Magistrate s Court, Hamilton

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 202, 31 March 1905, Page 2

Magistrate s Court, Hamilton

TuasDAY.—Before Mr Norther oft, S.M, DRIVING BULLOCKS ON ROADS. Mr T. Burd, District Road Engineer, v. W. M. Howe, sawmill proprietor, Oparau, G. Lyford and John M'Buruey, for driving bullocks on a public road between Oparau and Pirongia between tbe months of May and November, a breach of tbe public by-law No. 1,1902 Mr Mac Diarmid, who appeared tot the plaintiff, stated that the information was laid under by-laws made by the Minister for Pub ic Works in c >unection with public Defendants had been repeatedly warned. Howe, who also appeared for Lyford and M‘Burnoy, pleaded guilty un ter extenuating cirec.uastances. William J?-hn Worthington, road >verseer, of Pirongia. stated that tae first offenca '.vas commit* d iu October. He saw timber deposited on tbe road. He had warned Howe and Lyford about nsi: g b iHocks. Defendant asked if witness c inside red tbe road fit for horses at tbe time. Witness caul I not say. Defendant asked witness if tbo road was not so narrow that a rider bad to pull off to allow a team io pass. .Witness admitted it was so in places. Thomas Burd, District Road Engineer, statad that it was to keep heavy traffic off rhe roads that the use of bullocks was prohibited. It cost more to repair roads used by defendants than others. The Magistrate pointed out that between May Ist and November 8181 bullocks cou'd not be used. This, he said, seemed very hard on settlers; ffevertheless it was the law. and ha conlo not alter it. Defendant (Howe) read letters from several settlers, in which they stated that the road? were better at the time he used them than at other rimes. His Worship convicted the defendants on each offence, cautioned them not to use bullocks between May and November and discharged thorn. No costs wore allowed.