TAKING ROCK OYSTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9103, 11 July 1888, Page 6

TAKING ROCK OYSTERS.

At the Police Court yesterday, before Dr. Giles, R.M., Robert Thorley. Albert Sanford, Charles Hennys, and John Mason were charged with taking rock oysters, on July 3rd, at Manaia harbour, Coromandel, during the close season. Mr. Williamson appeared for the Customs. The prisoners all pleaded guilty. Mr Williamson said, in outlining the case, that the four young men i ; had • been engaged in the trade for some time, and v were aware they were committing a breach of the regulations, and on the date in question, were caught redhanded by Mr. Parker, who discovered them on the rocks, with all the appliances for taking oysters, with boat and yacht, in which they had placed a large quantity of »ysters. They admitted they were doing wrong,, and in short took the risk of being found out. It was under exceptional circumstances that brought Mr. Parker % there on the day in question, and as the launch steamed round a point he ran on the defendants. The Bench fined each of them £3 and costs, with a week to pay it in, or in default 21 days' imprisonment with hard labour. u>:'--'/' . • '-■'■ : -'-- '• -; -*- <■■ There was also a second case, -in which Arthur Kirk, John O'Brien, John Bruin, and Thomas Boalls were charged with taking rock oysters on June 26, at Rangitoto Island. When the case "was called only one of the defendants, Arthur Kirk, answered the call, O'Brien, Bruin, and Boalls being absent. Mr. Williamson, for the Customs, suggested the issuance of a writ, but the Resident Magistrate decided to postpone the case till another case on the list had been heard, before doing so. When the case was again called on, Arthur Kirk, John O'Brien, and Thomas Boalls answered to their names, John Bruin being still absent. Kirk and pleaded guilty, O'Brien not guilty, saying he was merely a passenger on the boat. Henry Parker deposed : On June 26th he saw the accused in the cutter Catherine at Rangitoto Island. He boarded the cutter and found three bags of oysters full, and three partly full. He had seen them taking oysters. When accused they denied they were taking oysters. Witness saw O'Brien on the cutter, but could not swear to his taking, any oysters. Kirk said the boat was on the way to the Barrier to get oysters. , Witness did not know O'Brien, but believed he was a fireman. This was the case for the Customs. O'Brien, for his defence, went into the box and said he had asked Kirk to give him a passage. They went down there it was blowing, and they came to an anchor. He knew no more about oysters than —. He did not know Kirk was going to get oysters when he went on board. Arthur Kirk and O'Brien had asked him to give him a passage to the Barrier, and he had agreed to do so, and this explained O'Brien's presence on board. He was going there to try and get work at gum digging, and had nothing to do with picking oysters. He helped them with the boat, and did " a bit of cooking." The Resident Magistrate dismissed the case against.O'Brien, but fined Kirk £3 and costs forthwith, Bruin £3 and costs forthwith, and Thos. Boalls £3 and coasts-with a week to pay it in, or in default 21 days' imprisonment.