ROBBERY FROM A RAILWAY TRUCK

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 138, 7 March 1921, Page 6

ROBBERY FROM A RAILWAY TRUCK

THREE CASES OF STOCKINGS TAKEN. (From Our Own Correspondent!) Palmerston North, March 5. For the past year. or two the congestion in the railway yards at Palmerston North has been so great that very often loaded trucks have to be sent to sidings distant from the station to await their turn for removal by train. This has caused quite a lot of goods to disappear at various time?, and' is particularly annoying to consignees. On Saurday last a consignment of three crises of stockings was received at the railway station for conveyance by train. As no train let. for the desired deistination on Saturday, and as the yards weio full to overflowing, the goods were placed in a box truck, which was closed with the usual mei'.al railway seal, and shunted down to Awapuni siding with a number of .other trucks. On Monday morning, however, when the truck was being brought back to the station, it was observed that the seal was broken, and that the truck was ernp'.y. The cases weighed about 2cwt. each, and at least a couple of men and some vehicle must have been required io take them away. The siding is on the main line, and open to a public road, which runs alongside it, so all" that the robbers had to do was to open the seal wfth a pocket knife, hack a cart up against the truck, and lift the cases out. The business people in town are very much incensed over the matter, and complain that the Railway Department does not take sufficient care of goods entrusted to it. They point out '.lint the wagon should at least have: been locked if it was found necessary to leave it at a wayside, siding. Some months ago several sacks of wheat, which had been left in a box wagon on the siding 'at the flour mills at Terrace End', disappeared in a similar manner, and nothing was ever heard of them.