RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1279, 13 May 1880, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

. THIS DAY. (Before T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M., and D. Sutherland, Esq., J.P.) COURSING HARPS WITHOUT A LIOENSB. _ Alexander Thomson, John Phillip Mason, and Walter Bird were charged with that they did, at Kakanui, on the 27th day of April, unlawfully use dogs for the purpose of pursuing certain game called hares without either of them having taken out a license to kill game under the Protection of Animals Act, 1873. Inspector Thompson prosecuted. Mr. O'Meagher appeared for the defendants, and pleaded guilty. He said that Bird and Mason were both dog trainers, and on the day in question they took a couple of young dogs out merely for the purpose of trying them. He admitted that a hare was killed by the dogs, and characterised the actions of the defendants as being very foolish, especially Thomson, : who should have known better, as he was ranger for the Acclimatisation Society. He (Mr. O'Meagher) had spoken to the Secretary of the Society with reference to tho mattery and he did not wish to press for a heavy penalty. His Worship 'inflicted a fine of L 3 on Thomson, and the other two were fined 403 each. CHIMNEY OjST FIRE. Patrick Croft was charged with unlawfully suffering the chimney of the Shamrock Hotel to be on fire, and was fined ss. UNREGISTERED DOGS. i Thomas Paterson and Gerge Henry Evans were each fined 40s for having unregistered dogs in their possession, the fines to be recovered summarily. (Before T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M.) LARCENY. >-L; Neil Cameron, alias prisoner at present undergoing a sentence for drunkenness, was charged with stealing a bottle of bitters, the property of Wm. Gillespie, of the Criterion Hotel, and valued at 3s.

The charge was heard in the gaol. Inspector Thompson prosecuted, and after hearing the evidence his Worship stated that he fully believed prisoner had stole the bottle, but as there was some doubt he would give the prisoner the benefit of it and discharge him.