OPOSSUM TRAPPING NEAR OTAKI GORGE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1926, Page 4

OPOSSUM TRAPPING NEAR OTAKI GORGE

DUNEDIN .MAX' HEAVILY FIXED. WELLINGTON. Aug. M. “ I’liesc charges against the two defendants constitute ono of the most wholesale and deliberate breaches of the opossum regulations that have eventaken place in. this country, lor hundreds of skins and opossums have been secured by these, men in the month or six weeks preceding the opening of the season.'’ These renj-irks were made by Mr 0. G. G. Watson, who represented the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, in the Magistrate’s Court, when proceeding against two brothers. Alexander and David White, against each of whom there were four charges, namely, trapping out of season, i|iiling to set tho traps on the ground, and failing to visit and inspect the traps every day. Both defendants were represented by Mr (J. A. 1,. Treadwell. Alexander White admitted having trapped three opossums out of season and without;a license, hut only on dime 23. His brother pleaded not guilty In ail the charges.

.Mr Treadwell stated that as two olfeuces, not selling tho traps on the ground and not inspecting the traps, were alleged to have been committed out of season, they could not be unlawful in tho true sense of the word.

“.Yo, they may not bo lawful, but. the offences may bo unlawful,” said the .Magistrate (Mr E. Page), who added that, ho would consider that aspect later. Mr Watson stated that the two brothers, who were very well known, came from the South Isifuid every veal' to trap opossums on a very large scale. The present offences, he said, wore committed in the very wild country between Otaki Forks and tho May Morn Estate. ‘"The trapping was first discovered,” ho wont on “by. a party of farmers who were out in the country looking for straying cattle. Suddenly they dune upon the traps, the lino of which was so long that although it was followed for several hours darkness came on before the last trap was reached. This matter was reported to the rangers of the society who in the course of their investigations discovered another 31 ti/ips set in n different place altogether to the ones seen by the other party. These had private marks of ownership upon them tho same as the other ones had.” A BANGER'S STORY.

In corroborating this statement, Percy William Wilson, a ranger, said that in company with a Mr Hooper ho went fifteen miles from Otaki Gorge, which runs from the Otaki River up to the mountains. Here, with .Mr Xli 11s and Air Hooper, thirty-0110 set traps were found. This would, he thought, he about July 9. In live of the traps opossums were caught. Mills told witness that this, however, was not the long line of traps he with others find originally seen. The traps wore watched for two days, but at no time did anyone approach them. Nearly all the traps were set off the ground, and witness took ono opossum out and killed it. On the following Tuesday a visit wDs made to a farmhouse occupied by a man named Sorregliaii. Here Alex auder White was interviewed, but not his brother, "David, fn the outhouse were about 1.5 to 20 traps. Sorreglian was a ecus ed, but he stated that they belonged to the White brothers. A visit was then, made to where the big number of traps had been seen by the. farmers. Although a trail was blazed through tho bush the traps were missing.

Mr Treadwell: Why did you not kill the otiher four poor ,Tint-ortulifttr wretches caught in the feeth of the trap when you did so to one? Witness: I wanted to catch the trappers when they returned. Had they seen me at the traps or found that anyone had tampered with them, they would not have claimed them.

Witness also stated that tlie -opossum he killed was hanging by one log from a trap which was placed against a tree. Tie estimated that the skins would lie worth from us to 7s c-ich as they came off the trap. As far as he knew, the tao defendants came from Dunedin. Witness could not tell whether the traps discovered in the outhouse on the farm had been used recently or not. CAP;.;i:IT IN- THE ACT. Herbert Boynton, an opossum trapper, said lie came across Alexander White near the May Morn Estate. He was with a long line of traps and (viking an opossum out of one. White said “You’vo caught me.” lie then asked if witness was a ranger. Witness replied “Vos.” so that he would get off witness’s territory and go" away. ‘‘lf you clear out I’ll let you go,” was what witness said to him. Accused did so, and took his traps off with him. Witness said that the country round about would probably have been pretty fair for opossums if White had not started to trap so soon. “I think that out of every forty trips set il night, sixteen opossums should have been caught,” he said, “that is in fine weather only. When it rains they do not come out.”

Frederick AVillinms Mills said that he passed along a line of sixty or seventy traps on July G. This was prior to the lingers being informed.

Air Treadwell stated that be did not think there was a ease to answer so far as David White was concerned. “Alexander admits having caught three opossums only,” he said, “hut ho denies having carried on in the wholesale manner in which Air Watson says lie did.” Mr Page stated that he would dis-

miss the case against David While, although it was one of grave suspicion. It certainly did seem that ho hurl worked with his brother, Alexander, but lie would be given the benefit of the doubt. DEFEND ANT’S DEXIAI.S. In the witness box Alexander White said that by occupation he was a sawmiller. Except for last year lie had not trapped since the open season of 1912. “On July 23 I trapped three opossums,” ho said. “However. I did not have anything to do with‘the iong line of traps seen by the rangers nr the other party previously.” He also denied having been ill the district for as long a time ns stated by the prosecution.

Nicholas Joseph Sorreglian said that he had never done uny trapping on bis own property, and until last year be was not aware that opossums were oil his land. The White brothers came and stayed at. the farm through his invitation. Witness denied to Mr Watson tin t he had ever told the rangers that the Whites had set traps with his permission on the land. He had. however, told the brothers they could look over the land and set what the trapping prospects were. MAXIMUM PENALTY IMPOSED. At the conclusion of the evidence the Magistrate said that he had do rided to convict Alexander White, and impose the maximum penalty upon him. His Worship agreed with Mr Watson that the trapping had been wholesale and deliberate. Beyond all doubt, it seemed that defendant bad ben caught trapping bv Povnton. The ti'hps found .by Mills and the rangers also had belonged to defendant. “Oil the charge of trapping out of season you will be fined £50.” said Mr Page, “and for trapping without a license you will be fined the same amount,”

On the other two charges the defen cant was fined £l. He wtis also ortiered to pay all costs. Six weeks was allowed him in which to find the monev.