SWAN SHOT

Evening Post, Issue 25, 30 January 1935, Page 13

SWAN SHOT

OUT OF SEASON

Charged' with taking or killing a black swan during the closo season, a plea of guilty was entered by John Bertram Groy, for whom. Mr.' G-. C Kent appeared, in the Pctonc Court today., Mr. W. F» Stilwell, S.M., was on the Bench. '" s Mr. P. W. Willson, of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, said that on November 14 a party of men from the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board wore wqiking in the Taita Gorge. They saw a swan, and in tire lunch time Grey went for a pearifle and filed seven shots at the swan. The swan was picked up two days later with a pearifle bullet wound in the leg. The swan wa.s one of several birds obtained from the Wairarapa-Lako- and liboratod on tho Herctaunga Golf Club's links.

Mr. Kent pointed out that Mr. Groy hold, a responsible position. -Tho men noticed a bird that appcarod to bo lame. They all came, to the 'conclusion that thero was something tho matter withi tho bird, which was no bigger than a sca-i gull. Mr. Grey'tried to-put it out of its misery. As,far as he knew, none of tho shots found tho ' mark. Mr, Grey was prompted by'tho best motives, in the action ho had taken.

Mr. Willson said tho' bird* was a half-grown one, about as big as a goose. It was all right as it was. If the defendant waiitod to protect it ho could have crossed the river and picked it up. Mr. Stilwell imposed a fine of £2.