MAGISTERIAL OXFORD,

Oxford Observer, Volume VIII, Issue VIII, 20 March 1897, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL OXFORD,

Monday 15th. inst. Before Messrs G. A. White, John Ingram, and R. H. Parish J.P's.

The following Landholders except as undermentioned appeared to answer informations laid under the P.W. Act 1894, charging them with neglecting to obey orders from the Board to clear the gorse adjacent to their respective holdings, Mr Loughrey appeared for the Board. Thos. McGrath, Andrew Rainey, George Garlic, Peter Wright, Sarah Luers, Lewis Powell, Patrick McGrath, John Knowles, Thomas Bavin, Thos. McMahon. Mr Fuller, who appeared for Mc Grath, asked for an adjournment, which the Board refused, and all the cases were summarily dealt with, the Defendants being mulcted m fines varying from £1 to Is. and expences m cases where thorough negligence and disregard of the Board.s authority was proved tho Defendants had to pay the Solicitor's fee. Referring to the cases of McGrath and Rainey, his Worship said there was a certain amount of hardship if, as alleged, the Defendants were not responsible for the origin of the gorse, still the Board did not make the law, and they had no option except to administrate it as they found it.

W-A.W.S. Board for rates v. Thos. Murphy £1 4s. 9d. Same v. John Davis £3 Os. 7d. Same v. Thomas Walker £1 12s. 4d. Defendants m each case pleaded non liability on the grounds of their property being outside the W.S. District. The map was produced by the Board's Engineer which proved the defence to be fallacious, and judgement was recorded accordingly. In the case of Thos. Walker, who had sold a portion of his property, he failed to show that he had notified the W.S. Board of the fact. There were 7 other rate cases set down for hearing which were settled without troubling the court. The Court then adjourned.