at the same time. TT a nn fn 4- /-\1 /-I f lo n nAbvf floO f V*Q TTTO C

JT C'.L a, IcL UUiU LJLIC CUUI U UX1CA-U iiC VV CA-O | a labourer residing at Waikanae, i He had seen Sundgren's fishing net and noticed a difference between it and the ones he possessed. He "Qccgnised the net as his bv th knotting of parts. The rope in . Sundgren's net was nearly twice ''he thickness of the n?t he owned. He valued his net at £8. i The magistrate said he was satis - fiod that the "net was Sundgren's. Th^refore. Parata would be convicted and placed on probation for , 18 months. with an order that the 1, net be returned to Sundgren.