BOY AND AN AIRGUN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 26 February 1926, Page 2

BOY AND AN AIRGUN.

SHOT FIRED AT HORSE,

A CHRISTCHURCH OFFENDER

A boy of 16, who had a little shooting expedition in Hagley Park, Christchurch, recently, tackled birds, ducks, and even the Domain Board’s horse. An account of his exploits was given in the Magistrate’s Court in Christchurch when James Douglas Corbett was charged with discharging an airgun in Hagley Park. Mr, Batchelor, for defendant, pleaded guilty. . Sergeant Roach said the offence took place on January 16 last. The defendant admitted shooting birds and firing at a duck. He also had a shot or two at the Domain Board’s horse, but he could not say whether he hit it or not. Mr. Batchelor submitted that the case was so trivial that the Court should not have been bothered with the matter. The defendant, who was just over 16 years of age, was still attending a primary school. ,He had fired at the horse to see how far the shot would carry. Counsel suggested that as the defendant was only a schooboy no penalty should be imposed. The Magistrate (Mr. A. H. Young): Do you think anyone should he allowed to have a shot at the Domain horse?

Mr. Batchelor: When a boy goes into the park and playe around with a toy airgun.—*— The Magistrate: It might have knocked the horse’s eye out. Sergeant Roach said the gun would kill a sparrow, and the shot might go through a child’s eye. . .... The Magistrate said the Domains Board Act prohibited taking any weapons of the kind into the park. Even a shanghai was prohibited. In the circumstances of the present case it would be sufficient if defendant were ordered to pay court costs 9s. and witnesses’ expenses 6s. ,