A SHOCKING BAD SHON..

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1181, 17 July 1911, Page 6

A SHOCKING BAD SHON..

(By TeJeErauh—Special CorresDondenU

Auckland, July IG. A member of a pleasure party which visited Waihcke Island on June 3 has some reason to regret that be undertook the excursion. He-was charged at_ tho Police Court yesterday before Mr. b. C. Cutten, S.M.. with having wilfully killed a. pig, valued at ,£2 lOs.-tbe property of Donald M'Leod-aud ho did not deny that the animal died by bis hand although, ho said, the killing was unintentional. Mr. Ashwin, manager for Mr. M Leod, the owner of Waiheko Station, stated in evidence that the island was not fenced at the place where this occurrence took place, and there were no notices posted prohibiting persons from trespassing on the property. Many sportsmen came there without, permission, and some 200 turkeys belonging In tho station had been killed during I'lie last twelve years, but no one bad previously been prosecuted for shootins over tbe station. _ . The defendant's account of the affair was that, he thought bo bad a right to shoot rabbits on Waihcke, and ho went ashore with tho intention of having some sport. There were five pigs feeding near In- and also some rabbits at one of which ho aimed. Just as he fired the pigs caino rushing across the line of fire, and ho misled the rabbit, but hit the pig, which ran down the hill some distance and then fell dead. The defendant added that ho had tried to get into touch with tho owner of the pig in order to make him fair compensation and apologise for the trespass but had been unable to do so. Chief Detective Marsack said that the prosecution was not brought on account of the value of the pig, but for the purpose of warning trespasser* who had apparently sometimes mistaken turkeys for sparrows, and, in this case, pigs tor rabbits. (Laughter.) His Worship thought it almost impossible that anyone could hit a pig by mistake while shooting at, rabbits, and, even if that were so, the defendant went, awav onlv when the station manager hove in sight.' Ho was fined £h and «£3 Us. (id. costs.