NOVEL CLAIM.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 10 November 1925, Page 7

NOVEL CLAIM.

BEES AND HAYMAKING. A novel claim Avas heard before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M. (reports a correspondent of the Auckland Star), at the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court, recently, when a farmer of Ngnliinepouri proceeded aaginst an apiarist, claiming £SO damages for obstruction caused by defendant's bees to plaintiff’s haymaking operations. It seems the defendant, a disabled returned soldier, secured permission to use a small elevated portion of a settler’s farm for an apiary. Plaintiff is also a disabled returned soldier, having served in the same unit as defendant. His liay paddock adjoins the apiary. He Avas prepared to suffer a little inconvenience, lie said, as the result of stings from his neighbour’s bees, but tvhen lie could not liar\ r est his hay owing to their pestilence he thought he should seek some redress. Plaintiff told the Court that on one occasion when haymaking the bees sa'.'agely attacked his horse, causing it to bolt, and lie only managed to pull the animal up on t-lie brink of a steep gully. Both lie and the liorse Avere badly stung. He was forced in consequence to gather in his hay on a, wet day, when the bees were not so vicious, and in conquence the hay had gone mouldy and the cattle would not eat it. In answer to defendant’s solicitor, plaintiff said be would be quite satisfied to alloAV the bees to remain if defendant would cut and stack his hay for him. The magistrate said two isolated cases of stinging Avere insufficient to indicate that the bees Avere a-nuisance. He saw no very good grounds for damages, as be doubted if a nuisance really everexisted. Judgment Avent for defendant, allowing £.lO costs.