STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1917, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(Horn Our Own Correspondent.) [All communications, letters, etc., left with Mr. H. J. Hopkins, bookseller, will receive prompt attention.] MAGISTRATE'S COURT. f Stratford, Oct. 3. A sitting of the Magistrate's Court was held this afternoon, Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., presiding. Colin McLaren was charged with cruelty to a heifer. Sergeant Dale prosecuted, and Mr. T. C. Fookes represented defendant. M. Freer, drover, stated that on September 4 he was engaged by Mr. Laren to drive some stock in from the latter's farm to the Stratford sale yards. On coming up Sangster's Hill, one. a smoky-colored heifer, became knocked out. It could go no further. was with him at the time the'heifer collapsed. Witness volunteered to try and see Mr. Sangster, and get his permission to allow the heifer to go into a paddock. At the salevards he did not see Mr. Sangster or defendant. His contract was to drive the cattle to the yards, and not being paid any further, he did not go back or make any special effort to see defendant, to tell him of his (witness') inability to see Mr. Sangster.

Henry N. Johnston, Toko, said on Wednesday he saw a heifer lying down in a bog alongside the road. With the assistance of a friend they succeeded in pulling the beast out, and left it on the road. He could not find out who the owner was, and saw the animal lying there on Thursday and Friday. He did not see any straw or food near the heif-

Constable A. Robertson said hia attention was drawn to the state of the heifer on Friday. He found the animal alive, but barely able to move. He secured permission from Mr. Butler, JjP.. to have the animal destroyed. He made enquiries as to the owner, and found it belonged to defendant. He served a summons on him at the saleysirds, and Freer was present: Defendant was unaware of the heifer's condition, and considered Freer was responsible for the neglect. Colin McLaren, defendant, said he was a farmer at Toko, and on the 4th September he arranged with Freer to drive some stock to Stratford. He saw Freer well on the road with the stock, and later on proceeded to town in a car. On the way in he saw the heifer at the roadside, and later on caught up to the drover, who said he would see Mr. Sangster, and request permission to place the heifer in a' paddock. Not being personally acquainted with Mr. Sangster, defendant was grateful to Freer for volunteering to do this. When he (defendant) returned that evening, he did not see the heifer on the road, and concluded it had been turned into a paddock. His stock averaged over £0 at the sale, and the heifer (a Jersey) would probably have made that amount.

Mr. Fookes contended that the police had to prove a guilty knowledge before a conviction could be obtained;'

The stipendiary magistrate held that It was not necessary for the police to prove the defendant had a guilty knowledge. It was sufficient for the prosecution to show such material, from which a reasonable inference could be drawn, that the heifer was being cruelly ill-treated, before a conviction could be obtained under the section cited. Defendant would be fined £l. witnesses' expenses £1 14s, and court costs lis.

The continua'tion of the action Hewson (Mr. King) v. M. Rogers (Mr. Coleman), heard at last sitting, was resumed. The claim was that defendant negligently drove a motor car, and injured a dog belonging to the plaintiff, and valued at £ls.

After hearing further evidence, the plaintiff was non-suited, with costs. For breaches of the borough by-laws, riding cycles on footpaths, driving without lights, etc., penalties of 5s and costs 7s were imposed on E. Perrett, N. and J. Dodunski, A, Cuff, Joe Vela and S. Arrenson, whilst H. Johnston was fined 6s and costs 7s fid. In an affiliation case, an order was made by consent for payment of certain expenses, together with 7s 6d a week till the child reached the age of 16. In the case of Rawles and Sawles v. J. Flower, claim £2 Gs Bd, defendantwas ordered to pay 2s 6d per week. GENERAL. The Ladies' Patriotic Committee is asking all and sundry to send along small tins such as those used for ustard. cocoa or tobacco, the object being to allow them to enclose gifts for soldiers at the front. Everyone can help in this.

Mr. T. Sullivan, borough engineer, leaves for Wellington to-morrow morning. He expects to be away for a few days, during which he will glean information regarding the utility of concrete roads, the council having in view a concrete road in Broadway. The Stratford County Council invites tenders for the supply of crushed metal, boulders, etc., closing on 17 th instant. Particulars will be found on page 1. The golf season of the Stratford Club was brought to a close on Thursday, in beautiful weather. A mixed foursobe was won by Miss Hawker and S. Spence, Miss M. Paget and H. D. Hill being second. The ladies' putting matah fell to Mrs. A. W. Bridge, after tieing with Mesdames Howard and Lyons. The Military Medical Board had a busy day here. Of the 61 men called up in the tenth ballot 25 were classed as fit for camp. From indications the men examined in Taranaki may be put down as SO per cent, fit, a good record, and well ahead of the previous ballots.

Mr. C. E. James has just opened up some very appropriate and beautiful Christmas cards for sending to soldiers at the front, and friends in the Home Land. A very large and varied assortment is available but already a steady demand has set in, so those on the lookout for seasonable gifts of this description should lse no time in inspecting Mr. James' stock.