with a recent meeting on Bermuda's first halfway house.

Without divulging what he discussed with Captain Max Barritt of the Salvation Army on Wednesday, the Hon. Quinton Edness told The Royal Gazette that he and Capt. Barritt are "of a mind on this issue'' and must simply iron out such details as location and finances.

"We wish to achieve a halfway house for this Country,'' he said. "It's very essential to assist with the reintegration of inmates into society.'' TWO MORE BAG SNATCHES REPORTED CRM A motorcycle bag snatch was reported in the Paget area in the early hours yesterday morning.

And a similar incident was reported Wednesday in Pembroke by a visitor to the Island.

The woman reported someone attempted to grab her bag out of her cycle basket as she rode up Langton Hill about midnight on Wednesday, Police said.

However, after the culprit fled, she found the bag dangling by its strap outside the basket; an elastic bungee chord had apparently prevented its removal.

In yesterday's incident, a 36-year-old Southampton man had his canvas bag snatched out of his cycle basket by a youth on another motorcycle at about 1.30 a.m.

He was riding along South Shore Road in Paget near Astwood Cove when the theft occurred.

EX-PTA TREASURER STOLE $7,000 CTS A former PTA treasurer was yesterday ordered to perform 100 hours of community service for stealing more than $7,000 from her association.

Maria Elaine Burgess, 26, of North Shore Road, Hamilton Parish admitted stealing $7,247.53 from the Francis Patton PTA between October 1, 1992 and October 31, 1993.

As PTA treasurer, Burgess was responsible for incoming funds and bill payments.

She said she had taken the money to pay personal and medical bills.

Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis sentenced Burgess to 100 hours of community service.

MAN DENIES $10K FRAUD CHARGE CTS A man who allegedly tried to cash a $10,000 cheque at a local bank pleaded not guilty to fraud charges yesterday in Magistrates' Court.

Neil Bryson Bascome, 24, of Pompano Lane, Southampton, also denied breaking and entering a home on May 19 and stealing $40 in cash and a cassette tape.

Mr. Francis set the fraud charge down for trial on October 5, and bailed Bascome in the sum of $1,000 plus a like surety.

The Magistrate set the breaking and entering for trial October 4.

SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW BIKE STOLE CTS A Sandys Parish man who claimed he unknowingly rode a stolen bike was yesterday fined $1,500 in Magistrates' Court for charges relating to his riding spree.

Darmaine Patrick Simmons, 21, of Pleasantville Lane, admitted moving a stolen bike, for which he was fined $300; riding without insurance, $300; driving while banned, $300; driving dangerously, $350; and driving without a driver's licence, $150.

Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis was also banned Simmons from driving for 12 months each for driving while disqualified and dangerous driving, to run concurrently.

SWORE AT POLICE, FINED $150 CTS A 20-year-old Somerset man who swore at a Police officer outside Magistrates' Court Tuesday morning was yesterday slapped with a fine for his words.

Kenneth Clinton Bulford, of Scott's Hill Road, admitted using offensive language.

Sgt. Peter Giles, prosecuting, told Senior Magistrate the Wor. Mr. Will Francis that shortly before noon Tuesday morning, Bulford and five other young men were waiting on an unrelated case.

A Police officer who was testifying in another matter was about to leave the court when Bulford called him a redneck and shouted obscenities at him.

Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis fined Bulford $150.