PAPAKURA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 325, 9 November 1917, Page 1

PAPAKURA.

PAPAKCfiA TOWN BOAIfD A special meeting of the Papakvra Town Board was held on M'onday when there were present Messrs K. M. Gillespie (Chairman), W. Bichardson, H. Linstrom, D. Campbell, fl. Mxrkwick, H. Lloyd, with the Cterk (Mr Harold Wilson). THE RAPAKURA. lIOTEL A representative from Messrs Hancock and Co waited upon the Board and submitted plans of the proposed building to replace the Papakura hotel, recently destroyed by fire. The plan provided for the removal to Papakura of a building formerly used as an hotel at Panmure. After some discussion it was resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, that subject to the specfi 'atior.s meeting with th'e Board's approval the plan be accepted. vur o RE M EF.T iw B With regard to the future ings of the Board it was decided to hold tho nc:<t meeting on Monday next at 7 30 p.ji , and subsequent nW"ings on the second Monday in 'each month at the same hour

MR H. W. GEISSLER ENTER

TAINED

There was apleasant gathering on Thursday evening of last week at the residence of Mr R. M. Gilleppie, the occasion being a dinner and presm ta'ion to Mr H. W. Geissler, who has just resigned bis appointment as Clerk to tbe Papakura Town Board, as a token of the esteem and respect entertained for him. Besides the members of the Town Board and*the newly appointed Town Clerk (Mr Harold Wilson) there were present Messrs £. D. McLennan (Chairman Papakura Road Board) T. J Coiin (Chairman Manurewa Town Board) and J. E. Elliott (Headmuster Papikira Public School). A sumptuous repast was provided by Mrs Gillespie and after the toast of the King, the Chairman, Mr R. M. Gillespie, proposed the toast of "Our Guest." In doing so he paid a high tribute to the good services rendered by Mr Geissler and to his unfailing courtesy towards all members. He asked Mr Geissler to accept a wallet and a purse of sover eigns as a token of their best wishes Mr Geissler suitably replied and in thanking all for the gift and kind wishes gave an interesting account of the developments of the district during the past 30 years. "The BOSS at the Front" was proposed by Mr J. E. Elliott and was suitably responded to by Lieut. Gillespie, who has recently returned from the Front.

The health of the Deputy Chairman (Mr P. H. Holt) was proposed by Mr W. Richardson, who particularly testified to the excellent sei vices rendered by Mr Holt in connection with the library. "Neighbouring Local Bodies," suitably proposed by Mr Holt, was responded to by Messrs McLennan and Corin.

Mr T. H. Maikwick proposed a toast in honour of Mr W. Richardson, as the oldest member, and Mr Richardson responded. " Our Host and Hostess " was submitted by Mr T. C. Seaton, who referred to the wise discretion and tact shown by the chairman and to the excellent qualities of Mrs Gillespie, who had provided such a bounteous repast. Songs were contributed by Messrs T. C. Seaton, T. J. Conn, E J. Elliott, and W. Richardson and a pleasant gathering terminated with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.

SHEEP WORRYING ACTION

£li) DAMAGES AWARDED

At the Papakura Magistrate's Court on Monday last before Mr F. V. Fra/.er, S M., Mr Adam Lind Collie, farmer of Manurewa, sued Mr Chsrles Middleton, farmer, of Papakura Valley, for the sum of £lO for loss caused by the defendant's dog or dogs worrying his (plaintiffs} sheep on the 6th and 2'JthJune last

Mr Ostler lepresented the plaintiff and Mr \V. Yallanee appeared for the defendant.

The evidence of plaintiff was to the effect that on the evening of the oth June he found that several of his sheep had li.cn wonted by dogs i 10 being killed, and he had strong suspicion tlrtt the \\ rising was done l>y a (log belonging to defendant. He accordingly informed defendant's stepson ''ainpbell of suuji suspicion and stated that he had Hid poison. On tho evening of the 2'.Hh June in consequence of tho noise of dogs on his tunu ho went in company with Mi James Moore to the spot where the rheep were and saw two dogs amongst them. He identified one of ilie dogs by its peculiar yelp as belonging to defendant and Moore shot it. 'Die other dog, which ho also helieved belong9d to defendant, ran away. He then went to defendant's farm and told defendant that ho had shot one id' his dog,. A dog that was tied up at defendant's farm h believed was the animal that hid run away. As the n-ult of the traces of a dog's fnot on the evening of the 0-h June ami tho.snof rhe 2!l;li June he formed tlm opinion tin! tie tracks were those ol on" an I (..•■ sunie dog.

In reply to the M.igistiato plain till' said he got Uaces of two d< g> alter the second worrying. Alter the liist worrying he found Hie ua>k ol an itlier dog hut could not follow it. lie felc pure that the worrying both on the first and second occasion was done by the same dog. Henry Charles Kirapton, farmer, Alfriston, deposed that ho was in plaintiff's company on June Oth when

they found 10 sheep kilted and several others injured. He went to the farm after the sfcond worrying and found three 9heep seriously injured, one dying at the time and, two a couple of days later. Ten sheep were also torn about the neck and chest

Frederick Montague Allen, farmer, Brookby, deposed that he had known defendant's dog some years, It was a cross-bred animal with sporting breed in it. On one occasion three or four years ago when he was rid l ing over the hill he saw the dog chasing sheep and it grahhed one. He shouted out and the dog cleared off The dog was defendant's. It sprang towards the sheep and went for its neck.

Mr Ostler: If you found sheep worried and bitten in the same wav on different occasions would you say it was the same dog ?—Yes, each dog bar, a way of its own. Cross examined : The dog he saw three years ago was a full-grown dog. lie described it to plaintiff, who " fixed " it a* once as belonging to defendant. Ho know defendant had a dog shot a few days after that incident but could not say it was the same dog. Harry James Moore, Alfriston, deposed that on 29th June he was with plaintff and thoy found among his sheep. Ho (witnes«j shot one of the dogs. He saw another dog but could not speak as to its colour or si?.e.

This closed plaintiff's case. The defendant, giving evidence, stated that about four years ago he had a dog which had done damage to sheep and he had it shot. On June 29th when plaintiff called on him and told him about, the sheep having been worried and a dog shot, he (defendant) replied that his two dogs and the dogs belonging to his (defendant's) stepson were locked up in the shed. He, however, found that one of bis dogs had got out. Plaintiff did not complain to him of sheep having been worried on June l.'th.

Counsel for the defence submitted that defendant had no knowledge of any sheep worrying on the fith June uut.il he received a letter claiming £4O.

Couuscl for plaintiff submitted that the dog seen three or four years ago by the witness Allen was the same dog as was shot on June 2'.)th. There was circumstances of strong suspicion against defendant's dog, because plaintiff met defendant's stepson and told him about the worrying, and defendant admitted that his stepson told him of the poison having been laid. Points to t>e considered were that the tracks of the dog were, found going back in the direction of defendant's faim and that on both occasions the worrying was done in the same manner, the sheep being bitten in the same place. Moreover since the dog had been shot no sheep had been bitten or worried. magistrate's decision

The Magistra*e, in summing up, said that there could bo no doubt that the defendant's dog was responsible for the damage on the second occasion. There was another Cog •there and that other dog appeared to be acting as a " uhipper in " to the big dog in the centre of the mob. The question to be considered was whether there was any relationship between the first and second worry ing. It was a reasonable assumption that tlie one doy c iniuittel both acts of depredation, lie would give judgment for plaintill fur the amount claimed £4O) and costs £S 5s 9d less the sum of £■'< I'.is paid into cmrt

A petition, beuing 15-1 signatures, has been received by the Clerk from the Ratepayers' Association praying for the Hoard to resign on account of alleged extravagant expenditure. Tho petition will bo dealt with at the meeting of the Board next Monday. it is gratifying to learn that tho sum of £llO has been collected under the auspices of the Papakura Patriotic League and paid to the Red Cross fund as the result of "Our Day" special appeal. The Treasurer [Mis A. Willis) has. also received £2o from Mr E. I). McLennan for Red Cross work with a recommendation that the amount should be handed to the newly formed Red Cross Sewing Guild to buy material. Mrs \V. C. Wood (Pro.-idont of tho .Sewing Guild; ami Miss Bull (Secretary) will be pi.vise 1 to receive oilers of help in their work.