PIG SHOOTING CASE.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1917, Page 2

PIG SHOOTING CASE.

At the Magistrate's Court, Greyinoutb, yesterday morning, before Mr T. Hutchison, S.M., Johu Robert Gobnrn (Mr Kilchingham) sued Robert Armstrong (Mr Joyce) for £4 damages to pigs at Maraden Road. For the plaintiff it was stated that defendant, who lives in a cottage adjacent to plaintiff's farm, instead of adopting the -smedy provided by the Impounding Act, shot the p’gs cn two Eejarale occasions wb>l% trespassing on bis lami. On the first occasion four young pigs were wounded and had to b 8 treated for some time. On the second occasion one of the pigs was fatally wounded. A deal of evidence was called to show that defendant’s property was insufficiently fenced. The defendant admitted the shooting and pleaded that the pigs bed caused him considerab'e annoyance. They bad ou one occasion enter-d his house rnd destroyed a bag of flior. They were contiunally about h ; s houso aud bed even taken.from the bauds. of his little children pieces of bread. They had also infested the house with vermin. On the fi:Bt occasion, wbeu be wounded four of the litter, they were sleeping nois'ly under bis house. It wag 530 a.m. when he at tlmm, “ ail in a ring, with their heads in sad other parts out.” The pig he shot in M.arcb last hßd been inside the back door, de-, fendant having fired from inside his k.tehee. All trouble c;a-ed, iu so far as the unwelcome visitors were concerned, after he fir- d ihs second Bbof. V"* la assesdng the damage, his Worship took into const-'e atiou that the pig had annoyed and molested defend-

ant, actnally taking possession of his house end used the" underneath as a sleeping place. There was no evidence to show that the four wounded swine had resulted in an appreciable loss to plaintiff lu the circumstances, he gave damages to plaintiff amounting to £l, together with co*is.