A MOONLIGHT PRANK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 243, 23 March 1915, Page 4

A MOONLIGHT PRANK.

"TO VARY THE MONOTONY." By Telegraph.—Press Association, Auckland, Last Night. A flutter of excitement was caused at Pakatoa Island last night when ■,* was discovered, about hail-past ten, tha; taere were two men on the island, which, as a female inebriates' home, n sacieu to women, with the exception of such administrative males as visit tdis place officially find with due ceremony. The disturbing presence of the mtftu intruders was announced by tapping ou the windows of some of the living cottages. The matron wa3 aroused, and at once communicated by telephone with Adjutant Hayes, in charge of the mea on tlie adjacent island of Rotoroa. He > and his assistants at once manned the launch and came across to Pakatoa, where they found two young men, Robert Pbair (24) and Daniel >Hebley (22), who were inmates of the Rotoroa Inebriates' Home, and should have been in bed on the men's Island. They) were brought before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., as a sequel to their moonlight excursion, and were charged that they had attempted to escape from Rotoroa Islands Both of them stated that they had no intention of escaping, but had just intended to go for a cruise round Boat Bay to vary the monotony of the daily round. Having started away about 7.30 p.m., they had eventually landed on Pakatoa because it was getting very dark, and they were doubtful of 'being able to make their way back to Rotoroa-. Heblev admitted that they were on the verandah at the women's quarters, but he did not notice anyone tap at the windows. They knew, he said, that it waa against the regulations to take the boat out.

His Worship convicted' both, and sentenced them to a month's hard labor prior to being returned to Botoroa Island.