MAGISTRATE'S. COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4831, 21 September 1894, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S. COURT.

MASTERTON-FR-IDAY. (Before Mr T. Hutchison, S.M.) SHKKP IM'I'IXG CASUS, John Campbell, of Opaki, pleaded guilty to failing to dip 'WO sheep as required by the Statute. Mr Bunny, who appeared for tho Stock Department, said that as defendant had pleaded guilty and this was the first case laid nndor tho Statute, they only asked for a small penalty, His Worship said that ho would impose a penalty of one farthing per head with costs 7s. Ho pointed out to defendant that ho was liable to a fine of 2s per head. Angus McLeod was charged that ho had failed to dip 812 sheep as required between the first January and 31st May. Accused pleaded guilty and a penalty of ono farthing per head was imposed with costs 7s, and given a similar caution to the defendant. RABBIT CASES. George Carter was charged on two informations with failing to destroy the rabbits on his property, Mr Board for defendant, pleaded guilty. Mr Bunny for informant said that the notice had been ignored, but undor the assurance of connsol for tho defendant that tho property had changed hands and that steps would be taken to comply with the Act, ho would not press for a heavy penalty, His Worship imposed a lino of £1 with costs,

Josoph Oatcs, of Alfredton, was charged with failing to destroy rabbits on his properly, Defendant said tho laud was leased to his brother which was taken as a plea of not guilty, Mr Bunny for informant said he would ask tho Court to deal with the case in such a way as would mako tho law felt by those whomako a practice of defying it, in this matter, and then by allowing the pest to increase.

W, R. Rutherford, rabbit agent, gave evidenco that tho defendant had not complied with tho notice served on him in May last ! Visited the property of the defendant on the 30th May last and found rabbits to bo numerous. He saw nothing donotodestroythem. Again, on the 28fch Juno ho visited the property, and found that tho rabbits had increased and nothing was being done to destroy them. Visited again in August and found tho rabbits still increasing, On tho 23rd of the same month in company with InJ spector Miller, he again visited tho property, found the rabbits on the increase, and could not notice that anything had been dono to destroy tho same. Had been inspecting the property in the Alfrcdton district for ruoro than three years, during which timo the rabbits had been generally on tho increase, The property in question was open-fenced, thus allowing the rabbits to wander to neighbouring grounds, His Worship thought this would act in two ways, viz,, allow rabbits from other properties to wander on to the property of defendant. Walter Miller, informant and Stock Inspector for tho'Wnirarapa district, sworn, gave evidenco as to serving defendant with a notice in May last. Witness had received information as to the state of defendant's proporty, from Mr Rutherford, who acted as sub-Inspector to the Department, Inspected defendant's property on tho 23rd August, and found it in a very neglected state, no steps having been taken to destroy tho rabbits which were very numerous upon it, Had a conversation with defendant's tttlior, who said that iu futuro he ps going to reside on'the property, and admitted that it had been neglected, Tho property was not fenced in rabbit-proof foucing, and after tho several notices served on defendant, nothing had been done to rid the property of the pest, His Worship said it was tho first case of the kind which had been dealt with that season, and as tho evidenco clearly showed that the proporty was over-run with rabbits, pd no steps had been taken to destroy them. He would line accused the minimum penalty of £lO and and costs.

A second information was with. :wvn on the Inspector's application,