WAVE OF VANDALISM CONTINUES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 75, 21 December 1937, Page 4

WAVE OF VANDALISM CONTINUES

Maddison Baths the Scene oi Destructioii PENNIES IN WATER The -vvave of vaiidalisni that appears to he sweepiiig Hastings coiitiiines unahated and a further example was provided during tlie week-end when the Maddison baths, tlie headquarters of the Heretaunga Swimming and LifeSaving Club, were hroken into. A nlost remarkable feature of the episode is that the intrudeis actually liandled some money helonging to' the clnb, but threw it into the swimming pool. It appears that on Saturday night the intruders — the indications point to there being more than one person concerned— climbed the iron fence into tn-! baths, and then proceeded to wreneh off the padlocks and force open all doorS that were locked. Considerable fdrce and energy was applied, for the padlocks were wrenehed away. A curious thing is that, though entry was made to the caretaker's office and the keys to the doors and locks removed, apparently the keys were not used for their lawful purpose, though, with the exception of one key, they are missing. Inside the office the small cupboard was wrenehed open and the sum of £1, comprising four packages of 5/- worth of pennies in each, was taken. Apparel and articles of some value and utility iii the office were undiaturbed. When officials came down to th9 baths on Sunday morning they found that both gates to the baths were open and the of&ce in a state of disorder. Investigation led to the finding of the two padlocks and one key in a dr* '.sing shed. Early in the afternoon a swimmer found a p§nny in the water, and, shortly afterwafds, another was foutid, and eventually there was a flne game being plyed by the frequenters of the pool, for they Spent their time diving for cOppers. Altogether 15/3 was reeov- . ered in this manner. In the evening, when the baths were cleaned out, a further 3/- or more was found, together with a jagged portion of a broken beer bottle. It would appear that, after having gone to all their trouble, and ea used damage in severai places, the intruders amused themselves by scattering their "haul" into the pool. The penniee were found scattered all over the bottom of the baths. "It does sound lihe a fairy tale," admitted an ofiicial of the clnb this morning when reporting the incident. "Just what was actually in the minds of the intruders it is impossible to conjecture. Obviousiy u was not for monetary or other gain, for they threw the money away. The ohiy possible conciusi'oii that one can com* to is that they were aetuated by an uneontfolled passion for destruction. " This summing-up of the mentality of the intruders appears to be well-found-ed when it is considered that, within the past week or so, pipes have weeu wrenehed from the conveniences at tbe Municipal Theatre, 20 glass wreaths have been deliberately smashed and shattered at the cemetery, ance ttic tempts have been made to break away the seating of the new pavilion at Cornwall Park. Yet in no. case was there any material gain to the perpetrators. Certain it is that considerable apprehension is held by the Hastings borough officials, who are in close collaboration with the police, and an urgent appeal is made to the citizens to cooperate in the efforts being made to put an end to the orgy of" destruction -that is going on in the public buildings and reserves in the borough.