MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 242, 10 September 1940, Page 5

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

The fortnightly sitting of the Magistrate’s Court in Feilding was held today, Air It. AI. Watson, S.M., presiding. “The noise was terrific, and there have been a number of complaints regarding noisy motor-cycles,” said the traffic inspector (Mr D. M. Ford) in prosecuting on behalf of the Transport Department in respect of a charge against K. Fitzwater for having operated a machine with a defective silencer; a fine of £1 with costs I2s was imposed. R. Weston was fined £l, with costs 10s, on a charge of exceeding the 30 m.p.h. speed limit on Alalcino Road. R. Webby, of Tangimoana, was fined ss, with costs 12s and witness’s fee ss, for allowing a cow to graze on a public road at Tangimoana; Mr W. Berry prosecuted on behalf of the Manawatu County Council. 13. C. Waldegrave, of Tangimoana, was fined 12s, with costs 12s and witness’s expenses ss, for allowing stock to graze on the Tangimoana main highway. F. Biddlecombe, rabbit inspector for the Apiti-Pohangina Rabbit Board, proceeded against W. M. Stewart, of Ridge Road, Apiti. for failing to destroy rabbits. Defendant was represented by Mr T. Pagan, while Mr D. H. Alcinnes appeared lor plaintiff. After the inspector had given evideuce, li\ Hill (stock inspector), said the property was badly infected by rabbits when he visited the farm with Inspector Biddlecombe in August. Stewart had been told to do the work, weeks previously, hut had neglected to do it. Defendant in answer to Mr Pagan, said that lie had to poison the area shortly after he had received a second notice from tho inspector. In all 430 acres -had been covered. Some 200 ' acres had been poisoned in the presence of tho inspector, Biddlecombe, who had applied the poison on the carrots himself. The results had not been good although the | rabbits had taken the “feed.” The work had been.proceeding as fast as possible, hut it was difficult to do the fencing and shift the stock quickly in hilly country in preparation for the poisoning operations. Defendant stated that ho was one of the original members of the Apiti-Pohangina Rabbit Board. The Magistrate stated that defendant had failed to proceed with the poisoning until lie received the second notice. It was incumbent upon defendant to do everything possible to destroy rabbits as quickly as possible Tho Act provided for a fine of • £IOO, ' hut - the fact that defendant had not | previously been before the Court would he taken into consideration. A fine of £7, with costs 12s and solicitor’s fee of £2 2s was imposed. The Magistrate said that- if the rabbit nuisance were not attended to at the proper time those who failed to carry out poisoning operations would render themselves liable to heavy penalties.