THE GORSE NUISANCE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2041, 8 September 1880, Page 3

THE GORSE NUISANCE.

At the Rangiora Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday J. C. Lock, J. Niner, J. Patterson, and W. Wilson were charged with allowing gorso to spread from their hedges on to the main road fronting their sections, and neglecting to grub up the young gorae and remove same after notice. Mr Qresson appeared for defendants. Mr Wilson did not appear, having cleared the gorse, and since agreed to pay costs of these proceedings. J. Thompson, surveyor to the Ashley Road Board, stated that he had examined the places referred to, and had given a certificate to the Board to the effect that the nuisance existed, and the Board ordered the present proceedings. The Board directed that the gorse on the roads should be grubbed up. By Mr Qresson—Never said that the Board would be satisfied if the gorse was mown off and then burned. Had not heard Mr Dick, a member, say that plan would be sufficient. For the defence J. Patterson said Mr Dick had stated it would answer to cut the gorse off with a scythe and then burn it. He did so. The other two defendants showed that since the proceedings the road had been cleared all but in the ditches. Mr Qresson pointed out that the notice given was only signed by “3. Harwell, Chairman,” and there was nothing in it to show that it emanated from the Road Board, ha further contended that defendants understood they might cut the gorse down and burn it as stated. The Resident Magistrate stated the notice waa an informal one, and the Bench taking the evidence that defendants had cleared the road as directed by Mr Dick, who, as a member of the Board, would be taken by them as one acting with authority, had decided to dismiss the case without costs. They thought it would be wiser in future if instructions were only given by the Board. Had it been known also last court day that the surveyor had been detained a few minutes by the rise of the river the cases would have been re-in-stated without costs of now summons.