PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20642, 14 February 1929, Page 6

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

ilr H. W. Bundle, S.M.. presided over a sitting of the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. CIVIL CASES. Judgment was given for plaintiffs by default in the following civil cases:—J. Cunningham v. A. M. Tait, claim £l6 ICs 9d (costs £2 14s); M. Mathiesou v. J. T. Leydon, claim £6 7s 5d (costs £2 4s 6d). BY-LAW OFFENCES. Oscar Reginald Cooper, of Dunedin, was lined 20s and costs for driving a motor car in the borough on December 14 at a speed exceeding IS miles an hour. Harry Mills (Ardgowan) was fined os and costs for pillion riding in the borough. Robert G. Gillespie was charged with casting offensive matter in Severn street early in the morning of February 3. He pleaded guilty. A fine of £2 10s and costs (10s) was imposed. THE RABBIT ACT. A, B. Rapson and Mrs Rapsou, of Ngapara, were charged by Inspector Taylor with failing to take effective measures for the destruction of rabbits on their properties. Mr A, Hamilton appeared for both the defendants and entered a plea of not guilty.—lnspector Taylor stated that he had visited both properties and had found the rabbits numerous. He had sent out notices and had subsequently issued warnings. On each property there was an area of about 25 acres that was badly infested. No steps had been taken to cope with the pest. A hill on Mr Rapson’s property had been wire-netted, but it was swarming with rabbits, and the rabbits wore getting out and in from the wire-netted area. He had seen some oats near the wire-netting, but could not say if they were poisoned oats. Since February 4 an attempt had been made to fill up some of the burrows, but the work done was quite insufficient.—Cross-ex-amined by Mr Hamilton the witness stated that some of the gorse had been destroyed on Mr Rapson’s property, but this was not all that was necessary. The wire-netting was not sufficient. There was evidence of a few oats being laid. He had seen as many as 17 rabbits on an acre of land.—lnspector Ingram, of Palmerston, corroborated the evidence of Inspector Taylor. He stated, under cross-examina-tion, that the rabbits were most numerous on the wire-netted area on Mr Rapson’s property. There was not much feed op the enclosed area, but the rabbits remained there because it was their home. Witness saw oats near the wire-netting, but from the number of rabbits the poisoning, if done, could - * not have been successful.—A. B. Rapson, one of the defendants, stated that he had been farming in the district for 18 years. He knew that rabbits were no good to him. His bank account showed that he was a successful farmer. He had commenced his attack upon the rabbits in June last, and had continued ever since. He had fumigated the burrows, shot over the property, and_ poisoned at least once a month. In addition to his family, he had employed a professional rabhiter from Dunedin, and he had killed a considerable number of rabbits. In a letter to him + his rabhiter had stated that he had effectively poisoned the land, and that the wire-netting fence ■was in good order. Under cross-examina-tion the witness stated that he bad poisoned his property with strychnine and with good results. He had also devoted the whole of his Christmas holidays to shooting the rabbits. He bad inspected the property at 6 o’clock that morning and had seen nothing to complain of. —Inspector Taylor: “Do you suggest that the other inspector and myself have been telling falsehoods? I do not make that suggestion, but we differ in our opinion.— In reply to the magistrate the witness stated that hp had poisoned with carrots on Tuesday of this week and had secured 14 rabbits.—His Worship stated that when the property was wire-netted 12 months ago it was understood that Mr Rapson was going to, take intensive measures to destroy the rabbits. He had some doubt as to "whether he should further adjourn the cases. However, he would adjourn them until the first court sitting in May on the understanding that the defendants would comply with the instructions of the inspector. The question of a penalty would be held over. Thomas M'Cone, a neighbour, of the previous defendants, pleaded guilty to having failed to destroy the rabbits on his property.—lnspector Taylor stated that since tlje summons had been issued the defendant had been doing good work. —'His Worship adjourned the case until May to enable the defendant to comply with the wishes of the inspector, MAINTENANCE CASES.

Thomas Anderson, a labourer, of Kurow, was charged by the maintenance officer with failing to comply with an order of the court to maintain his illegitimate child.—The respondent, who was represented by Mr Hjorring, stated that he was employed at Awakino, and was earning 14s a day. He had a wife arid four children to maintain. His wife was in poor health, and he had been put to considerable expense for doctors.—The magistrate adjourned the case sine die on condition that the respondent paid 15s per week and Is per week towards liquidating the arrears. Robert Ernest Davis, of Christchurch, who was £l2 in arrears on a maintenance order, was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment in the Paparua Prison, to he released on payment of arrears. A SHEARER’S CLAIM.

James Bayley, a shearer of Oatnaru, who was represented by Mr Hjorring, claimed from Basil H. Wilkinson, of Hakataramea, the sum of £4B 15 s for alleged breach of contract in failing to provide the plaintiff with shearing Mr , appeared for the defendant.—The plaintiff, in evidence, stated that in response to an advertisement .for shearers to shear 13,000 sheep he had applied and been engaged. He had been delayed in town for a day -• or' two owing to certain court' proceedings, but he had gone to Kurow at the telephone request of Mr Gillies, who was one of the parties concerned. When he reached Mr Wilkinson's place he was told that as he had not arrived at the time expected another man had been engaged. Witness had declined to shear for Mr Aubrey in order that he might shear fm Mr Wilkinson and three others who were interested in the 13,000 sheep. Owing to his not being engaged .by Mr Wilkinson, he had lost other sheds, and was not able to get much shearing. Roughly he had shorn about 800 sheep at 30s per 100. He had averaged 157 sheep a day for a season.— Mr Grater asked for a nonsuit on the grounds that Bayley had been engaged by Gillies, who was not an agent for Wilkinson.—Mr Hjorring maintained that Wilkinson had engaged Bayle-- and had gone to the station to meet him.— The magistrate said that if Bayley had been employed by Wilkinson he had failed to comply with the terms of his engagement. Tha plaintiff would be nonsuited, with costs.

A CRIMINAL CASE. Lester D. Hedges, 19 years of age, was charged on remand with attempting to know carnally a female, 13 years of ace. Mr A. C. Hanlon appeared for the accused.. After the evidence of several witnesses had been heard, the accused, who reserved his defence, was committed to stand his-trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court in Oamaru. Bail was allowed. AN ENGINEER'S ESTATE. The late Mr Gowin Hadden Dennison, a retired civil engineer, who.died on September 10 at the age of 89, left an estate of the gross value of £17,007, with a net personalty £16,882, subject to a life interest. He gives. iIOOO to the Institute of Civil Engineers for a scholarship for poor students, and £250 to the Diocesan Synod, Dunedin. Mr Dennison was a brother of the late Mr Hadden Dennison, of Oamaru, and was for some time resident here himself. He died at his home, Whising, near Weldron, Sussex.

NORTH OTAGO. ACTIVITIES OF THE DISTRICT. MAGISTRATE'S COURT. I STEWARD WATER RACE.

Siuce the Waitaki River changed its course no water has been entering the intake of the Steward settlement water race. A working bee of settlers is to be held at the head works to-day to endeavour to provide a fresh intake. ENGLISH PUBLIC SCHOOLBOYS. The 14 English public'schoolboys who are coming to the Waitaki Bays' High School to take a special course in agriculture in order to fit themselves for a farming career in New Zealand, are due to arrive in Oamaru by the midday express from the north on Saturday. They will be accorded a reception by the Waitaki High School Boys' - Association on their arrival. LADIES' BOWLING MATCH. For the first time in the history ~? the Waimate Bowling Club the women members of the club are to take part i'i a game with a "foreign" club, a match having been arranged against the Awamoa Club (Oamaru), to be played on the Waimate green on Saturday. The match will be an eight-rink one, six rinks of male players and two of women players. FARMERS AND RABBITS. Mr A. Hamilton stated during the hearing of a rabbit case in Oamaru yesterday that this was not the season of the year in which farmers should be liarrassed by rabbit inspectors. The magistrate: When do you suggest that the inspectors should take action? Mr Hamilton: When the harvesting operations are finished and not during the busy season. The magistrate: You would go into the winter months, when it is too late. CANTERBURY CRICKET TEAM. Advice from Christchurch states that the Canterbury cricket team which will meet Otago in the Plunket Shield match will play North Otago on the way south. QUINNAT SALMON. , Quinnafc salmon have commenced to run in the Waitaki River, but so far not to any extent. Anglers who visited the river over the week-end report that one or two fish of about 101 b were liooked, but none of any size has yet been landed. At the week-end the river was, however, discoloured. The latest reports are that the river is returning to normal, and anglers are in hopes that better conditions will rule over the coming week-end. VALUE OF WIRELESS. In _ these days of wireless little or no imagination is required on our part to visualise happenings far removed from our sphere," said a settler from the backcountry to the Daily Times representative yesterday. "To us who are isolated from the cities -with which communication is slow, and from which the arrival of newspapers is necessarily delayed, it has been a perfect boon, for we /ire now able to keep right up-to-date as regards the state of the markets, etc." Incidentally the settler stated that the hands on the station, mostly, keen sporting enthusiasts, were always interested listeners, bein<? particularly eager to hear the details of racing, boxing, and wrestling fixtures from as far- away as Australia, all of which usually came clearly across the void. COUNTRY TENNIS. The draw for Saturday in connection with the Country Lawn Tennis Sub-asso-ciation is as follows: — Haka v. Haka Valley, at Haka. Tokarahi v. Kurow, at Kurow. < Kurow A v. Duntroon, at Duntroon. A GOOD WHEAT YIELD. Evidence is not wanting that some of the wheat crops in North Otago will yield averages well up to those of last vear. A crop of Hunters wheat has just been threshed for Mr John Irving at Peebles, and has produced the satisfactory yield of 54 bushels to the acre. A NEW BRIDGE. The Minister of Public Works (Mr E. A. Ransom) has sent the following wire to Mr J. A. Macpherson, M.P.: —"Regarding the Shag River bridge in the Waihemo County, I have instructed that preparation of plans is to be regarded as an urgent matter.- The district engineer at Dunedin advises that plans are now being finalised. Will advise you further as soon as posisble." LAWN TENNIS. The following is the draw for the Familton and Irvine Cups, the games to be played on Saturday, February 23: Familton Cup.—First round: J. MacEwan v. J. Henry, F. Gallagher v. K. Familton, L. Henry v. K. Bryan, Feathers v. G. Henry, G. Pearce v. ! P Mulligan, W Duthie v. B. Collins, W. B. Reid v. J. Familton, M. Hintz v. J Main. Second round: J. Sumpter v. H. Deal, N. Manchester v. A. Wilson, C. Rowe v. L. M'Kinnon. H. Swindley v. C. Mollison? Irvine Cup.—First round: Miss King v Miss Eaden, Miss D. Miller v. Miss Kemp. Mrs Wilson v. Miss M'Quade, Miss Robertson v. Mrs Grater, Mrs Stewart v. Miss Romans. Second round: Miss V Nichols a bye. Miss Beardsniore v. Miss Backie. SWIMMING. At the Oamaru Amateur Swimming Club's weekly competition the water polo match between the teams of Hatton and Rowe resulted in a win for the former, which scored late in the first spell. The squadron race was own ;by Hintz's team with Rowe's team second. In the ladies' diving event E. Crawshaw was first, and in the ladies' 50 yards race Misses E. Crawshaw and M. M'Laren dead heated, with Miss N. M'Laren next. PERSONAL. The Board of Governors of the Waitaki High School has appointed Miss M. B. Gibsion, principal of the Christchurch Girls' High School and now retired on superannuation, to fill the position of principal of the Waitiiki Girls' I High School during the absence of Miss : Wilson on holiday leave. . CHILDREN'S COURT. In the Children's Court yesterday five charges were preferred against a youth as follows:—That on February 5 he stole goods valued at £7 17s 6d, the property of Mary Kane; that on February 3 he ' stole £5 and a belt from, Sydney Stuttley Lucas; that he stole articles and two half sovereigns of a total value of £4 from John Halska, of Merton; that at Wai- ' kouaiti he stole 20 packets of cigarettes, value 15s, from some person unknown; and that at Kartigi on February 3 he stole a coat and vest and other articles value £4 10s from Hector M'Leod. The accused was remanded to appear at the Children's Court, Dunedin.

IN BANKRUPTCY. The first bankruptcies of the year were recorded on Tuesday, when David Smith and Ins wife, Hessie Maria Smith, who nave betn carrying on business as confectioners and pastrycooks in Oamaru, filed declarations in insolvency. BOWLING. The learn to represent the Meadowbank Bowling Club in the match a.gainst the combined team on Saturday nest is as follows:—Hart, Bartlett, Hartley, Martin; Eskrick, King, Atkinson, Gibson; Carson, Fogarty, Macßae, Campbell; Gartwright. Evans, Smith. Berry; Selfe, Allen, Chappell, Donald; Robertson, Cunningham, Miller. Mollison; M'Kay, Archibald, Crichton, .Denholm; Madden, Fis-' cher, Kent, Blacldock. The following players have been selected to represent the Awamoa Bowling Club, which is sendine six rinks of men and two of ladies to play a friendly match at Waimate on Saturday:—Wilson, Brown, Shepherd, Adamson; Tomkins, J. Miller, Tiedale, Buist, Mullin, Kennedy, A. Robertson, Hodge, Russell. Jenkins, M'Narry. Hewat, Vernor, Hay. Sorley, Cook, Thomson, Boyd, Woodward, M'Donald. Ladies: Mesdames M'Narr-:. Tomkins, Bridaman, Sorley, Thomson, Pygall, Jenkins, Kennedy. WAIAREKA SALE. There was a fair yarding of stock at Tuesday\» sale -at the Waiareka yards, the offering of sheep being heavier than usual, particularly stores, which were in excess of the dercnud of the buyers present. A pen jf fa* lamLs sold at 29s 9d, and a couple of pens of fat, wethers at 31s (3d and 35s 6d; while the seven pens of fat ewes ranged from 20s 9d to 24s 6d, according to weiglht and quality. Ten pens of store lambs "were offered, inc' iding some good rape lambs. One pen of good lambs "brought 25s 9d, but the majority were passed. Some of the other lots, however, were subsequently sold privately. Two pens of store two-tooth wethers made 24s 6d; a pen of four-tooth half bred ewes 365, and two pens of two-tooth halfbred ewe» 37s Cd. The yarding of fat cattle was of a mixed ui'der, but did not include any steers. m| j range of prices was as follows: Prime cows, £ll and £ll 2s 6d; good cows, £7 10s to £9 2s 6d: light cows, £6; good heifers, ■ £8 10s to £9 2s 6d; other heifers, from £4 to £7. The store cattle did not contain anything of particular note, and prices were as follows:--—Big-framed empty cows, £7; other store cows from £3 to £5 10s; mixed 18-month-old steers and heifers, £4 10s. Calves. —Several lines brought £2 for best and 25s to 35s for medium sorts. Bulls from £6 to £7 for large, and from £3 10s to £4 10s for small. There were few dairy cows offered. An aged Jersey cow, due to calve in March, brought £lO, and other cows sold as follows: —Cows coming to profit, £9 10s; cows.in-milk, from £2 17s 6d to £5; aged cows, £3 10s to £4 10s. There was only a small offering of pigs, but there were few buyers, and prices were back by 6s to 8s per head, being as follows:—Slips, 10s to lis; best weaners, 8s 6d to 10s 6d; medium weaners, 7s to 8s; small weaners, 2s 6d to ss. OAMARU ATHEN/EUM. The annual meeting of subscribers to the Oamaru Athenreum was held last evening, Mr I. Dalmer presiding over a fair attendance. The annual report and balance sheet was adopted. The latter showed an increase in the assets, but a debit on the year's operations of fll In moving the adoption of the report the chairman referred at length to the work that had been carried out during the year and that was in contemplation. A vote of sympathy was passed with the librarian, who is indisposed, Mr R. Rhodes, who has been secretary for some years, tendered his resignation, and a resolution was passed placing on record the subscribers' appreciation of his past services. Mr Rhodes very generously offered to keep in order, free of charge, the flower plot adjoining the athenasum. , It was decided that in future fewer magazines and a larger number of books should be purchased. The following officials were elected for the. ensuing year:—President, Mr J. M. Wilson; vice-president, Mr E. C. Beswick; secretary, Mr J. W. Petrie* treasurer, Mr G. L. Grenfell; auditor, Mr H. Grocdtt; committee—Messrs I. Dalmer. W. W. Beswick, A. G. Creagh, D. M. Finlay, D. L. Patterson, J. M. Forrester, G. P. Mollison, and two to be appointed later.