THE RABBIT ACT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3951, 30 October 1891, Page 3

THE RABBIT ACT.

Further Prosecutions-

In the Masterton R.M. Court this morning, before Colonel J. Roberts. R.M., two cases for breach of the Rabbit Act were beard. The Bench intimated that it considered there were several courses open in the case Inspector Mackay v. H. R. Elder. In its opinion the most preferable course was to adjourn the proceedings. The case was then adjourned till December 18.

The case in which J. C. Andrew was charged by Inspector Mackay with failing to destroy the rabbi:s on bis property at lea was continued. Mr Bunny appeared for the plaintiff and Mr Beard for the defendant. Mr Be«id submitted, for the defence, that his client was not liable, inasmuch as the period between Apiil and June Ist, during which the defendant wan charged with failing to destroy, was a period of rest, during which the Inspector had: been advising owners to Buspend operations in view of the general poisoning. The defendant, on affirmation, stated that on receiving notice from the Inspector he forthwith ordered wire netting and instructed agents to procure him all the ferrets they could. He had also endeavoured to procure a poison mixing machine from Melbourne, Following the advice of the Rabbit Board he had commenced poisoning simultaneously with hit neighbour.*. Mr Orwell, an agent of the Rabbit Board, had expressed satisfaction at the steps he was taking In.'p3clor Mackay had complained about the way the phosphorised oats were prepared, but he had followed the suggestions of the Inspector in this respect. The defendant was cross-examined at some length by Mr Bunny. H. R. Elder gave evidence as to a conversation between himself and Inspector Mackay, and John Burch as to the number of rabbits on the property of the defendant. A fine of £1 and 13s costs was in flic ted.

Mr Beard requested that the fine be made £lO Is, so that his client could appeal. Hi 3 Worship reserved his decision on this poinl till to-morrow.