PUHIPUHI SILVER FIELD.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 445, 12 February 1890, Page 4

PUHIPUHI SILVER FIELD.

PROSECUTION FOR TRESPASS. Whangarei, February 7. The charges of trespass upon Puhipuhi, preferred against Messrs R. Thompson, M.H.R., W. E. Barton, and H. R. Holman were heard before four justices to-day. Mr C- F. Buddie appeared for the prosecution, and Mr W. A." Carruth for Holman and Barton, while Mr Thompson defended himself. Joshua Carsed, the ranger, and John Fraser, prospector, were the only witnesses for the prosecution. Carsed, under cross-examination, admitted that he had been specially instructed by the Commissioner of Ci'own Lands to prosecute Messrs Thompson, Barton, and Holman, and that, having previously reported other parties for trespassing, he had been specially instructed by the Crown Lands Commissioner not to prosecute these latter. . Mr Carruth urged a number of technical objections to the regulation under which the information was laid as not being, in compliance with law in several respects. He submitted this was fatal, and rendered calling evidence for the defence quite unnecessary. The Bench, after consideration, adjourned the cases till the Bth March. It is believed here that the Justices recognised the weakness of the case, and made the adjournment so as to permit of the opening of the field in the interim, rather than give a decision which might lead people to.enter the forest with impunity.