EXPENSIVE TARGET

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1931, Page 2

EXPENSIVE TARGET

SHOOTING AT INSULATORS. HEAVY FINE IMPOSED. MASTER TON, Jan. 24. On the evening of January 3rd last a serious breakdown occurred on the | bight power line at Koini, North Wairnrapn, and dairy factory and milking machines were held up for some time. On investigation it wa's found that throe of the insulators were broken. How the insulators were broken was shown in the Pahiatua Magistrate’s Court, when two young men. T. IT. Birkshaw, aged 22 years, and James Lamont. aged 25 years, were charged with wilfully damaging them. .4 third youth, A. Hunt, was charged with attempting to damage them. Evidence was given by the police that the three youths went rabbit shooting with a pearifle. They caught no rabbits, aoid the power poles being handy, they decided to try Their markman ship on the insulators. Birkshaw fired first, and scored a “bull.” Lamont fired next, and shattered another sup: Hunt fired at the third, hut missed it. Birkshaw then took the rifie again, and completed t-he job by. smashing the third cup. The magistrate, Mr J. Miller, S.M. said that the action had been concerted, and each was equally liable for the mischief done. He impressed on defendants the seriousness of their offence-, and pointed out that they were liable to a fine not- exceeding* '£soo.

“We have had a lot of cases of boys breaking telegraph insulators,” the, magistrate added, “hut you are not boys. Apparently, though, although yon have grown up physically, you haven’t mentally, as this looks like the .senseless act of Larrikins. You must have known the difference between ordinary telegraph posts and tlie pig Power Board poles, f intend making the punishment a substantial one, as stupid and senseless practices of this kind have to he put down.” Each of the youths were fined £7 and ordered to pay }6s 8d towards the damage done.