Correspondence.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 221, 24 January 1894, Page 2

Correspondence.

ROBBING ORCHARDS. TO THIS EDITOR (IF THE STAR. Sir, — Year after year my orchard is regularly robbed, and as the police appear powerless in the matter, and as many of mj' neighbors suffer in silence, 1 will through the favour of the press throw a | little light upon the sublet. At one time two or three years ago the robbing was systematised by an adherence to certain trees at a time. These were j evidently required to bo true to sample for sale wholesale, and doubtless the retailers had a very shrewd suspicion from the price they gave, and the mode of deliverv, that the fruit was obtained without the asking. The present shops appear to be kept by people more scrupulously honest than to make them receivers of stolen goods. We are, however, plagued with swarms oi boys who besides petty pilfering, seem lo vie with one another in doing mischief. About a dozen scattered in all directions a short time ago upon the approach of some of my household, and to-day I saw four well-dressed lads deliberately smashing and picking. I did not .succeed in catching them, but I think I could recognise them the next time I see them. Two T feel almost certain about : the other two I will give you the description of : Age from twelve to fourteen ; one dressed with a flat brimmed, flat crowned, black and white straw hat with a particular band round it, dark clothes, and dark or black knickerbocker stockings. The other had a close fitting grey cap and clothes to match. As the police appear helpless without it, 1 have given instructions, and advised other sufferers to carefully place at the service of the press and its readers the description in dress and appearance of any boys seen stealing. Yes! stealing is the word for an offence that is at once dishonest and mean. You will very much oblige me if you will mark my communication and mail a copy of the issue to the Department of Justice, as it may draw their attention to an offence that is just a* troublesome as shop-lifting or picking pockets, but not so easy to guard against, and one 1 am afraid the police generally rather consider beneath their notice. I am, etc.. F. A. Momkton. Feilding, '21st .January.