BURGLARY AND FIRE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10312, 22 January 1927, Page 7

BURGLARY AND FIRE

THEFT OF SPEED SOAT. YOUTH APPREHENDED LEAVING VESSEL. SENSATIONAL AFFAIR AT PAN-MI RE. AUCKLAND. Jan. 21. A sensational incident occurred at Panmure on Thursday evening, involving tlie burglary of ft building, followed by the destruction of the premises by fii’e, and the apprehension of a youth in a speed boat cn tlie Tamalci River. The toss by lire exceeds £lUiKl, and includes the loss or the whole building and the contents of a plumber's siiop, a bootmaker's workshop, confectionery business and garage, which it comprised. The sequel to the fire began at seven o’clock this morning, when Mr A. U. Wells, a resident of Panmure, noticed his speed boat was missing from the moorings on the river, boon afterwards he picked out the missing boat about two miles down the river. It was anchored. Air Wells went m pursuit in a rowing boat. When within call of the speed boat he noticed a youth working feverishly on the motor boat. The lad took to the dinghy on seeing Air AY ells, but he was captured. He was a resident ol Panmure. Under the seat of thespeed boat was a quantity of tobacco and confectionery. The speed boat was towed to Panmure and later the youth was arrested. The goods found in the speed boat were identified as belonging to the confectionery shop. The youth admitted breaking into the confectionery shop. He said lie had a candle, but saw no sign of lire when he left. He took the speed boat but the engine failing to go, he dropped the anchor. The boy will appear in the Police Court to-morrow. Air D. I. Young, owner of the building and occupier of two of the shops, is "a heavy loser. The premises were valued at'£Bso and were only insured for £BOO. Over £SO worth of plumbink tools were burned. The coniectionery shop stock was insured for £IOO. Bootmaking equipment valucu at £SO was burned, and Mr Harwood lost tools valued at £SO, which vcio not insured.—P.A.