TUAKAU.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 16, 26 February 1915, Page 4

TUAKAU.

A sensation was created in the township on Tuesday morning, when it was made known that an attempt had been made during the hours of 9.30 of Monday evening last and 7.30 of Tuesday morning by some unknown person to burn down the shop and premises rented by Mr A. Mayall for a bootmaking business, in George street. When the shop door was opened on Tuesday morning by Mr Mayall a small nail box was found on the doorstep, and on closer examination revealed inside a number of fine pieces ot white pine and pieces of a candle, and a candle standing in the centre, placed in between three nails driven into the bottom of the box, and nailed across the top of the box in a position to be burnt by the flame of the candle were two burnt charred pieces of white pine, and placed on top of that was a piece of padding and a piece of canvas. The candle and the burnt sticks bore signs of having been a light but had apparently gone out through the canvas excluding the air. On the doorstep and on the door a good sprinkling of kerosene was noticeable. Mr Majall cinnot account for the attempted injury, and does not know of any person in the district who bears a grudge against him. He retired to bed, in the liviog premisep, which are attached to the shop, at 9.30 p.m., after having worked in a back room of the shop during the evening;. The rest of the family were then in bed, with the exception of a son, who returned home from the township 35 minutes later, but did not notice anything amiss. When approaching the living premises from the township the Ehop door 13 not passed, and if a box had been on the shop doorstep when Mr Mayall, junr., arrived home the possiblities are that he would not have noticed it. The stock is valued at £l5O, but there is no insurance on it and the premises, which are owned by Mr McGowan, Papatoetoe, is also uninsured. The police have the matter I in hand.

A few of the business people of the township who came in contact with Norman Keals, the alleged Onewhero murderer, when cn his way to Onewhero recently, have received subpoenas from the Police Department, .and will be attending the trial of Keals in Auckland as witnesses.

Mr Munro, of the relieving staff ol the Railway Department, is at present relieving Mr G. L. Sentch as stationmaster at Tuakau, the latter being on a fishing expedition in Rotorua.