SPORTSMAN FINED

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1930, Page 7

SPORTSMAN FINED

SHOT PROTECTED BIRD

AUCKLAND, May 23.

Fines of £'l were imposed on two Moriinsville sportsmen, 11 Dodd and .. Colson, who were prosecuted in the Magistrate’s Court before Mr Wyvorn Wilson, S.M., on charges arising out. of the shooting of a hen pheasant Dodd pleaded guilty to shooting the ' : rd, while Colson, in whose ear it was found, pleaded not guilty to having it in his possession. The incident was a sequel to the visit of Lord Bledisfoe to the Tahuna district, near Morrinville, on May Ist in company with ,the '•hiof ranger of the Auckland Accliinat'vnt:on Society (Mr W. T. Rutledge °nlice Superintendent W. G. Wohlmnnn and otlior prominent sportsmen. The ranger, in evidence, said lie passed Colson’s car in Mangawaru valley. and asked Dodd and Colson what h.Ht they had had. The replied; "No luck at all.” However, the thought it was unreasonable for two men with a o-ood dog fo have no luck on the opening day of the season, and he insisted on examining the rear carrier bx of he car, where he found a plucked hen ihoasant in a parcel, as well as two lucks and a cock pheasant. Dodd ad •nittcd shooting' the hen pheasant, hut •obi it was accidental. “One thing is ’ertnin, your Worship. The plucking was not accidental,” added witness. Hood too’: full responsibility for kill'ng the bird, and snid Colson knew u('tiling about it. Witness then said he was going to seize both their guns, but Colson asked why witness was roing to seize his, as he had not shot he bird.

R. Dodd gave evidence, He said they were following a creek bed and had shot one duck. He heard another bird coming out of the tea tree and took a pot shot at it. A second after lie fired be saw it was not a duck. Finding it was a hep pheasant he deeded that as the damage had been dpne, it would be an act jotf wantonness to throw it away. ,

Mr Rut]edge: If ypu had” told ipe when T first approached you that you had accidentally shot a hen pheasant, the circumstances would hdve been Efferent. \V"

The 'Magistrate said theybml ha' 1 apparently been shot .'accidentally. ‘.hoi-wise he would not have treated defendant so leniently.