WAITARA NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 217, 22 December 1910, Page 7

WAITARA NEWS

(From Our Own Correspondent.) At a committee meeting of the Fire Brigade floral fete on Tuesday evening reports from the various sub-committees were received, and, judging by the very ready way everyone is willing to assist the fete should be a success. Mesdames Skinner, Frethey and Armstrong are to be asked to act as judges in the floral 'competitions, which will consist of almost everything imaginable, from a dolly's pram to a spring dray. Mrs. Clarke, of New Plymouth, has kindly consented to assist in another department, where her name is so favorably known by the ladies. A programme of races, skipping, tug-o-war, and various other forms of amusement should make the afternoon and evening of January 12 most enjoyable. The annual meeting of the Regatta Committee was held on Tuesday evening, 'Mr. T. Buchanan presiding. Several present referred to the lack of interest taken in the affair by the business people, only some three being present. On the motion of Messrs. L. Jennins and R. Tate it was resolved to adjourn the meeting to Friday, January 6, with a view to giving those who should be interested another opportunity of being j present, and, failing a satisfactory meeting, to abandon the regatta for 19L1. Exports per Opawa were 1933 quarters beef, 7453 lambs, 9G4 carcases mutton, 187 pigs, 542 boxes sundries, 40 casks oleo, IB casks pelts, 50 casks tallow, 1400 bales wool, and 20 bales skins. The Drayton Grange ta'kes, for West of England ports, sailing within a day or so, 1500 carcases beef, I'OOO lambs, 500 carcases mutton, 40 casks of tallow. At the Magistrate's Court to-day judgment by default was given in the cases of Granville Bros. (Mr. Wilkes) v. Harry Rhodes, claim £7 12s 5d and costs £2; S. McKenzie (Mr. Wilkes) v. Robert Joblin, claim £2 4s, costs £2 llis; H. 2s. Cossar (Mr. Wilkes) v. Norman Copestake, claim £l' 4s, costs lis; M. Jones (Mr. Wilkes) v. William Rowe, claim £lO 10s 4d, costs £L 5s 6d; D. Hutchison v. William Bailey, claim £4 6s lOd, costs 113s. For failing to comply with a judgment obtained by Harry Langman, Walter Jerrill was ordered. to pay the amount within seven days or seven days' imprisonment. Kahu Haeremai also had similar orrder made against him for omitting to satisfy a claim of M- Jones. In the case of E. Beckbessinger v. William Benjamin Cox, now of Stratford, defendant pleaded that from to October he had only received the sum of £0 as wages, and only £7 went into the house from the livery business at Stratford since that date. He worked for Ms wife, who owned the but received no wages, as it kept them all their r time 'to find enough to pay for tucker and clothes. Although he was joined with his wife in a lieu, he had no interest in the farm or cattle, everything belonged to Ms wife. Under the circumstances, no order was made.

UNLICENSED FISHING. On the information, of J. H. Hempton, Collector of Customs, Edmund Knight was charged with having sold fish caught from the Kotahi, she being an unlicensed boat, on various dates. Mr. Johnstone appeared for defendant, who pleaded not guilty.. Evidence was given by L. H. Sampson, coast-waiter and assistant wharfinger, who said he had not issued a license to the "Kotahi." He saw her return with fish on several and on one trip E. A. Dugdale handed the first out to defendant and Captain Bysanston (who had been out with them), and they carried them to the freezing works. The only occasion he had seen the little flat bottomed fishing boat "Nine" go out was once, about three weeks ago. The boat might have gone out without, witness' knowledge. Jas. Williamson deposed to the Kotahi being hold by Mr. Hugh Baily to Messrs. Edmond Knight and E. A. Dugdale. Mr. Johnstone -asked if she had not been sold to one Robert Mitchell, and witness replied in the negative. Counsel then produced a receipt for £2OO by Mr. Hugh Bailey in favor of Robert Mitchell, but witness still' maintained his first evidence was correct. J. W. -Laing, assistant' piloty Geoiige Brough, Herman Schultz, Victor . Sjoluland,"W. J. Jones, all fishermen, gave more or less definite evidence .of having seen the Kotahi»go out a,nd return with fish, but were very hazy over dates, and who was on board, the Magistrate remarking "that they did not give down their milk very readily." The stationmaster gave evidence of consignments of fish having been sent away frequently by E. A. Dugdale to various 'towns down the line, on one occasion defendant bringing the fish and consigning, signing of behalf of Dugdale. Henry Ward, Patea, and William Ballard, Normanby, admitted having frequently received consignments of fish from E. A. Dugdale, for which they paid 9s and 10s per day. J. H. Hempton gave evidence that defendant had waited on him several times in reference to a license, and he told him the Kotahi must not be used except for pleasure, unless she carried a certificated master and engineer, and that no license to fish from her had been granted. Mr. Johnstone claimed the case should be dismissed, as not a tittle of evidence had been brought forward, except -hearsay, that defendant was owner or part owner of the boat, whilst the only witness who said definitely that he had sold the boat to defendant and another was confronted with a receipt showing 11. Mitchell to have been the purchaser. His Worship said the suggestion that defendant did not own her was too thin, and he did not believe it, so could not dismiss the case. Mr. Johnstone then contended that no evidence had been adduced that defendant had in any way entered into the business, the whole of the evidence being directed against E. A. Dugdale. His Worship held defendant had full knowledge of the fact that his partner was using the Kotahi for fishing, and afterwards selling the fish. Defendant entered the box, and deposed that after retiring from his farm he found time hang heavily on his hands, and thought a pleasant way of spending it would be by fishing. He purchased the Kotahi, and had been out occasionally in her. Had absolutely nothing to do with the fish caught, and had received no proceeds from Dugdale for any he might have sold. When fish were caught they were placed in the freezing works, and early in November, owing to the works closing, a large number went bad, and had to be destroyed. Had once seen the Nine coming in after having been out fishing. Had never-.used the Kotahi to catch fish for sale. To His Worship:.Dugdale was and stilt is a partner in the Kotahi. Have 110 interest in the Nine. Mr. Johnstone argued strongly that if defendant' had committed an offence, it wa? purely technicr.l, and defendant had received i.o benefit from the sale of any fteh that might have been caught by \ii- V-nn I ''" hel. 1 t.h? p"er,-?<? V«n wwsr'-rtd. '>"t. would not •«*•s<* V heavy petal U, fining ''efendan£s coats (£1 3s lQd). . Defendant foF and was granted 'twd" weeks ;;i xv to pay the fine.