ALLEGED OVERLOADING A HORSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 212, 8 September 1896, Page 2

ALLEGED OVERLOADING A HORSE.

A OARTER BEFORE THE POLICE

CO CRT.

At the Police Court today, before Mr H. W. Northcrofb, S.M.. a carter named John Blake (driver for Mr A. Cunningham) was charged that) on the 29bh August he did cruelly overload a horse in Queen-streeb, contrary to sub-section 1 o£ section 7 of tho Police Offences Act, 1884. ■ Mr Brassey appeared for defendant, who pleaded nob guilty. Sergeanb Kelly, who represented the police, said that there were 2 tonß 3201b on the dray. Sergeanb Black deposed to Mr Napier calling his attention to the dray, which was at the end of Vulcan Lane. Witnesa saw 30 bags ofoa'ts on bhe dray. The driver told him they weighed 1601b each. Witnesß ordered the driver to take off, six bags, which he did. .

Mr W. J. Napier, solicibor, deposed that the load on the dray nearly lifted the horse off the ground. There was an indentation in the horse's belly, the rope almost being hidden in the flesh. The weight on the dray was too much for one horse. Mr A. Cunningham, for the defence, depoaed that the horse was yoked into a amall dray. That was the cause of the trouble. Thirty bags of oats was an ordinary load. One extra bag Was put) on to finish the ship. Considering thab the horse was carrying the oats from the railway station to Buckland's yard he did not think that the dray was overloaded. John Blake deposed that he had thirty one bags ot oats on tho dray. Xt tilted through two bags falling off. These were pub on the back, and the dray was being balanced when the policeman came up. Witness had a rope belly band and also a leather belly band. He denied that the rope cub four inches into the horse's belly. Witnesa did not think the horse was overloaded.

Mr Northcrofb said fehab he would likebo hear evidence aa to the usual load carried by horses, and the case was then adjourned till Saturday next.