WANTON VANDALISM

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1019, 9 July 1930, Page 10

WANTON VANDALISM

STONES FLUNG THROUGH STAINED GLASS WAR MEMORIAL DESECRATED For the second time within a few weeks some sacrilegious vandal has caused damage to the war memorial tram shelter owned by St. Paul’s Church, at the top of Wellesley Street. The memorial contains a number of stained-glass windows given in memory of men of the parish who gave their lives ini the war. One evening, not long ago, some larrikin flung a quantity of road metal through the base of the north •window, badly damaging the glass and leadwork. Xo sooner had the church authorities restored the window when a similar act was committed one night this week. The missiles, a handful of stones picked up from the road nearby, were found in the memorial by the church custodian, Mr. C. Worland, next day. A hole lOin in diameter had been torn in the window and the leading broken. The vicar, the Rev. Cecil Watson, has placed the matter in the hands of the Police Department, and detectives are now investigating. Mr. Watson describes the act as “dastardly.” The vestry, which met last evening, decided to put a notice in the memorial warning irresponsibles that damage to the building and apprehension of offenders will result in prosecution. When the memorial was first built persons used to inscribe names and initials and make drawings on the white of the Oamaru stone, with which the building is faced. Thereupon the vestry had a bronze plate inserted in the stone, appealing for respect for the building. Since then people have refrained from desecrating a dedicated building when they may not scruple to disfigure a publicly-owned utility.