RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

North Otago Times, Volume IV, Issue 77, 10 August 1865, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Fridat, 4th August, 1865. (Before T. W. P.uker, Esq , K.M.) PROSECUTIONS UNDER SCAB ACT. Thomas Ferens was charged by the Sheep Inspector, oa the information of Mr Clayton, District Inspector, with being, on or about the 26th June last, the owner of 4003]sheep infected with acab. Mr Ffiens did not dispute the case ; and Mr Clayton wished him. to be bound over to clean his sheep within four months, accouling to the terms of the Ordinance. The Magistrate said that the bond would be for L200, being at the rate of Is. per head for the 4000 sheep. The Chief Inspector pointed out a cl mse of the Amendment Ordinance, 1857, limiting the penalty to L103, and applied to have this fine summarily enforced. He would pi ess the fine in this case, being in duty bound to take all steps necessary for the preseivation of the sheep of the neighboring runholdens ; and on account, also, of Mr Ferens' sheep being so long infected, and the loose manner in which they were looked after. Mr Ferens repudiated such an epithet as " loose"being applied to his manner of managing his sheep. He did not believe there was another man in the country who took such care of his own flocks, and the preservation of his neighbors' as he did. A desultory and irrelevant discussion here ensued about a previous bond for scabby sheep being entered into by Mr Ferens, and on whose account a cleau ceitificate had long since been gi anted.. Mr Clayton said he had received notice from one of Mr Ferens' neighbors, complaining of his sheep infecting his (the neighboi *s) flocks, and that it was the second time on which this had occurred. The Magistrate said he was, of course, to be guided by the Renoits of the Inspectors, who, if they weie satisfied of the necessity of the enforcement of the fine for the good of the public, left him no alternative but to inflict the fine as provided by the Ordinance. Mr Ferens thought it hard that the fine should be enforced, seeing that his sheep had been certificated clean and gazetted as suuh last year, and the flock in question was quite a separate and distinct one from that infected previously. Mr Clayton said the only question now to be considered was the 4000 sheep presently infected, and the Bench oidered the penalty of L10U to be enforced accordingly. Mr Gardiner was also charged with being owner of 4000 sheep infected with scab ; and the fact was not disputed. Mr Clayton said he believed Mr Gardiner's sheep were scabbed, not through any neglect on his part, and applied to have him enter into a bond for L100 to clean liis flock in four months. Bound over accordingly.

CIVIL CASE. Lewis v. Greenlees.— Claim L6 10s., for stone carting. Defence partly indebted. Case adjourned for evidence as to quantity of stone carted.

Mondat, 7th August, 1865. Drunkenness. — John Adamson was fined 25s. for being drunk and disorderly in Oamaru, on the night of the 5th inst.

Tuesday, 8th August, 1865. John Chapman, for drunkenness, was discharged with a caution. Lewis v. G-reenlees.— This case resulted in a verdict for L4 7s. 6d., with 15s. costs.