CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10264, 23 January 1895, Page 3

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

PROSECUTIONS AT CLINTON.

Some time ago Mr R. T. Aitken, tho inspector for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, received word to the effect that several contractors and ploughmen at Clifton eatats, rear Waiwera South, wera working hones which were suffering from open Bores on their shoulders under the collars. He proceeded accordingly to the locality, accompanied by Constable Pascoe, of Clinton, and finding that a number of honses employed by. men who were engaged in contract ploughing were badly troubled.with open sores, he laid 23 informations for cruelty to animals on the 14th December last against nine persona. The cases came on for hearing at Clinton yesterday, bafore Mr E. S. Hawkins, S.M., Mr Daniel Stewart (of Balclutbst) appearing to prosecute on behalf of the society.

James Nicoll, contractor, of Waiwera South; against whom three informations were laid, wa<s fined 5s in each case, with costs of courb (21«) and professional costa (103 6d)—in all £2 6s 6d. William Arnett, servant to the abovementioned defendant, was also fined 5s on each of threo informations, with costs of cnurb (21s) and professional costs (10s 6d) —a total of £2 65,6 d. There were five charges against AlexaDder Robertson, contractor and ploughman, of Wfciwera South, and a fine of 5s was imposed in each, with costs of court (38s) and professional costs (15s), making a totil penalty of £3 18s. Andrew Murray, a ploughman employed by Robertson, was fined 5s on each of two informations, together with court costs (14s) and professional costs (10s 6d)—in all, £1 Us b&. Donald Nicoll, contractor and ploughman, was fined 5s on each of two charges and 10s on each of three more serious charges, with costs of court (38s) and professional costs (15n) —total, £4. 13s. James Weir, contractor and ploughman, wrs fined 5s on each of two informations, with court costs (20s) and professional costs (10s 6d)—total, £2 0s 6d. There was one' charge against Joseph Wilson, contractor and ploughman, who wag fined 5?, with court costs (ss) and professional costs (10s 6d) —in all, 20s 6d. In each of the foregoing cases the defendants, who were represented by Mr Neave (of Gore), pleaded guilty, and the inspector did not press fer a heavy fir.9 for the reason that the costs were pretty tteavy. For offences committed at Wairuna, near Clinton, oh Mr Thomas Taylor'e farm, on the 4th January, Samuel M'Cnlloch, a ploughman, was fined 20s, with court costs (7s) and professional costs (5s) —in all 32s ; —s.Kd a aimilar penalty wag inflicted on James Hamilton. In these two instances tnere was only one information, but the defendants did not appear until after the'eases were dioposed of, and the charges wete proved by the evidence of the inspector. In nearly all the cases ifc appeared that the sorsa were covered with rough sack* under the collars, which were too large and required padding in order to fit the horses, and as the sacks were rubbing into the sores the horses must have suffered great pain.