MAGISTRATE'S COURT, PORT CHALMERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13263, 20 April 1905, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT, PORT CHALMERS.

1 «J> . J Wedxkssat, Aran, 19. r (Before Mr 11. Y. Widdowson, S.M.) c Discharging Firearms.—Rupert J. Etheridgo, I a. lad aged 17 years, was charged, on ilio infor- ) motion .of Constable Connor, with discharging t a single-barrel gun on t.lio Main road nt Wai- - tafi on tbo Ist inst.—The lad pleaded " Guilty," i and was fmcd 5s and costs, t Breach of'the Noxious Weeds Act.—Richard s Burns, James A. Riddell, John P. Noyhan, ■ William Robertson, Tctona Palii, Andrew t Brown, V/. Townlev, Danie! Eilison, Mary I Ward, Alexander Uick, Alexander Dickson, [ John Cr. Taiaroa, and George Taiaroa, settier3 i oil the Oiago Peninsula, wcro charged on the I information of Rupert Fountain (inspector under " The Is'oxious Weeds Act, 1900 ") with • neglecting to cut Canadian or Californian i thistles on their icspectirc properties.—Mr J. ; F. M. Fraser appeared m support of the charge, • and the defendants, who pleaded " Not guiily," s wcro represented by Mr W. P. Plaits.—Tho first • cr.se heard v,-as that of Richard Burufs.—Rupert I Fountain (inspector under the Noxious AVcmls ■ Act) gave evidence that defendant, was a settler ; and lai.d-mvnor on the Peninsula, his property 1 being at Otakou. He had 13 days in which to ■ clear the weeds to the issue of the summons. ; About two acres out of 50 wcro foul with weeds. The settlers had two months to clear the land. 1 uv'oiic.D to clear it wa3 issued to defendant and 'others on February 2, and the work should havo been completed by February 28.—John Bruce gave evidence that, a large majority of tho settlers cleared their land beforo February 23. A meeting of settlers was Hold nt Portobello in January in conncction with clearing the weeds. Witness could not say if defendant was present.—Richard Burns, defendant, stated that ho had paid £12 for clearing tho land, which did not include his own labour and that of his daughters. Ho commence*! clearing (lie land in February, and finished at the end of March. He had nob received ar.y notice from tho inspector, but hoard that noticcs wero given out. There woro about two acres not cleared on his section. It would take about two days to finish clearing it. At this stage of the proceedings Mr Fraser suggests! that to simplify the proceeding it would be advisable to lake the other eases together.— Jlr I'latts, for the defendants, who all pleaded rtot guilty," consented to this.—Aftar tho evidence of Andrew Brown, J. Martin, John G. lawroa, G-eorgo Taiaroa, William Ward, and Daniel Ellison had been taken, his Worship postponed the further hearing of the cases until next court day.