ARATAPU.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 214, 8 September 1893, Page 2

ARATAPU.

The sneak thief is still about Aratapu ; at the Sunday School Anniversary meeting on Wednesday the Chairman announced that gome one had entered the side-room during the singing and stolen two large cakes together with the towel they were wrapped in. The announcement was received with a cry of ‘ shame !’ The thief was nearly caught in the act and the mother was heard to call out excitedly “ Come quickly.” This is not the first time we have had to call attention to thieving in our little community and we would strongly advise the guilty parties to cease their work before it is found necessary to make an example of them. Some gentlemen met on Wednesday evening and decided to arrange for the holding of a Eancy Dress Ball ©n the last Eriday in September, at Aratapu. A strong Committee has been formed and success is already assured. The ladies have given the gentlemen two balls and it is considered time the gentlemen returned the compliment. The Choir of All Saints Church are exj§ pecting to give a repetition of the Sacred Concert held here a little while back, in about a fortnight’s time, at Dargaville. The Aratapu Gymnasium Class held a general meeting in the Rotunda Rink on Thursday last. A letter was read from Mr "Vousden, owner of the rink, strongly objecting to persons smoking in the building, and demanding the class to strictly prohibit it on their meeting nights. Some discussion took place over the letter and it was eventually decided to debar all visitor's, that - being considered the most feasible method of carrying out Mr Vousden’s wishes; it being ' :v the visitors who indulge in that undesirable ~ habit of sineking at the porch door The meeting closed after a little discussion on one or two other items of business. Another light-fingered gentleman from Australia has been brought to book. Myles McDonald was charged this morning before Messrs T. Webb and A. E. Harding J’s P., with stealing £8 in sovereigns from William Tyson at Tokatoka. Prisoner when arrested by Constable Scott had four sovereigns in his pocket. It was proved that he had no money before the theft and had sold a watch to obtain somey and that after the theft he J «&sired, to buy ba.ck the chain, and had money. Tyson left his money in his coat pocket in the whare while he went out to wash and it is presumed the prisoner then took it. The Beneh, at prisoner’s request, dealt summarily with the case, found prisoner “guilty and sentenced him to three month’s bard labour. William. Tyson, Alexander. McDonald and Thomas Eingroso were the witnesses.