BOLD ROBBERY AT HUTT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1832, 19 August 1913, Page 4

BOLD ROBBERY AT HUTT.

CHINESE SAFES SUFFER

A told robbery was committed at Lower Hutt yesterday morning, Chinese being the sufferers. Tho premises rifled wwo those of a "syndicate' of market gardeners on the Waiwetu Road, who look upon Lum Kim aa their head man. Not far away there resides another Chinese known as Charlio Young. About 11 a.m. a son of Mr. A. Knight's, who resides in the vicinity, heard an unwonted hammering sound yesterday, and, wondering what tho Chinese might bo doing, 110 looked over tho;f«nce, and cried: "Hello!" -Ho then saw a 'young man endeavouring to break open the Chinese safe with an axe. On hearing tho lad's call tho robber paused, and retorted: "You clear out, orI'll ." The lad at once informed his father, who returned, with, him, but only to seo tlio tliief making- . liis escape. Father and son gave chase, but tho flying man presently reached a clump of bush and so evaded them. Luin Kim and his men were then made acquainted with the facts, and it was found that between .£3O and <£40 had been taken from tho safe, besides which tho safe itself had suffered. Subsequently tho "syndicate" held a conference in camera. It then transpired that Charlie' Young's safe had been treated in a similar manner, but fortunately it contained no money. It seems that 'the man chose a time when he-knew that the Chinese would be at work, and he apparently also knew that each of th« Chinese dwellings contained a safe. Tho locale of the robbery is usually a quiet spot, bu't last niglit it presented a somewhat lively appearance. Conversations and harangues in European, Chinese, and Jlaori were all too plainly audible.