R.M. COURT, CLYDE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1197, 6 February 1885, Page 3

R.M. COURT, CLYDE.

Tuesday, February 3rd, 1885. (Before J. Hickson, Esq., R.M.) Miles t. Chrisp.

G. H. Chrisp was charged by Mr In specto.* Miles with not having taken proper steps for the purpose of keeping down the rabbits on Hawkabnrn and Oairnmuir Stations, after notice had been served on him on the Bth December, 1884.

Mr P. J. Wilson appeared in support of the infdrinition ; and Mr Chrisp defended his own case, and pleaded not guilty. Thomas J. Miles, Sheep and Rabbit Inspector, produced his appointment and deposed : 1 know defendant, and served the notice on him by post from Clyde ; but do not know whether he received the notice. Have not been on the laud since the last notice, but was there the day before. Cross examined by Mr Chrisp : You have not taken steps to destroy the rabbits since the notice was served.

R. P. Hargraves deposed ; I am a rabbit agent, and reside at Clyde. I produce my appointment. My duties are to sea that the rabbits are destroyed. I keep a diary, and make alt entries at the time of inspection. On the 11th December I went over a portion of Oairnmuir and saw numerous quantities of rabbits, but no trappers on the top end of Oairnmuir. Saw a great number cf rabbits near the Home Station an I Kawarau Stai icn Th y averaged about 100 to the acre. No efforts were perceptible about the destruction of the rabbits. On the 24th December 1 went over the same ground and found two men trapping. Theiewas no difference in the number of rabbits. On the 21st January, 1885, I was at Oairnmuir aud the banks of the Clutha River, and saw a great number of rabbits, but only one man at work. I was on the same country previously, but saw no decrease in the pest. 1 spoke to the man on the occasion. On the 22nd January 1 visited another part of Oairnmuir, facing Bannockburn Creek, the rabbits being very thick, averaging about 100 to the acre ; and was the worst part of the country. No steps were being taken to exterminate them. Saw Mr Chrisp on the same day, who said that there were three men employed, but did not see them. I fully expected to find sor 6 men employed, as the rabbits were ■so numerous. I told Mr Chrisp that I would have to report him to Mr Miles. 1 do not think that proper steps have beeu taken to stop the increase. ByMrChiiap: My last visit to Cairnmuir was on the 22ud January, and found one man at work on the lower end, and three men at ihe Home Station. Did not see the results of the wo.k of the men. Did not hear Mr Morrison ask you for a man to take the skins away. You said you were busy shearing just then, and that you would call on Mr Miles on the following Monday, aud see what was wanted to be done.

Mr Miles, leca'led : After serving notice saw MrCbnsp on the lltb December, who arrived from Dnnedin after seeing his agents, and much agai'st his will had to do what I required. L wanted steps being taken for the purpose of killing the rabbits ; and men at work. [ told him that I was glad he was going to doit, as I did not want to have any bother. On or about the 22nd January Mr Hargraves reported to me that the rabbits were very thick on C iirnmuir ; and 1 went over the country, but saw no carcas-es or dead labbits. The country belongs to Hawksbnrn, snd Air Chrisp is the manager. No efficient steps have been taken to atop the pest. In my opinion eight men at least should be employed for the purpose. I cannot state the ra lcage of the stations. Four men are not sufficient to cope with the rabbits. 1 sent two men to Mr Chrisp. There was no want of labour, and pleniy of men were about willing to work at rabbiting. By Mr Cbiisp ; Trapping and shooting should be done m tbe summer months. 1 am not aware that Mr B -yiey has objections to trapping ; but know that be objects to dogs. T)o not know of any damage done by trapping. 1 have had no practical experience of trapping \on would not do anything—neither trap or shoot. This was tiie case for the prosecution. The following evidence was given for the defence :

G. H. Chrisp deposed : I am manager of Hawksburn and Cairnmuir Stations, ami have taken every means to destroy the rabbits. I commenced poisoning on the 20th February, !BS4, amt finished on the 25th Decern er, 1884, and during that time had on an average 25 men employed. I do not mean to say that I have exterminated them, but have lessened their numbers considerably ; and would have been more so had Mr Miles carried out his agreement and seen Kawarau boundary simultaneously poisoned, as he agreed to do at meeting on 2nd February, 1884. On Hawksburn Station alone there are 8000 more sheep grazing than last year, and I can call witnesses to show that the present condition of the country is more healthy than last year. I have taken every steps to keep down the rabbits. (Section 9 of the Rabbit Act was hero read by His Worship).

During last month I had nine men, sometimes 12, employed rabbiting, but never less than nine. I have employed ti uppers much against my will, as trapping does more harm than good. I had them work ing on different portions of Haw .shorn and Oairumuir. By the Bench : Hawkshnrn and Cairnmnir Stations comprise 102.000 acres. There is no part of the country free from rabbits. Dur'ng last winter the men employed by me ■ id the work systematically, and I poisoned the run from end to end when V r a m n could walk, and would have been more successful in keeping the rabbits down had others worked on the same system. The increase of sheep are running on Hawksburn alone, and will remain there for the next seven months. The information attaches to he whole run. Mr Fraser,'Earnßch ugh Station, deposed; 1 have known Run 325 a, Oairnmuir, for the last 20 years. The rabbits were swarming there IS months ago. Have been over the ground near my boundary, and found it very bad. I believe it belonged then to the A. L., Company. I am not aware that I made any complaints about the rabbits. The sheep were looking very bad, and saw seveial dead, presumably from starvation, as the rabbits had the upperhand. Wont over the same country about two months ago, and noticed a great difference in the number of rabbits, and a vast improvement in the country. Raw no dead shea > then, but what sheep I did see were in a healthy condition. There was a decided improve- > meptin the decrease of the rabbits I By Mr Wilson t If rabbits were left

alone in summer, they would be as numerous as ever in winter. Was not over the Cromwell and Bannockburn portions of the run. At this time of the year young rabbits are to-be seen all over the lower portions of the country. If they are not followed up they would be as bad as ever in winter. It would not be safe to leave them alone in summer.

R. F. Hargraves deposed .- I have been a rabbit agent for about six months, and have had experience in the destruction of rabbits for some time. My duties are to see that the rabbits are kept down. Have visited Hawksburn Station about 14 Ernes, but cannot state positively. 1 know Run 33f>B, and believe it to be a portion of Cairomuir. Was on it twice. Oairnmuir is very bad with rabbits, especially the Bannockburn face, and from Mr Fraser’s boundary. Went over the.ground, in consequence of information received from Mr Cowan.

Jacob Crow, deposed : 1 am a miner, residing at Duffer’s Gully. 1 have three miles of a water race. I have been over the run and seen a great number of rabbits. There was no grass on the run five years ago. Cattle and sheep were dyiug through starvation. The rabbits are less now than they have been during the last five years. There is an abundance of gross there now. I have a small croo and garden, but the rabbits do not annoy me. The rabbits are not numerous.

By Mr Wilson : I am about 400 or 500 yards from the Bannockburn face. 1 have not been iu that part of the country during the last two months.

Thomas J. Miles deposed : I remember calling a meeting of those interested in the rabbit peat about, Feb nary, 18 84, for simultaneous boundary work. Tome was a date fixed upon for such work. Did not undertake to see that anyone in particular carried on the work of poisoning. Had complain s (from Mr Cowan that Hawks burn and Oairnmuir Stations were not doing the woik agreed upon. Hawksburn poisoned when they were ready. Did nut see them laying poison Mr.Cowan has men employed. The boundary was not poisoned at the time agreed upon. John Leech, rabbiter, Earnseleugh Station, deposes' : I have been trapping about live months. The Maori hen and wild cate destroy the rabbits. There are a good many Maori hens where I am at work. They and the wild cats live on rabbits chiefly. Have caught about 100 Maori hens in traps, and also about 30 cats. I hj ive also caught sheep iu traps. I believthere is a heavy loss to the runhuldere in trapping, and would not advise the use of traps where sheep were running. By Mr Wilson: I know nothing about Oairnmuir. PoEon hurts the Maori hens and wild eats a little. The cals, in ray opinion, dio through eating the poisoned rabbits. lam not in favour of shooting, but poisoning. This being the whole of the evidence, Mr Cnrisp was asked if be had any tiling to say, in reply to which he said that he had done all in his power to ke-p the rabbits down, and that the general appearance of the country compared most favourably with previous ye irs. Mr Wi.son briefly addressed the Bench in support of the information. His Worship, after reviewing the evidence, said that in this case lie must convie", as the Act was so arbitrary, and left him with no other alternative but to fine Mr Cnrisp in the lowest penalty, viz., LI, and L't Is costa.

There being no other business, the Court adjourned.