A BULL AT LARGE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 306, 4 February 1910, Page 8

A BULL AT LARGE

.«. EXPENSIVE CL'AZIXG ox the " LOX(! ACRE." In the Magistrate's Court at New Plymouth yesterday, James White Harding', of Norfolk Uoad, was charged, upon the information of Matthew .1. Jones, with allowing a bull over nine months of age to lie at large on the Tanki Road on December '22iul last., in contravention of section IS of the Impounding Act , IDOB. Mr. Quilliam, county solicitor, eonducted the prsoecution. The defendant appeared in person and pleaded not guilty. Counsel, in opening, said that owners of stock frequently made a practice, for their own selfish ends and to save the cost of grazing, of turning their animals' loose upon the public road—the " long paddock," as it was called, lie would show that the animal complained of in this action was a dangerous beast, and asked that the Court should inflict an exemplary penalty. Matthew James Jones, foreman for the Taranaki County Council, said he saw the. hull on the Tariki Road on December 22nd last. He attempted to take charge of the animal, which was from 2VI' to 3 years' old. He had considerable difficulty in handling the beast. The bull was not ringed. It took five men to get him into Sims' paddock at Tariki. He considered the bull a dangerous one, and sought advice as to his authority to destroy it. He was advised, however, to impound it. He went to the police for assistance next morning, and drove the animal to the Inglcwood pound, from which lie escaped twice. On one occasion the bull burst through the gate of the pound as ft was being closed. To the defendant.' The bull had been wandering between Tariki and Waipuku during the day. The hull, he had since found, was a good jumper, as it cleared a seven-wire fence. On the way to the pound the bull broke a fence and got into Mrs. Lang's place. It also charged a man, who quickly got through a fence. Thomas Henry Sims, hotefkeeper at Tariki, remembered seeing the bull at large, lie was a full-grown beast, and apparently a dangerous animal (6 have at large on the public road. To the defendant: He had ah accommodation paddock, and some of defend-, ant's cattle had previously got ortt. "This gentleman was a little too' <*Xeited for my liking," he said. The defendant, who was not placed off oath, said he had started from Hawerft with a mob of 257 cattle, including' about fifty bulls, in charge of threemen. He always took particular precautions when driving bulls, and never' attempted to drive one by itself, for the beast was sure to become very excited. On the way from Havrera northwards this' bull got lost. He telegraphed to his manager to have Oie animal searched for. Mr. Quilliam produced a letter from defendant's manager to the County Council, stating that the bull had got out of the paddock. Defendant said this was not correct. Continuing, he said that if it was going to be made illegal to take bulls along the county road his business, and stockbreeders' business generally, would be injured. Mr. Quilliam pointed out that the charge was one of allowing the bull to be at large, not of driving it. I Defendant appealed to the court for , a direction as to how he was going to j carry on his business of buying bulls from the fanners and getting them to the works. The S.M.: Fm not here to teach you your bnsinrss. You'd better go to some experienced stockman about it.

The defendant said he had been in tRe- business for twelve years, and his men were all experienced. The Magistrate pointed out to defendant that lie himself had admitted it was dangerous to have a bull roaming by himself. He also admitted ownership of the bull. The evidence was quite clear that tin's- hull was' a wild one. and that the offence had been committed. All that defendant had said amonn f ed to the statement that he had done ':is best. This was- a very serious offcu.. . and he must trarii.fi; as -snch. But i!e defendant said that immediately ;'pon learning- of the loss of the bull i-.- 'id sent out men to search for it. he v,; l not inflict a heavy line, though hewor

make it. a substantial one. Defendan' was £2 and costs, which amounted to £2 3s.