STRAYING STUCK.

Shannon News, 21 August 1925, Page 3

STRAYING STUCK.

MANY SHANNON CASHS. The Magistrate’s Court at Levin was occupied a considerable time yesterday morning hearing cases against Shannon residents for permitting stock to stray. Mr J. Logan Stout, S.M,, was on the Bench and Mr E. T. Moody appeared for the Shannon Borough Council. UNDEFENDED CASES. In the following cases, in which there was nq appearance of defendant, fines were imposed as recorded: Henry Murdoch, seven cows, fined £l, costs 7s; R, Pratt, one cow, fined 10s, costs 7s; R. Buckman, one cow, fined 10s, costs 7sC. O’Regan, one cow, fined 10s, costs 7s; A. Cave, one cow a fined Os, costs 7s (first offence); M. Coyle, one horse, fined ss, costs 7s (first offence); J. Retter, one horse, fined 10s, costs 7s; J. Olsen, one calf, fined ss, costs. 7s (first offence); Mangahao Butchery Co., Ltd., two horses, fined IQs, costs 7s (first offence); J. Gray, one horse, fined ss, costs 7s (first offence). DEFENDED CASES. Two charges were prefered against M. A. Coakley, of allowing cows to stay. J; A.. Swindlehurst ? the ranger, gave evidence as to finding the cows on the road.

Mrs Goakiey gave evidence that on the first occasion the cow was let out of the paddock -by some person. A boy was driving the cows to water on the second occasion. The boy gave evidence that he did, not stop on the way. A fine of 10s and costs 7s was imposed for the second offence, the S.M. remarking that the boy was driving the cows, too slowly. The first case was withdrawn.

The next case, was against A. Richards, two charges, for whom Mi Harper appeared. The ranger said that on July 3 he found two cows and one calf wan dering in Stout Street and they were impounded. The owner, Mr Richards signed the pound book and took them away. On July 30 he also found four cows and heifer, 'belonging to the defendant, grazing on Graham Street. A boy was with them and they were grazing for about half an hour.

'To Mr Harper; On the 30th July, there was two cows and one calf with the boy and the other two cows were 300 yards away at the other end ol the street.

Defendant gave. evidence that the paddock was half 1 a mile from the house and the boy went for them every day. On July 30 he was watching the boy bringing the cows and when they reached the intersection ol two streets the cows separated. While he was rounding them up the rangex came along and complained. The boy took 20 minutes or half an hour.

To Mr Moody: The most direct route between the paddock and his place was from Stout Street, through Grand and Stafford Streets. His Worship; i suppose the route depends on which streets have most grass on them. Witness said there was not much grass, on any of the streets at present.

/ His Worship; It looks like it with 20 informations coining before the Court. Replying' further defendant said he had enough feed on his six aqres for his cows, with green oats, man : gels, and bran as well. The Magistrate convicted defendant on the first charge and fined him 10s and "costs, but gave him the benefit of the doubt on the second charge, remarking that the boy had better get the cows home a little more quickly. COWS FROM FLOODED AREA. J. Richardson was charged with allowing eleven cows to stray in. Shannon. Defendant denied that the cows were at large but admitted that they were being herded on the roads. As the ranger knew, his land was flooded. It was under two to four feet of water and he had to get his stock out somewhere. The banks of the Manawaty had broken. His boy was in charge of the cows, but four of them had gone up a bye road, and the boy was going for them, when the ranger came along and got the others.

The ranger said there was no one in charge of tbe cows. The boy came for them and said he) was busy talking to someone when witness came along. He got orders that morning to shift all the flood cattle out of the Borough. , , u 4 A conviction was recorded, but no fine imposed, defendant being ordered to pay costs, 7s.