BIRD SANCTUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20562, 13 May 1930, Page 12

BIRD SANCTUARY.

ILLEGAL SHOOTING.

TWO SPORTSMEN CHARGED

MAGISTRATE IMPOSES FINES

Charges of killing grey duck in a declared sanctuary and trespassing in Search of gamo were preferred against Reginald Frederick Burton and Daniel George Saunders, both of Oneluinga, in the Otahuhu Police Court yesterday, bofore Mr. F. 11. Lcvien, S.M. Sergeant Rowell .said the two men were found in pursuit of game at Beachlea Downs, Papatoetoe, on tlio morning of May 1. They had a full outfit, including decoys and a collapsible boat, and had gamo in their possession. Saunders, who did. not know tlio country well, had been up in an aeroplane, and had located from tho air the lako near which lie had been found shooting. Tho men left their car at the end ot (ho road leading to tho sanctuary, and cut tracks down through tho gorso to the lake. It was evidently a premeditated affair. Owen R. Self, farmer, of Papaloetoe, said he was tho owner of the property on which tho men had been found shooting. The motor-ear belonging to them had been left all night at- the end of the road running to tho property. Mr. O'Donnell, on behalf of defendants, said they had been shooting curlew in the neighbourhood. They were fold that good bags of game had been shot in the district, and obtained an extract from tho 1930 Gazette, which made no mention of the area being a sanctuary. There wero no notice boards on the property. "I think that under tlie circumstances 1 must give, some credit to the explanation made," tho magistrate said, in fining each £3 on the first charge. Both were convicted and ordered to pay costs on the second charge.