STILL A MYSTERY

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1931, Page 5

STILL A MYSTERY

NORFOLK ISLAND THEFT.

SEARCH FOR £SOO.

AUCKLAND. Jul v 20

Mystery still shrouds the theft of £SOO from Government Bouse, Norfolk •Island, A detective wits dispatched from Sydney to investigate the robbery, but xip till Thursday last no arrest had been made, Information t-o this effect was brought to Auckland by the iittle steamer Hikurangi, which arrived from the island yesterday. Officials at the island are ■ taking every precaution to prevent the stolen money from being smuggled away to either Sydney or Auckland. As was the case last- trip, the crew of the Hikurangi was not allowed to go on shore, this privilege being restricted to Captain George and his officers. Customs officers, who came out to the boat while she was discharging and loading at the Cascades, kept a particularly vigilant look-out and the Sydney detective also spent some time on the steamer.

Several members of the Auckland freighter’s crew were annoyed that for the second consecutive trip they were refused permission to go on shore. Several boxes of fruit that were sent aboard to the crew were tipped out and several cases of Auckland cargo were opened and searched before they were stored in the steamer’s hold.