PAEKAKARIKI DISTURBED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 289, 26 August 1918, Page 4

PAEKAKARIKI DISTURBED

"JOY-RIDING" AND FIRES.

The peace and quietness of Paekakariki havo been rather rudely disturbed on several occasions during tho last lew weeks.

On Tuesday night, August 13, the substantially-built residence of Captain G. Potts, of Painierston North, was burnt to the. ground, and all its contents destroyed. The house was one of the largest on the seafront, and comprised about eight rooms. Captain Potts used it purely as a summer and week-end residence, and at the time of the firo, which was first observed about 10.30 p.m., it was unoccupied, and had been so for some days at any rate. The flamos had such a strong hold that nothing could be done to save the contents, and tho Captain's loss has been heavy, sis the house was well and thoroughly furnished. The catise ol the outbreak is a mysfcory.

On Thursday hist a fire was discovered in another house, but fortunately not much damage was done. Tho feeling of disquiet caused by these untoward and unusual happenings in sjioh an untroubled spot as Paekakariki, which is most happy in that it is not pregnant with' events, was emphasised by tho advent of "joyriders" on Friday evening. On this occasion Mr. F. S. Goldingham, also of Palnierston North, who had a. seaside home fronting the beach, at no great distance from the hotel, and who, with his is: at present residing there, was the sufferer. Mr. Goldingliam's car bad been left in its shed, in front of the house, as usual, on Friday evening, The door of the shed had been shut but not locked. On Saturday morning it was quickly evident that some unwelcome visitors had taken advantage of this fact. The car was in its accustomed place, but not in its usual trim. Patently it had had an unauthorised run, at a cost of nearly a tin of benzine and the severe buckling ,of one of the mudguards. The tyre marks showed that tho ear had been tiikcu along the beach road towards Parnparnumu, and then on the main road towards Palmerston, and finally brought back the same. way. Tho closeness of the house made, the illicit use of the car the more impudent, and Mr. Goldingham is af a loss to account for the incident. Hβ is reporting the matter to tho police.

Naturally the residents are perturbed .it these happenings, which nre quite exceptional for the district. Probably the police will investigate and give tho miscreants an earnest tli.it nothing further of the kind may bo contemplated with impunity.