ROUGH TIME FOR THE TROUT

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1801, 14 July 1913, Page 11

ROUGH TIME FOR THE TROUT

GAFF & GELIGNITE. The case in which George Fernandos was charged with having used an unsportsmanlike device—to wit, a gaff—for the purpose of catching trout at Wainui-o-mata, was concluded before Mr. \V. G. Riddell, ■ S.M., at the Magistrate's Court on Saturday. His Worship said the evidence had been of. a very contradictory mature, but the defendant must be convicted. The defendant was fined 10s., audi costs amounting to .£1 175., in default three days' imprisonment. Mr. Izard represented the defendant, and Mr, T. Neavo -prosecuted on behalf of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. THE GELIGNITE CASE. William Millard and Leonard Beazar were charged that, on April 2, at Wainui-o-mata, they cast explosive matter into a stream in which trout exist, to wit, the Wainui-o-mata, Mr. T. M. Wilford represented the accused, and Mr. T. Neavo prosecuted by the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. ' Mr. Neavo stated that the accused had been seen by an honorary ranger throwing some sort of explosive—it proved to be gelignite—into the stream. The act had 'been repeated' three times. The Uinger also saw Millard ignite a charge and throw it into the water. When ho approached the defendants they denied tho matter, but Beazar accidentally drew a detonator out of his pocket, which he refused to hand to the ranger. Later in tho day, defendant? admitted having used gelignite. The defence was that the defendants were not aware of the existence trout in' the river, and that they had uwd tho explosive for the purpose' of clearing tho stream of logs. His Worship entered a. conviction against each defendant and ordered them to pay costs Is., and the solicitor's fee. ■<£1 Is. SELLING WILD DUCKS. David Matthews, butcher, of Molesworth Street was charged as follow:—That, on Maroh 13, he did offer for sale certain imported game, to wit, three English wild ducks, during a pfjriod wherein it was not lawful to 6ell such.' Mr. J. J. M'Grath appeared for the defendant, and Mr. T. Neave'prosecuted for the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. The defence was that acoused had purchased tho ducks from a firm in Levin. Tho defendant produced invoice to'show that for somo considerable time lie had made such purchases. He, however, admitted that lie did not have a license to sell tho birds. A fine of 20s. and costs .£1 Bs. was imposed. OTHER CASES. / James Kirkus and Alexander Anderson were each fined 10s. for insobriety. John Power, with 68 previous convictions entered a plea of not guilty when jharged with theft of a pair of boots, aro property of J. W. Martin, and theh of two brushes the property of some person unknown. He was sentenced to ono month's imprisonment on the first charge. On the second count he was convicted and discharged. Patrick Ryan was remanded' until Tuesday on a charge of having stolen an overcoat, Valued at ,£1 10s,, the property of Joseph Bcntloy. George Gray, wlio (according to Inspector Hendry) had: been thriving on tho proceeds of an unfortunate woman's prostitution, was sentenced to ono month's imprisonment for being an idle and disorderly person. Ho was also ordered to ipay 71. fid, in respectto a window which he had wilfully damaged. A sontence of three months' imprisonment was imposed upon J. D. Speight, who was charged with the theft of an overcoat valued at ,£3, the property of Alexander Patrick.