FARMERS AT VARINCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 306, 29 November 1927, Page 3

FARMERS AT VARINCE.

TROUBLE AT OPOTIKI. RIGHT TO USE ROAD AT ISSUE. OPOTIKI, Nov. 26. Trouble between Opotiki farmers on November 16 had its sequel in tlie Magistrate’s Court, when H.. Horne and his son, Alfred Horne, were charged with assaulting Charles Dunlop and with wilfully destroying a fence, the property of Miss Jessie Ross. Mr A. L. Arrowsmith appeared lor complainants, and Mr N. V. Hodgson represented both defendants. Mr Arrowsmith said that the defendant Horne senior claimed the right to go through land belonging to Miss Ross and had been taking cattle through day and night. Dunlop, who was manager for Miss Ross, had endeavoured to stop cattle going through. Evidence on behalf of complainants was given by Miss Sliaw, who was present when liunloji and others attempted to stop cattle. She testified to seeAlfred Horne striking at Dunlop who retaliated. Bad language was also used by both defendants. Witness understood the property through which the cattle passed belonged to Miss. v lloss. Replying to Mr Hodgson, witness stated that she thought " the other people present were there to assist in stopping the cattle, being driven through. Corroborative evidence was given by John Barrett, Benjamin Revel! and C. Dunlop. The last-named stated that he had a hoe in his hand at the time but did not strike iHorne with it. Horne, jun., rushed at witness and shouted, “I’ll murder you.” Witness and Revel) had put up a fence in the drive earlier in the day. Horne, sen., had told his son to iude witness, down. If he had done that witness would have used the hoe. Mr Hodgson, for defendants, did not call any evidence, but said the whole question was one of. the right to use tho roadway. The justices who presided said they could not decide this question and adjourned the case to he heard by a magistrate on December 8.