BOY VANDALS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1929, Page 5

BOY VANDALS

AX AMAZING PRANK. A CHURCH DESECRATED. AUCKLAND, May 0. Attracted by the loud clatter of falling furniture and of objects being thrown in all directions, a'passer-by, who entered St. George’s Church, Penrose, on Saturday morning, was greeted with a remarkable scene inside the small building. The interior of the church had been almost completely wrecked. Chairs, which served for pews, were overturned and scattered everywhere and the altar had been stripped of its cloth and ornaments. Those were thrown on the floor. The Cross was lying in the nave and hymn hooks and papers littered the building,, together with broken glass from the electric light bulbs. Two small boys were clambering through a window when the man crossed the threshold, and on being called back they admitted frankly that the scene of desolation was the outcome of their depredations. However, they would give no reasons lor their actions. The two boys, who are aged ten and eight years respectively, live between Penrose and Ellerslie, and they said they were passing the church when they found the door open. Going inside they at once commenced their amazing work of desecration, leaving nothing untouched, and being careless of the noise they created.

The uproar in the church attracted the attention of some children who were playing nearby, and also off a man who resides next door to tlie church and who was going home for lunch. By the time he reached the church door the young vandals had laid waste the interior. Upon being questioned the hoys said they belonged to the church Sunday School class. An examination shiAved that little had liceii broken except the light bulbs and tin* small organ. The woodwork at the back of the instrument, which is of the pedal variety, had been torn out and the mechanism inside considerably broken. The altar presented a strange sight, being quite denuded of . its vessels, not one of which was broken, but which were thrown in all directions. The church was restored to order for the service the following morning. A special meeting of the vestry is (o be bold to consider whether any action is to be taken against the boys.