YOUTHFUL ESCAPADES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2418, 5 February 1909, Page 2

YOUTHFUL ESCAPADES.

WAIHI TO TEMUKA

When the first express pulled up at Temuka on Tuesday morning, Constable Glass, who was on duty on the station., had his attention drawn to two youths alighting from the train and making for liberty. He pursued the youths, and not being satisfied with their explanations, accompanied them to the Police Station, where, in the presence of Constable Gillespie, an extraordinary tale was told. The two. boys, who gave them names as Frank Thomas and Leslie Green, stated that they, left Waihi about three weeks ago without- apprising their fathers, who arc miners employed in the Waihi mines, with the intention of visiting a lady at Sydenham, whom one of the boys claimed as his aunt. With the sum of £2 2s in their possession, and fairly clad, they set out for Wellington via the Main Trunk line, and for the past three weeks have been occupied in making their journey south, part of which was made on foot and part by rail. They relate their experiences in the King Country, and .state that the slept in workers’ huts and in open trucks .at night, and, where possible., made journeys on foot. Their appearance when -apprehended indicated the truth of the story regarding their- walking feats, as one of the boys was practically bootless. They stated that they paid their fares of Cs 2d each from Wellington, to, Lyttelton, .and walked over the "hill to Christchurch from the port. On reaching the city it appears, they made no effort to locate the aunt, but became imbued with a desire to

visit Timaru. This they endeavored to do on Monday morning, and with a single ticket between the two. took train for the southern town. Before reaching the Hinds the guard noticed something peculiar in the manner of the boys, .and the game was no. for in passing the ticket to liis “pal” the smaller boy let it drop. The guard put them off the train at the Hinds* and they appear to have walked to Rangitata, sleeping .all night in a truck (and a wet night it was). Having sufficient to purchase a ticket to Timaru , they did so, but were - captured in alighting in Temuka, the action of the boys in running away exciting the constable’s curiosity. They give their ages as fourteen years, and certainly do not look it. One boy said he had been working for a baker for eighteen months, and that he knew Sergeant Driscoll, a Wailii police officer, very' well. Tlxey had no. dinner or tea on Monday, and only a little tea on Sunday , and, indeed, looked hungry enough. As there was no charge against the boys, the police, after consultation, communicated with the Inspector at Timaru, and. the boys were forwarded there in the afternoon to be dealt with. It is. understood that the boys expressed their willingness to be sent to their homes. The mysterious part of the story is that no boys are- .apparently reported missing from Waihi.