The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, DEC. 4. 1888. The Oval

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 67, 4 December 1888, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, DEC. 4. 1888. The Oval

It is very bard that the innocent should suffer for the guilty, but such is very likely to be the case with regard to the use of the Oval by - athletes, who are in training for the coming Boxing Day Sports. It appears that the buildings erected by the Sports Committee for dressingrooms, offices, &c, have been, on several occasions, broken into by larrikiua, or other evil disposed persons, " and the contents taken out, knocked about, and otherwise made valueless for the purposes for which they were ordinarily applied. The rooms have also been occupied at night, as has 5 been proved by indisputable evidence. At the Committee meeting on Saturday last it was decided that, if these offences were repeated, the Oval would be forthwith closed to everybody, and no person, under any circumstances whatever, unless specially authorised, would be allowed on the ground until the day of the Sports ; training expressly to be forbidden, as it is believed ; the larrikins are attracted to the spot > on that account. We admit this would be a hardship to local men preparing for the events in which they intend to compete ; but it appears to us to be the only way to prevent the destruction of valuable property. It goes without saying tha* should the offenders be detected, they will spend th^ir holidays where they will have skilly in place of plum pudding for their Christmas cheer.