BULL AT LARGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 July 1942, Page 4

BULL AT LARGE

OWNER BEFORE MAGISTRATE’S COURT. REPRIMAND FROM BENCH. A charge of permitting a bull to be at large on Opaki Road on June 13 was made against Vandermere Fleming Robinson when he appeared in the Masterton Magistrate’s Court . this morning. Evidence was given to the effect that at about 11.45 p.m. on June 13, when a lorry conveying members of the Home Guard to Masterton was proceeding along Opaki Road, it was charged by a bull, which caused considerable damage to the vehicle. The owner of the bull, it was stated, knew that the animal had been on the road for some time. People on the road had been held up by the bull. Constable A. W. Nalder, who interviewed the defendant, said Robinson admitted that the bull was waiting at his gate at 9 o’clock the following morning. Defendant had been informed at about 8 o’clock the previous night that his bull was on the road. Defendant was severely reprimanded by the Magistrate, Mr H. P. Lawry, for speaking in a disrespectful manner to the Bench. When asked if he had any'question to. ask the Constable, defendant made statements about people damaging his property, whereupon the Magistrate again asked him if he had any questions to ask the witness. Defendant said that the Magistrate was net taking any notice of what he was saying. “If you speak like that again I will commit you,” said Mr Lawry. Robinson, in evidence, said he did not know that the bull on the road was his bull and as it was a dark night he would not risk going out to see whose bull it was. He alleged that his fences had been damaged by other people and that the Home Guard had pulled the gate off its hinges, allowing the bull to get out. He complained that the police had refused to give him protection. Senior Sergeant G. A. Doggett said he had received no complaints from Robinson since he had been stationed in Masterton and that defendant’s statements evidently referred to incidents many years ago. The Magistrate imposed a fine of £l, with costs 10s.