Hooligans at Work

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 64, 7 June 1927, Page 14

Hooligans at Work

REST-HOUSE DAMAGED VANDALISM IN CANTERBURY (Special to THE SUN.) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. Goods worth £65 have been stolen from or destroyed at a house built at Kaituna for the use of those who walk from Christchurch to Akaroa. The house, known as “The Sign of the Pack-Horse,” came under the control of the Summit Road Trust recently. When Mr. H. G. Ell paid a visit of inspection the other day he found that some persons had stolen all the blankets stored in the house for the use of trampers who might have to stay for the night. It was found that a great deal of damage had been done to the furniture in the house. Two chairs had been taken outside, and one damaged with a knife, and a wheelbarrow had been used for firewood. The place had been treated in a most shameful manner. There can be no doubt that the house has been of great use to trampers. Mr. Ell built the place in 1916, packing the materials into the hills on horseback. It was opened to the public in 1917, since when over 3.000 signatures have appeared in the visiting book. It has been decided to do nothing more to the house until it is possible to employ a caretaker there, as it is impossible to guard it against hooligans otherwise.