POLICE COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 52, 2 March 1903, Page 4

POLICE COURT.

BATSBDAT, 28th Februabi —Before Mr R. L. Stanford, B.M. Noxious Weeds. I. G. B. Forrester, of Inglewood, and A. H. Clarke, of Egmont Road, were summoned by Inspector Rowan for failing to clear their land of ragwort and blackberry. Mr Kerr, who prosecuted on behalf of tbe Department, said the cases before | the Court were particularly bad ones, and he pointed out the need for eradicating noxious weeds which threatened to be a curse to the district. Forrester, who pleaded guilty, was fined 20s and £2 costs in respect of the ragwort charge, and £5 with 35s cost in relation to the blackberry charge. In the case of A, H. Clarke, Mr Weston appeared for defendant and took a preliminary objection to the proceedings, but this was over-ruled. He then called Defendant, who said he had held part of the land for 16 years, and that it was full of blickberiies when he took it. He detailed- what he had done towards eradicating these weeds, but said that the o_Jy way to get rid of them was by ploughing, and that could not be done owing to the timber. His Worship said that the position I was an awkward oqo for the farmer, with whom be had much sympathy. A ltrge expecdi ure of mosey, running probably into hundreds of pound?, would be necessary to bring the lands in the district into lice with the reasonable requirements of the inspectors, but it was clear that farmers would requite to spend those large sums. The evidence in thiecj.se showed thatuospecial tffcrt hid been made to clear the land, and the ksult was disastrous to tint farm and to tbe district. He must cjrry out the law, aud he would say now that when a notice was served, ic was the duty of the farmer to put on a g.iLg tf men and ckar his lard. Nothing ilse woulJ suffice. Def* ndant would bo fineJ £5, and 30s costs. Oo defendant undertaking to set about eradicating tie ragwert on bis stc'iocs, tho charge against trim in respect of that weed was withdrawn.