A SURPRISE.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 13, 21 August 1930, Page 12

A SURPRISE.

CAUGHT IX THE ACT

The motorist's lot is not a happy one: A minor breakdown or a slight accident which necessitates leaving the car over-

night is in most cases an expensive matter for.the motor car owner, for the clis-; tviet appears to be possessed, of a number of light-fingered individuals, who • make it their job to strip the car .of its; accessories whenever an opportunity presents itself. On Sunday, at an early hour, a motorist had the misfortune to. run out of petrol while conveying a . ; friend to Moera. The gas at this time could riot be obtained for love or money and the only objective was to push the car off the main road. With this accomplished it was agreed that one of the party stay in the ear while the other made oflMn an effort to obtain the petrol. With the aid of- a couple of overcoats the friend in charge of the car made himself as .comfortable as possible in the rear seat. The vigil was longer than first anticipated and morning dawned without any sign of the petrol. At 6.30 a.m. the occupant of the car was awakened from a short dose by the sound of someone tampering with the radiator in an. effort to screw off the cap. In an instant he stepped from the car and intervened and the surprised visitor could not find words to express himself, but eventually made humble apologies that he was endeavouring to tighten the cap. As lie carried a bag of horse feed he did not get a chance to move away in good time and the opportunity was taken by the occupant in the car to get a good description of the man. With the return of the owner of the car an^hour later, the experience was related and the.man's name was soon discovered. Needless to say it is hard to tell who was the most surprised—the motorist or the audacious resident."