S.M. COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4964, 1 March 1895, Page 2

S.M. COURT.

MASTERTON-FRIDAY. [Before Mr T, Hutchison, S.M.] RAIIHIT CASES. Inspector Miller v. Hugh Campbell.— Defondant was charged with failing to destroy rabbits upon his section after receiving due notice. Mr Bunny for the prosecution. Inspector Miller stated that the property of the defendant, covering an area of '2,000 acres, was in a very bad state. His agonts and himself visited the property on several occasions, and found that nothing had been done to prevent or eradicate the nuisance. Considered, that defendant's property was tho worst infected of any in the neighbourhood of tho Upper Miki Miki. Hugh Campbell, defendant, deposed that he had done everything in his power to reduco the pest, and had employed two men to keep down the rabbits, besides the help of his sons.

His Worship said that he could only go by the evidence of the Inspector, and it appeared according to the Inspector, that the place was very much infested, and caused the nuisance to spread further into the new country. Sufficient steps had not been taken to copu with the pest, and lie would inflict a penalty of £5. I Same v. Herbert Welch.—A simi'kr charge for failing to destroy rabbits upon his property of 660 acres at the Miki Miki.

Defendant gave evidence to tho effect that lie had laid poison and done all in his power to rid his property of the pest, and employed a boy constantly to do the work. His Worship said it appeared that sufficient had not been done to cope with the pest, and ho would imposo a penalty of £'i. Same v Selina Cotter.—A similar charge against the defendant, as owner of 270 acres at Miki Miki, was preferred.

.Afterhearing the evidence of the defendant's son, His Worship said, as the Inspector did not wish to press the charge, he would impose a nominal penalty of £l. His Worship warned the whole of tho defendants that, under the Rabbit Nuisance Act, they would, if brought before the Court on a similar charge within a month, be liable to an extreme penalty for failing to take proper steps to abate the nuisance.