Farmer Who Shot Dogs Is Fined

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31987, 14 May 1969, Page 32

Farmer Who Shot Dogs Is Fined

(New Zealand Press Association)

ROTORUA, May 13

“This isn’t the High Chapparal, this is New Zealand,” Mr W. M. Willis, S.M., said in the Opotiki Magistrate’s Court yesterday during the hearing of a charge of recklessly discharging a firearm.

Before the court was Raymond John Beardsley, farmer, who pleaded not guilty through Mr N. Smith. Beardsley was fined $lOO and his rifle was confiscated.

Sergeant E. C. Carter said that at about 5 p.m. on April 6 four men and a nine-year-old boy had gone on a pighunting expedition from Omaio up the Hauparapara River. While crossing a two-wire fence strung across the river the boy’s horse became entangled, and the complainants saw the defendant approaching with a rifle. Beardsley started firing at the dogs and killed one and wounded another, Sergeant Carter said. Four shots were fired before Beardsley left. Mr Smith said Beardsleyhad leased the station 18 months ago and had also obtained rights to an adjoin-

ing property. He had been troubled by hunters and packs of wild dogs and one night had lost 100 sheep. The hunters seen on April 6 had between 12 and 15 dogs, some of which Beardsley had seen before.

Beardsley became worried when the hunters took no notice of warnings and used wire-cutters to get through the fence. The Magistrate said that while there may have been some justification for Beardsley to take action against the dogs, it should be remembered that the complainants were armed also.

“It is one of the worst cases of its kind I have heard," the Magistrate said.