R.M. COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3320, 27 September 1889, Page 2

R.M. COURT.

MASTERTON—FRIDAY,

■ (Bofore 00l Roberta, 8.M.) ' 11ABD1T OASES. . Jolni Drummond v Brown Hunt, ®| Broach of section 9, failing to destroy ™ rabbits on his land Miki Miki, Mr Bunny for plaintiff. . , Defendant pleaded notguilty and objected to Mr Drummond employing counsel. He was appoaring to defend his own case. The Bench intimated that it could not refuse to hear counsel. Witness was prepared to prove, that he had commenced to take stops to destroy rabbits, and had continued to >.. do so.

The Court said he was willing to hear evidence in mitigation of the penalty. John Gayfer, rabbit agent, proved service of notice, and that ho had visited the property of defendant prior, to Ist May, In June he again inty epected the property and found rabbits numerous. He saw poison laid on one hundred aero paddock,. Saw no evidence on other portions 'of the run of stops being token to destroy rabbits Visited the property on 3rd September and found rabbits numerous on tho run. The rubbits were not so V. numerous on his last visit, fg Cross-examined: Tho rabbits were not so numerous oxcept in one place, Ho thought it possiblo rabbits would cross the Miki Miki and from the adjoining country. Inspector Drummond stated he laid tho present information, and caused a notico to bo served, Tho proceedings were laid on the report of the agent. In his opinion the necessary steps had not been taken by the defendant to destroy rabbits on his run. Fined £5, including costs 7s. Evidenco was heard in mitigation of the penalty. Defendant said, hearing that his neighbours wore about to poison May, ho went to Masterton to bring up grain imd phosphorous. A few day 3 after he thoroughly poisoned the land with 1501bs of poisoned grain. Two hundred acres of bush he left alone, as it was of no use poisoning thero. Ho afterwards laid poison on tho run a third time. About COOlbs of grain was laid altogether. Afterwards employed a jA trapper with 120 traps. 4w Cross-examined: Tho trapper tooli off 50 or GO a day for three weeks, Had since had hands engagod killing. Witnesses were called who corroborated the evidenco of tho last witness as to the stops taken, Defendant said the 700 rabbits trapped voro less than one to tho acre. Ho thought a run with only a rabbit to tho aero was particularly olean. Penalty reduced to £2 including costs.

Same vW. H. Leviu, Mr Beard for defendant, The charge was tho same as in tho former case, in respect toßowlaudsrun,l2,ooo acrji. Charles Gayfer, rabbit agent g'ave evidence as to rabbits being numerous on the run on 21th May and on subsequent visits.

Defendant was fined L 5, which was afterwards reduced to L2 including costs. A mitigated penalty of L2, including costs was also recorded in" tho following cases, in which Mr Board appeared as counsel: H. Elder, Joseph Bonnott, andC. J. ' Wellington Land Board.

Tho monthly meeting of tho Board was held yesterday. Present—Mossrs Merchant (Commissioner, in the chair), McClardle, Fitzherbcrt and Bunny. 'J'lie schedule of land sold showed that 5298 a i)r 9d had been been disposed of since last meeting at an upset price of £2GG2 10s Bd, A schedule of transfers, extensions and capitalisations approved by the Comsubmitted and affirmed, Applications to transfer were sidored and dealt with. Tho Stoned of Village Settlements forwarded a list of Sections in ]3loclr XIV. Mapgaonc, on which the selectors arp not residing, Ac. It was resolved tq issue preliminary cancellation notices. The Commissioner submitted a schedule of forfeited village homesteads proposed to be offered for br]o, It wis decided to lrnve the seotloim revalued and brought before the | Board for consideration Mr W. P. Hurstone applied for permission to „ lease Reserve Section IT, Block X, \-» Mangamahao. The Commissioner submitted a plan of 28 acres of land between Uastwell Village and tho railway line, which it is proposed to offer for sale at £2 10s per acre. The Uo:m] decided that thp laiidshould : be ro>valued in coniiccti'bii with adjacent land. It was resolved tit cancel tlie selectors' interest hi Section 5, Block 111., Jlaygaonej pj.j account of tlieir bayijifi ieft tliq Colony, and being six'payments'in arrcar. Mjr C. B. Morisan" amJigil on behalf of Mr 0, H, permission to purchase Section 10, Block 1., Makiui, It was resolved to offer fl|6 qffor the laqd at auction at £2 iOs per acre upset. With reference to the question as to an application being made on the deferred payment system, supported by a perpetual lease declaration, tho Board resolved that they could see no. I objection to Mr Wliitcombe's applK-, loatioji. The Ranger presented 'report on tho Wellington and Pa^k-'

villo Sfcciiil Scttloments, from which it appeared tlmt 28. selectors in the Wellington and sovon in tlio Purlcvillo Block had not effected any improvements, mid HO and 12 respectively had only partly compliod Willi tho law. It whs rosolvod to call upon those selectors who have not completed their improvements to chow causo why their interest should not bo cancoM. Tho Commissioner submitted a bslic-

dulo of forfeited deferred-payment , sections ro-valuod. Tho values wore approved, and it was decided to oifor tlw lands at auction after thirty days notice. It was resolved to rancol ihc interest of the selector of section a!), Block IX, Mangaono. It was decided that_224s acros situate ia tho ManIgatainoka Clock, near Pahiatua, fronting or adjacent to the main coach road and tho Mangaluo road, be offered partly under the Act of 1887, mid partly for cash on a schemo ftiid at pricos submitted by tho Commissioner, tho sale to tako placo at tho earliest possible dato after 45 days notice. Tho Board adjourned until 10th October. (Abridged from tho Times):