TAURANGA R.M. COURT.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 62, 5 April 1873, Page 3

TAURANGA R.M. COURT.

Weivnksuav, April 2. [Before IXi.?fuy Ci.arkk, Esq., K.M., and Major lienskure, IEM.j AKOTHKB CrOAT CASE. IT. Bickers w.is lined Is and costs for allowing a goat to wander at largo. Ar.r.KGKo ix.r.-TKEArsrxsjrr of uoeses. rhomas Wrigh-y was charged by Sergeant aiesi with having, at Taumnga, ou the 31st March last, cruelly ill-treated, abused, a ml tortured three horses, coat mry to the statute nii'de and provided. The defendant denied the charge. Sergeant IS’adcn deposed ; I was walking yesterday morning near the spot where Mr Wrigioy’s pack horses arc led ; When wit.hiu about 30 or 30 yards 1 noticed tome large open sores on three of the horses backs and withers, whit;!; caused rue to go more closely amongst the animals ia order to ex urn mi 0 them ; upon examination. X saw one large grey horse wit h a very bad wither indeed ; •Tic matter wr.s running copiously from the sore ; I not iced one dark col ••ured horse wit h bud cores on too hack, reu uud raw ; ono of the sores was quite as large as the palm of uiy hand ; after 1 unused this last mentioned animal to move, I n.■ticcd the sun affected the wound, and seemed to cause gnat torture to the horse ; I saw a third norsc with swollen wither and sores on back and wither j I examined all she horsey—. omo twelve or f herteen ; to t he b< st of rny belief they were all the property of defendant ; with the exception of oiiß or two, ad had sores on their backs ; 1 saw | ono horse so much over-worked that ho did not c re to move at all • (he appearance of all the horses i, saw proved they were over-worked and not properly iecl ; 1 never remember seeing a mob of pack hor.-cs f el ore whh so many amongst them having sore backs and looking so miserable. Sergeant Nudon said that ho did not wish to p >-! i? 8 tor h heavy penalty'. Me, however, considered it was ias duty to bring the matter forvvu rd. By Mr Wrigley : I «m prepared to swear there was more that, one horse with a won ml at. the time 1 saw them ; 3 have bun ■ • or seven years experience with pack horses p> ng gold ; tficy used to go a di.'tance of about 120 miles ; the puddles should be taken off, in rase of sore back'*, and the animals endeavoured to be relieved of their pain in so inn way' or other By the Court : IT ho horses wore feeding when I saw them ; 1 believe they came off a journey Out* or two days bo lore ; I did not nee the horses in t ho state I have described being loaned up. This concluded tlie evidence for the complaint. I inmius \V rigley, merchant, Tauranga, being sworn, stated : .Respecting the charges of the lio'-.-os not being prapnily fed, I Can oniy *ny that I the ho:sen have no stint of food, and are, I j behove, the best fed pack horses here ; I have had : a port ion of t* em for tin* last sixteen months, j wiiieh, I think, is a proof that they' have been ! well fed ; the horses are in the, habit of making ) jo i-ncys—-there anil back —of from 100 to 150 mil -q arid, considering tne nature of the road, it i- imiK-asibh- for pucK-horaea to do the distance i witnout some of them having sores when they ; r- tarn home ; 1 have examined the horses twice or three times since their return la.it time, and I . on y found one with un open sore : that sore wag ; made the; hist trip only ; the whole of the horses, ! wit h S he except ion of one, will bo ready for the n-xt journey alter two days more rest; 1 most | di.-tinct !y and emphatically deny that the horses ; are under f, d ; such would be a disgrace I would | not. have attached to my name. By Sergeant JNmJeu ; - ndrew McMillan drove i the horses last I rip ; Thomas \V iliiams was my l driver previously ; he was etnplovcd by rno for sixteen mouths in that capacity ; Williams start* with M ir park ou the trip previous to last; X beli - ve hr went as fur u* the Waimapu, arid 1 tsien returned to Taumnga with loaded j :i--k j horses j 1 believe he told Airs VVrigley that some I of the horses lay down on the road ; I was away ! &t tbo time ; Williams, I think, said the horses!

"‘‘•T '" v ' r hut r ,I,JJ „ I ran brir.z * i. I'm o Tp rebut "W" slat' V'Ut, however j uis reasons lor returning i* Xi* , --" v £* were two I WO of the horses hogged, .AA. he )md a strange iv-.T- 0 in) * w * l0 > he said, was of no use; \\ lib.-sms s-iid nothing about horse feed; these rrmarks ivero made to Mrs Wrigley. and Williams 'oso otf.Ti'd at the time to take out six pack horses nun self the following morning, us the native wai . no serviee to him ; 1 am not aware, directly or indirectly, 1 hut Williams coup.lamed of the want ot feed ; the man could not do so, because when ho left ho hud plenty on hand ; tht- fact is, if She horses were not feel, it was Williams's fault and not umu>. Sergeant Naden desired to stale that. William* had nothin!? whatever to do wit h this prosecution m any shape or form whatever. • rigley to the Court: The horses came into irturangu on Monday, and will leave again on Thursday or Friday next.; there is always a plentiful supply of food at the disposal of'the driver. ulr Writ-ley stated that lie had some witnesses to end to rehut Sergeant Nation** evidence. After a short consultation, the Bench decided not to proceed any further with the case. The Act under which tho information was laid provided that, fkfi korse.s muni fir -working at tho time of such alleged cruelty. If the nuunuls bad been “ loaded up” at tho time, and tho allegations hud been distinctly proved, then the defendant would have been liable to a very heavy tine. But tho Ordinance was very explicit on the matter, and therefore if, would bo useless to continue the inquiry. Tho Court, however, desired to express their opinion that. Sergeant Nadeu had acted quite right in moving in tho uni tier. Without prejudice to tho present charge, tho Bench were afraid that pack horses were often over-loaded and dl-fcd. The case would bo dismissed. desired to make a elatcmeufc regarding tho matter at issue. 1 !u? Bench said, aa tho ease had been closed, it could not bo admitted. Civil, Casks. Ash Kit v, Pauktuoki’E.- —This was an adjourned case.—dudument. for plaintiff for full amount claimed and costs. Hour Noatai v. llakoi.'d White. — No appearance of defendant,— ! his was a claim for £.15, being damages alleged to have been sustained by plaintiff in consequence of tho logs of a horse kiilcd through tho negligence of defendant.— Judgment by default for £ls and costs. Beowst v. Joßt>Ax.—Eoni;ias<>sr v. Joiuvak. Summonses not served. Cuac a adjourned until nest Court day. 1 „ bAinnuH r. Frank: MoDokam, Claim, £3 I u ';' £” u,iS ' *old and delivered. —Ho appearrnro j °’ defendant..-—Judgment for plaintiff for amount j claimed and eo-t *. 1 Asiieu v. TiWttu.—Judgment confessed for 1 £3 12s. Take v. Wat+'s —Claim. £0 9s lOd. for work done and labour jormed.—The particulars are of no public intere*=i whatever. Case adjourned i»i orner to procure the evidence of (Japtain Turner on the matt cl'. | J. Shown v. Saseueis ani> Jacohsohst.'— I Claim, £9 15s, for hullor-k hire,—This was an old ea«e brought, forward In a new form. The question involved was whether or not tho defendant s’ agreed to become responsible for Peter Grant to plaintiff—After hearing evidence, tho Bench gave’ judgment: for plaintiff for £2 12s and costa. Tho Court then adjourned. Fbiday, A run. f. DBH'NKHNKEes and In hvckkot. Thomas Brown was charged with these offences. Bergoant Naden deposed that about 2 p.rn. on the previous day prisoner was very drunk, very noisy, and very disorderly. Ho thereupon arrested him. Received reliable information that the prisoner had also been guilty of indecent language, about mid-day on the Bench Road, and at the same time used most offensive and obscene language. On the way to tho lock-up the prisoner repeated bis indecent conduct;.-—Mounted Sergeant Bussell confirmed the evidence of Sergeant Nation.—His Worship severely cautioned tho prisoner, warning him that ho was liable to a penalty of £lO or a term of imprisonment, and taking a merciful view of the present charge, indicted a a fine of 15 and costs. W illiam Biloy wns charged with a similar offence.—Constable Joyce proved the charge,—prisoner was also severely cautioned, and lined 15? and costs. Patrick Lang, for being drunk and disorderly, was fined Gs and cost s.