WANDERING STOCK

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 November 1926, Page 2

WANDERING STOCK

HEAVIER PENALTIES PROMISED The wandering stock menace la still serious in the Borough of Dreymouth, so much so that the Borough Solicitor (Mr. H. F. Doogan), on behalf of the Council to-day hefiuested Mr. W. Meldruhlj B.Mij Whether 116 would in future iihpbsb iieitvifef peiialttes Upon the owners of battle and horses found Wandering. The Magistrate agreed as to the serious nature of the nuisance, and announced that he would in future increase the fine from 5/- to £l. The cases before the Court were those of Ralph Dunn and Thomah Knowles, who were each charged with allowing bay to Wander on the Recreation Ground, on November 20. They did not appear. Mr. Doogan stated that the horses were found on a part of the Recrea- 1 tion Ground which recently was put in order, at'considerable time and expense, for the use of cricketers, if people wanted to keep stock in the borough, they should take extreme care to prevent the animals Wandering. In the cases before the Court a severe fine was not asked for. The Borough Ranger (Mr. W. Cochrane) gave evidence as to the impounding of the horses found on the Recreation Ground, and stated that he had received instructions to make a special effort to stop the wandering stock nuisance. The Magistrate pointed out that an owner was liable not only for permitting stock to wander, but also to a civil action for any damage done. There was no doubt wandering stock were a nuisance to pedestrians as well as vehicle traffic, and in the country such animals were often extremely dangerous, especially to motor drivers. With regard to stock wandering in the borough he would make the announcement that in future the fine for the first offence would be £l, with costs and solicitor’s fee. In the cases then before the Court, the usual fines would be imposed. Dunn would be fined 5/-, with 7/- costs, and £l/1/solicitor’s fee. Knowles (a second offender) would be fined . £l, with costs and solicitor’s fee. A YOUTHFUL COWBOY That he allowed four cows to wander on Shakespeare Street on October 28, was a charge admitted by Victor Mabin, who, in reply to the Magistrate, said that he was 15 years of age, and that -the cows belonged to him. He kept them on the Hospital grounds, but the men building the Nurses’ Home had let the fence down, and the cows got out. He .knew the fence was down, but thought the men would replace it, as they promised to do so. The fence had now been fixed so that the cows could not get out. The Magistrate pointed out that defendant was liable, as he knew the fence was down. The Borough Ranger said that Mabin had three previous convictions against him. The Magistrate (to the boy): You see what you are running yourself into! Do you ’make any profit out of these cows? —Not now, but I used to. What are you doing for a living? —I am still going to school. The Magistrate took into consideration the fact that Mabin was not earning his own living, and ordered him to pay 7/- costs. Archibald Robinson, whose cow trespassed on the railway at Dobson, was convicted and fined 5/-, with 7/costs.