R.M.COURT, CLYDE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1057, 21 July 1882, Page 2

R.M.COURT, CLYDE.

Thursday, July 20, 1882. Before Major Keddell, R M, W. J. Harrison, of Glen Nevis Station, Upper Nevis, was charged bv Mr. Robert Stewart. Rabbit Inspector of Vincent District, with a breach of tho Rabbit Act, in not taking efficient steps to clear his um of rabbits after being served with notice. .Mr. F. J. Wilson appeared to prosecide. Defendant did not put in an appearai ce. Mr. Wilson put in the Gi-zoto containing proclamation of the district, also appointment of Mr. Stewart.

Robert Stewart, sworn, said : Am Inspector of the Vincent Rabbit District. Know' the G'en Nevis Station and the ocuoier Mr W. Harrison, in February last I was on the run when it was over-inn with rabbits. On June 3, Mr Harrison saw' mo in my office at Olyde, and asked me for the exemption o'so dogs for rabbit killing f I give hi n exemption for four only, telling i n that I did not think kd ing by do s w s taking effeoient steps and that if he did nos take other steps I would summons him. Ho said that himself and boys and some other men were rabbiting on the run with do s, and ih t he bought the skins at fr m 6d to Is per lb from t v, cm. He Ins on hj a p-rmiscs a quantity of oats and phosphorus, the pronerty of the old Rabbit Trust, accordi gly hojeannot plead inability to obtain material for poisoning- Glen Nevis Station has an an a of about 40,000 acres, and with the oxcop 1 ion of about 100 head of cal' e he has crazing for other people, and a few ho ses ho has no stock on the run. Tho only effeoient means to exterminate the rah l its is by poison and the employment of 15 to 20 men. If he employed 201) men and dogs he would not exterminate the rabbits.

Tudor M'Kay, an authorised agent under the inspector, gave evidence as to the service of notice on Mr. Harrison ; also that from time to rime between March 22 and July 1 ho had inspected the Glen INevis Hun, and had never seen more than two nr three men hunting rabbits with dogs. That the conn ry was thick with rabbits, and that on several occasions he had seen Harrison ant told him to start poisoning or that step would bo taken against him. Ho had also inspected the various adjoining uns in th- district, and tin re was a marked d fT■ once between them a’d Harrison’s, — the rmo- being clear. Harrison had always ai that he wou’d commence poisrn af or lir t fall ol snow,but up to the present he had not started.

. George Crisp, manager of Hawks burn Station, said it had an area of 80,000 acres, and adjoined the Glen Nevi». His station was now pretty clear of rabbits. Since February last he had employed and was still employing from 20 to 25 m»n laying poisoned grain, and he thought that if half that number had bren employed on Glen Nevis that country would be equally as clear ns his To keep the country clear with does it would take one man with 30 or 4' dogs to the 1000 acres. •Jt Mr. Wilson for the prosecution, said the evidence was conclusive, and looked us if it was a case of “ don’t care." His Worship, after reviewing the ovi dence, gave judgment against defendant for LlO, and costs L 0 2s. The Vincent County, as occupiers of the Cromwell and Clyde Commonages, were similarly charged. Mr. Wilson appeared in the case for defendants. The evidence in this case for the prosecution was that while admitting that poisoning had been carried on, yet it was not done in such a way as could be called efficient for the extermina'ion of the pest ; and moreover that the Moutere Run holders have to keep the men on the Clyde Commonage boundary to keep them down. For- the defence it was urged that under contracts entered into with the County, men had been engaged laying poisoned grain and that tliev stuck to it so long as it pa d, when they left ' ff; the price paid being I’4 1 per skin, the contractor s to pay all costs of poison and otherwise. In cross examinaK ti>n both contractors—Mr Mas'em of Ciy e and Mr. Angus Robertson of Cromwell, however, adndtted the sto's t 'ker. were not efficient, and not such as th y would have used were the country their own; hnt.no meeting of the Council had been held since they had knocked off so that no fresh arrangement could Ire made. The Magistrate said the case had been made out, but under the circumstances he thought the fine of LI and costs would meet the case, ai d judgment for that amount was entered up.