CRIME IN KAITANGATA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 75, 2 August 1913, Page 4

CRIME IN KAITANGATA.

DESTROYING PRIZE POULTRY

EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS A special to the ’ Dunedin, Star on Thursday says : ■ , f . Law-breaking in the form of sly grog-selling is not pearly so , serious as the malicious offences which have been committed in Kaitangata on a large scale lately. The position is really critical, and is exceeding the limit of public endurance. For the past two months hams and bacon have been thieved, poultry have been poisoned and stolen in a wholesale manner, and petty thieving has been effectively pursuecl. A few nights ago a fine saddle and bridle were stolen from a stable, and on every hand complaint is heard. The wanton destruction of valuable poultry and canaries is a crime to which it is difficult to believe a human being would stoop, hut to-day, mention is being made of a dastardly trick. Yesterday morning Mr A. Jarvie, a business man and poultry fancier, on entering his yard, was confronted by a scene sufficient to break the heart of any lover of the bird world. Lying scattered in all directions, in pools of blood, were several heads, legs, limbs, and bodies of pure-bred liens and roosters. Some were found inside, and others in the coojis. Further on, Mr Jarvie found half a dozen pullets skinned and thrown into a ditch.

The dead birds included white Wyandottes, Minorcas, white Plymouth Rocks and Leghorns, and also a magnificent golden pheasant cock bird, valued at £5. So far Mr Jarvie considers he lias lost about 20 of his best

stock. Additional damage was wrought in Mr Jarvie’s aviary, in the hack yard, where a beautiful collection of 67 variegated canaries has been reduced to 23, the miscreant having killed some and allowed others to take wing. Fortunately the criminal did not enter the three .breeding pens. 'Mr Jarvie estimates his loss at something over £3O. Footprints denote that the perpetrator of the deed worked sin-gle-handed, and the extent of his ravages shows that he must have been quite an hour at his task. Mr ■ Jarvie’s residence is situated about one mile south of the town, and the poultry yard is 50yds distant from the house. In the early hours of the morning residents heard the disturbance amongst the fowls. Mr Jarvie will have widespread sympathy in his loss. He is well known amongst Otago poultry fanciers, and a few weeks ago scored three firsts and threespecials at Tapamu’ show. Practices such as these which have been in operation lately should he suppressed.