RANGER AND FISHERMEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2905, 17 November 1909, Page 1

RANGER AND FISHERMEN.

CHARGE OF ASSAULT WITH PISTOIi (Fbom Ora Own Cobbespojtdeht.) INVERCARGILL, November 11. A number of cases arising out of. the seizure of some trout in a fisherman's boat on the estuary were heard ' at the Police Court yesterday. Jno Friend and H. T. Leydon, sea fisheries \offieers, . near midnight on October 30, met the .boat of Jno. and Edward Rask as it came' to the beach at Sandy Point, and after 'some trouble and a scuffle made a seizure of several trout. As a result the fishermen; were charged with assaulting and obstructing the rangers, and with taking the trout other than by rod and "lane. One ot the men held a trout-netting license, but the season did not open till November 1. On the other hand, both the Rasks .charged Friend with assault by pointing a .revolver at them and threatening to shoot. In the latter charge, the Rasks saicT that Friend did not show his authority,- that they did not know him at first .in th« dark, and that when consequently they objected to his oroins? aboard he presented a revolver, first at John Rask and then ai Edward Rask, to effect his purpose. The defence was fcbat the' revolver wax unloaded, that under the S«a Fisheries Act the "rangers were possessed of the power* of a constable, and that the' revolver wal - presented at Edward Rask only when >h« threatened Leydon with -a- heavy plank ol wood, and again at Jno. Rask when h« laired an oar to Friend. The Magistrate ?aiid that the case 'wa« r.ot serious, and that there was justification in self-defence. He consequently diamissed the case. The charges of obstruction and assault against the fishermen were also dismissed, the Magistrate stating that there was not much to ohcose between the parties. On the charge of illegal taking, the Raakfi were each fined £4. and costs.

A 'mercantile man, in a position to know, informs the Wanganui Herald that New Zealand is -> dumping-ground for all the grass feed which is refused admission by the stringent regulations of other parts of the Empire, especially dangerous grass, the seed of which comes here mixed with other important seeds in Australian speargrass.