ANOTHER CHURCH BROKER INTO.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2673, 1 December 1909, Page 3

ANOTHER CHURCH BROKER INTO.

CATHOLIC - CHURCH AT HALSWELL ENTERED.

fPpu Phfss Ahhociation.l * CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 30

The ’list, of churches __ burglariously entered during the past few weeks has been increased. Further-inquiries were made to-day.. and it was eiieiied that the Roman, Catholic Church and school, room at Halswell had both been entered. The thieves broke, into the church and forced open the contribution box, but found nothing. They then took the vestments out of the vestment press and scattered- them about the floor of the church "and sacristy. The schoolroom, which is situated near the church, was also broken into. ■ Two of the windows were .smashed, .pud the school clock wah broken. The inkwells were emptied, the ink being scat, tered over the-desks and books; The Halswell occurrences are distinguished liy the wantonness of the damage done. The. finger-print department attached to tjie Christchurch police station should have had a busy time, the offenders, tampering, with so mffny windows and varnished boxes, left plenty digital evidence behind them. It lias bcon discovered that the Roman Catholic Cathedral was entered. by fbreing a window on .the north side, The lower windows in the Cathedral aye so constructed that- they can.be partly opened from the bdt'tom for ventilation purposes. The notched meg which kept the window in, 'positioit had been tampered with and ultimately separated from window. By the removal of an iv- l the window could then bo r /.ig back, so that? a largo body cotY/jo admitted. •