TE AROHA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2690, 8 October 1889, Page 2

TE AROHA.

Owen Gayer.—Early on Thursday last it became known that this well-known whip, who for some months past has been plying a coach between Waiorongomai and this place, had got into trouble of a serious nature. It may be remembered that early last month three bags of oats, &c., were stolen from Bradley and Co's. stables. Gayer was convicted of the theft, and Mr Northcroft, R.M., desirous of giving him the benefit of the First Oifendors Act, accepted bail for a fortnight. As there is no resident oliicer here to recommend the administration of mercy to first standard criminals, the 11.M. at the following sitting of the Court dealt very leniently with Gayer, by finding him Is and costs, and to pay the value of the oats, &c. Although convicted of the theft, the public also took a lenient view of the case, and indeed since then his coach has had the lion's shave of the passenger traffic on the road. No sooner freed from this scrapo than Gayer plunges headlong into another of a similar nature, being arrested on Thursday evening on the charge, first, of being unlawfully on the premises of Mr Collins, storekeeper, Waiorongomai, and secondly, stealing therefrom a bushel and a-lialf of oats, valued 6s. On Saturday morning Gayer was brought before Messrs Hunt and Dobson, Justices of the Peace, when lie pleaded guilty to being oti the premises adding that he had business there. Sergt. Einerson stated tlio circumstances, and called Charles Carpenter, book-keeper for Mr Collins, whose attention had been called on Thursday evening to Gayer having been found in the feed room. In looking no the feed room he discovered a bag near the bin, containing about 1A bushels of oats, which had been taken from the bin. Albert Edwards, storeiuan in Mr Collins' employ, gave evidence as to finding Gayer in the feed room about 7.30 on Thursday evening. On asking what he was doing there, Gayer replied, evasively, that he had been taken bad through eating pork for dinner that day. There was nothing belonging to Gayer in the. premises, and ho had no business there. Pending the hearing of the second charge, judgment was reserved. Mr Carpenter gave evidence that lie had locked the doors of the stable and feed room, and before doing so saw the bag containing a quantity of oats, which he left. On going to the feed room about 8 o'clock next morning he found the bag of oats gone. The stable «!oor had been forced open, and one of the boards of the feed room partition was quite loose ; when removed the opening was large enough to admit a man. D. Ritchie, carter, proved to having seen Gayer coining from Collins'store about 5.30 on Thursday morning with a bag about a third full of something, which he carried to his stable. Other evidence clearly showed prisoner's guilt, and the Bench sentenced him to three months' hard labour on each charge, to run consecutively. It is a notorious fact that a large number of mysterious robberies have been perpetrated iu Te Aroha during the last two years. Like a dog with a bad name, Owen Gayer is by many metaphorically, justly or unjustly, hanged for the lot. Domain Board Meeting.—The ordinary monthly meeting of this Board was held on Saturday evening, when Messrs Gavin (chairman), Lipsey, Ilott and Ahier were present. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and the monthly statement of accounts gone through and passed. Receipts from tho baths for the month showed £26. An application from the publishers of the Mutual Creditors Guide for an advertisement was read, and it was decided not to advertise in the Guide. A telegram from Mr Richardson, Minister of Lands, had been received, re granting water from tho domain supply, and stating thatgreatcareshould be taken in establishing » precedent, which sonic one had evidently coached the Minister to designate the only application, a bad precedent. A few weeks ago Mr Edward Gaallgher wrote a letter to the Board offering to pay any reasonable sum the Board should decide upon for use at his new stables, of water running to waste. The Chairman, .after explaining at considerable length what had been done in the matter, and pointing out the difficulties of getting a full meeting of the Board, seconded the following resolution moved by Mr Ahier : "That the consideration of Mr Gallagher's application be postponed for a future meeting." Carried. It was also decided that a reply be sent to Mr Richardson, to the effect, " That the Board has no intention of granting any concession, without the sanction of the Government." Rent Reductions.—By conseut of the owners, a large number of rents have been reduced within the last fortnight, and a much more hopeful feeling seems to prevade tho community. The native, whoso signature in connection with Morgantown allotments had been withheld came over here and gracefully attested his acquiescence in ths reductions. With moderate care and steady pace, the town is no w_ freed to grow into one of the most attractive in the province.