A MYSTERIOUS HAPPENING

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3641, 21 May 1927, Page 2

A MYSTERIOUS HAPPENING

MOTOR CAR DRIVEN INTO RIVER. NEAR LOCAL WHARF. At an early hour this morning loeal Natives residing on the opposite side of the river to the wharf noticed lights shining just below the surface of the water in the bay in front of the N.Z. Shipping Co.’s shed. On making investigations a car was discovered half submerged in the bay with the lights still burning. No one was in or near the car and there were no footmarks on the beach, the tide having come in and obliterated any traces near the car. Nearer the bank, however, deeply ploughed traekes showed where the ear had landed after “taking off” from the railway lines above and also showed that the vehicle had landed side on, been backed and turned and run head on into the river. From the car tracks on the road it appears as if the car had been driven down Wharf Street from Main Street, and had turned into Harbour Street in front of Goldingham and Beckett’s old store, traversed the railway lines and finally ended up in the river. The bank at this point is about ten feet high. A band of willing assistants pulled the vehicle out from its precarious position with the aid of ropes this morning. The ear is a new five seater Overland, maroon in colour and upholstered in red. The rear number plate is missing but the front one is still attached and bears the number D 1-652. The ear, except for being water-logged, was undamaged. OPENED LETTERS FOUND. A number of letters were found scattered about in the car and on the beach, all opened, and bearing the names of Oliau and lvuku residents.

Local Natives report that the car was not in the bay at a late hour last night. It was full tide at 11.49 o’clock last night, and lofv water would have been reached at about 6 o’clock this morning. XIGHTWATCHMAN SAW A CAR. Mr. J. Wyeth, uightwatchman, in conversation with our representative this morning said he noticed a car turn down Wharf Street from Main Street, about 12.30 last night but as this was no unusual occurrence he did not attach any importance to the matter. DELIVERY VAN STOLEN. A new Ford delivery van belonging to Messrs Ross, Rough and Co., is reported missing this morning and wheel marks show that the vehicle was driven off in the direction of Levin. Constable Owen is making investigations. COUNTRY POST OFFICE BROKEN INTO. On making investigation this morning the police were informed that the Ohau post office had been broken into last night. OWNER OF CAR DISCOVERED. Constable Owen received word about 11 o’clock this morning that the car belongs to Mr. Holton, of Paeknkariki, and was taken from his premises without authority* last night. Up to the time of going to press there had been no news of Messrs Ross, Rough and Co.’s half-ton delivery van. SERIES OF ROBBERIES. (Special to “The Herald.”) Levin, Midday. The car, which belongs to Mr F. R, Holton, garage proprietor, oil i’aekakariki, was stolen from the garage at his private residence early this morning. A milkman saw a car pull up at the Paekakariki railway crossing at 4 a.m. BAKER’S SHOP BROKEN INTO. Mx* Ellis’s baker’s shop at Paekakariki was broken into, but nothing is reported missing. It appears that the intruders were after the Ford delivery van, but it was not in running order. OHAU POST OFFICE BURGLED. On going on duty this morning, Mr J. R. Crawford, postmaster at Ohau, diseoveed that the office had been burglariously entered. The doors had been forced, and the letter rack emptied, but no money or valuables are missing. HEATHERLEA STORE RANSACKED. Mr Kriv'an’s store at Heatherlea, on the Levin-Foxton road, was next visited by the marauders, and property stolen, the'extent of which is not yet known. FOXTON VISITED. It appears that the party then visited Foxton, where they ran the car into the river and made off with Messrs Ross, Rough and Co’s, halfton delivery van. The tracks indicated that the vehicle had been driven off in a southerly direction, but it is considered that a deviation was made from the main road at cither No. I Line or Koputaroa, and a northerly direction taken.