MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 56, 26 June 1876, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

THIS DAY. (Before T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M.) CATTLE TRESPASS. The following persons were fined for allowing cattle to wander at large :. James M'Nab, three cows, ss. ; Alex. Ross, one horse, ss. PEIOIITTIFG A NUISANCE. James Grave was charged on the information of the Inspector of Nuisances with neglecting to keep clean his yard on section 15, block XLVII., on the 16th inst. The defendant told the Bench that lie had endeavoured to obtain counsel to represent him, but on account of prior engagements he had been unsuccessful. _He was willing to submit to a fine, provided no technical objection was raised, in which case he would ask for an adjournment in order to have legal assistance. The case was then proceeded with. Arthur Toms, sworn, deposed : I a'.u Inspector of Nuisances for the town of Oamaru, and I paid a visit to the ■ defendant's back-premises on the 16th inst. Found them in a very dirty state, caused by some pigs on the section. Told him he must remove them. On Saturday I called to see if they were removed, and found them still there. I visited the premises again this morning, and noticed the pigsties had been cleaned out, but there was a very obnoxious smell arising therefrom. Examined by defendant : The bye-laws of the Municipal Council permit pigs to be kept outside the boundary. There is always a smell from a pigsty. There is no objection to keeping the pigs, but to the nuisance arising therefrom. When I went to inspect the premises it was after a heavy fall of rain. Consider it impossible to keep any pigsty perfectly clean, but they are not all as bad as yours.

Mr. Grave : Well, Mr. Toms, that is a matter of opinion. Walter Carncross, residing on property adjoining the defendant's, gave evidence in support of the information, and Matthew Sherwin in favour of defendant. The latter addressed the Court, after which the Bench imposed a fine of 40s.