EXTENSIVE THEFTS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2023, 23 June 1885, Page 2

EXTENSIVE THEFTS.

For somo time past the settlers in'the neighborhood of Gladstone have been much exercised by a series of extensive thefts, the perpetrator or perpetrators of which have not as yet been discovered. It will be remembered that during the last shearing season, the woolshed of Mr Q. McLachlan was burnt down, and that all the wool clip, about 17 bales, was lost. There are reasons for believing that the wool had been removed before tho fire occurred, and that the building was burnt down to hide the theft. It is well known that wool does not burn very readily, and that a bale of it would last a considerable time. In Mr McLachlan's case, a few loose fleeces, which had been lying apart from the bales, were found to be still smouldering, while no trace was to be found of the larger quantity, whicli,_ being tightly packed, would, it might reasonably be supposed, have lasted a great deal longer. No 'trace of the manner in'whioh it was removed, could, however, "be discovered, although a (careful (search was made. Latterly seyqral settlers had odd heads, of cattle stolen, antj one of these .had three hundred sheep taken from a paddock near Ins house, How any person coujd. hide these is a mystery, because among small holders, one generally knows the other's stock. 1 Various occurrences of this kind have occupied the attention of the police, but not the slightest clue has" been obtained, and the Bettlers are therefore in constant fear of further raids being made. It would perhaps be a good_ plan to station a constable 'at Gladstone, for unless that is done there seems to be little chance of catching the wholesale thief.