SHOT FIRED AT DOG

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22305, 20 January 1938, Page 7

SHOT FIRED AT DOG

Man Charged At Westport

POSSESSION OF FIREARM

WITHOUT LICENCE

In the Magistrate’s Court at Westport yesterday, before Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M., Vernon George Goodall was charged with possessing a firearm without a police permit and also with discharging a firearm in a public place. Sergeant C. J. King said that while the defendant was riding a motorcycle through Granity he was attacked by a dog. Becoming annoyed he borrowed a gun without the owner’s permission and fired a shot at the dog. He missed the dog. Evidence in support of the charge was given by Constable Paul. Cross-examined by Mr M. B. Scully, who appeared for the defendant. Constable Paul Admitted that the dog had frequently annoyed Goodall. There was no one about when the shot was fired. , . Mr Scully said that the defendant relied on the statutory provision that a dangerous dog at large may be destroyed by anyone. The defendant entered the witness box and said that the dog, which was owned by a man named Shaw, had attacked him twice when he was on his motor-cycle. The second time that occurred he took a rifle which he had been told he could borrow at any time and fired a shot at the dog. After firing the shot Goodall reported the matter to Constable Paul. Commenting on Mr Scully’s contention that the defendant had a lawful right to destroy a dangerous dog, the Magistrate said there were other ways of destroying a dog than shooting it. However, the case was not a serious one. but he was bound to convict the defendant, who would be ordered to oay cost 10s only on each charge. Other Charges Harry Shaw, of Granity. was charged with being the owner of a dog which attacked Vernon Goodall on the main highway at Granity on November 22 Constable Paul said in evidence that i.hc dog had a bad habit of rushing at people. He had twice warned Shaw that the dog would have to be destroyed or else tied up. He was not aware of the dog ever having bitten anyone , „ Goodall gave evidence of the aog rushing at him on November 22, tearing his trousers and upsetting him. Shaw said he was on sustenance and had seven children and if a fine were inflicted it would be a hardship on hl The Magistrate ordered the dog to be destroyed, and ordered Shaw to pay the costs of the prosecution John McManus was fined £1 with costs on a charge of tethering two cows in Russell street. For casting offensive matter on the street on December 18 Alfred Donald Caldwell was fined 10s and ordered to pay costs. On similar charges David Henry Luff. Henry Hale and Duncan Stewart were each fined ms and ordered to pay costs. On a charge of employing a female assistant at a scale lower than that «et out in the award, Timothy Ryan was fined £1 and ordered to pay The Inspector of Awards (Mr C. H. Hoskins) said that the girl had been paid 19s a week instead of the award ra Mr°M. 2 B! Scully, for the defendant, said there had been no intention to avoid the obligations of the award. The girl in question was a friend or the defendant’s daughter and they had arranged to look after the shop between them. The girl had not worked anything like a 44-hour week Ernest Spencer Cam was fined 10s and ordered to pay costs for being the owner of a bull found straying on the Westport-Karamea main highway.

PERSONAL NOTES

GREYMOUTH

Miss G. Duncan, who has been spending a holiday in Greymouth, will return to Christchurch to-day. Mrs J. O’Drien and Miss C. Moore have left for Wellington, where they will join Mr O’Drien, M.P., on a visit to Sydney. Mr T. O’Callaghan, who has been a pointed manager of the Dank of New Zealand at Greymouth, in place of Mr A. Daker, who has been transferred to Wellington, will arrive today from Nelson. . Mr G. D. Carr (Wellington) is visitin [ Greymouth. Mr and Mrs R. J. Doyd, who have been visiting friends in Greymouth, left yesterday on return to Timaru. Mr ft. H. Steele, postmaster (Drunnerton), has received notice of transfer to Oxford as telegraphist. He will be replaced by Mr J. S. Wares, postmaster at Hollyford. Miss Aileen Hodgson (Rangiora) is visiting Greymouth. WESTPORT The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Nelson (Mr P. R. Wilkinson), is visiting the Duller district. On Tuesday afternoon he accompanied the County Engineer (Mr C. F. Schadick) on an inspection of the work being done at the new Carter’s Reach Domain. Miss M. Tonkin (Westport) has returned from a holiday visit to Dannevirke. Miss E. Robertson (Westport) has returned from a holiday spent at Port Chalmers. At a meeting of the Hokitika branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association held on Monday evening arrangements were completed for the holding of ? picnic to Kumara beach on Saturday next. The sub-branches at Ross and Kumara were also joining in. The ordinary train service will be used. The picnic this year is an innovation and is to take the place of the Christmas tree party that has previously been held each year.