Sequel to Aeroplane Crash

Otago Witness, Issue 4085, 28 June 1932, Page 25

Sequel to Aeroplane Crash

Simon Baring, pilot of an aeroplane which crashed beside the Golf Club’s links at Gisborne a fortnight ago, was charged before the magistrate (Mr P. 11. Harper) on Friday that on June 11 he “navigated an aircraft over the Gisborne Golf Club’s course, and did do trick flying without a written agreement with such promoters of such games on such course.” On a remand being granted, Sergeant Wade said the charge named would be withdrawn and two others substituted.

Maori Girls’ Debts Acquiescence in purchases made by two Maori girls from Whakarewarewa Pa led. to the prosecution at Rotorua on Tuesday of a well-known' Reparoa farmer for debt. A storekeeper in the village declared that she had supplied goods to two girls, Tuku and Bunny, upon the understanding that the defendant, William George Butcher, would pay. He had paid the girls’ debts before. In denying these allegations Butcher declared that he had simply tried to uplift the girls. He had taken an interest in the Maoris for 40 years ami had visited Whakarewarewa a good deal to study the Natives. He had taken a special interest in Tuku and Bunny and had tried to help them, but civilising efforts had failed. They only thought of cigarettes and face cream and were absolutely selfish. He had helped the girls with their bills before, but declined to continue. He never authorised the storekeeper to supply them. Mr S. L. Pater son, S.M., said he considered Butcher had acted as a silly old man by getting mixed up with the young Maoris. Lie had evidently let it be understood that he would pay the girls’ debts. Judgment was given for £7 5s 6d. Protected Birds Shot For shooting protected birds M. King, James Sampson, and Jack Haiti! were prosecuted in the Rotorua Magistrate’s Court, the charge being preferred by Mr A. Kean, conservator of fish and game for the Rotorua district. Mr Kean said that rangers had met defendants in the Manganui Valley and they had in their possession three guns and bags. They had driven to the place in a car. On being questioned they denied that they had shot any birds, but on the ear being searched it was found to contain bags in which were nine tuig and four pigeons. The defendants then admitted having shot-the birds. Their guns, bags, and the birds were seized by the rangers. Air Kean said that the rangers had had quite a deal of trouble in the Urewera Country through persons shooting protected birds, and it. was hard to bring them to book. The magistrate (Mr S. L. Paterson) said these cases must be taken seriously, as the time was coming when illegal shooting of game would become a pest. There was quite a fair amount of shooting of this kind going on, and it was difficult to catch the offenders and deal with them under the Act. In the circumstances he would have to impose substantial penalties, and each defendant would be fined £5 ami costs. Homing Pigeon Killed by Hawk Air R. H. Bell writes to us from Christchurch to say that he has in his possession a ring bearing the number N.Z.31 Dn.3741, taken from the leg of a brown pigeon hen in the Limestone Creek at its confluence with the Clarence River, at a distance of about 154 miles from the coast. Two shepherds observed a hawk kill this pigeon about April 11 to April 14. The body was found the week before last and marks on it support this statement by the shepherds.

Divorce Case The divorce case Lena APDiarmid (petitioner) v. Duncan Robinson M'Diarmid (respondent) came before Air Justice Kennedy in the Supreme Court on Wednesday last, when his Honor granted an application for a decree nisi, to be made absolute after three months, but held over the question of the custody of the two children of the marriage to allow him to consider what access the respondent should have to the children. On Friday his Honor made an order giving custody of the children to the petitioner, and setting out the opportunities of access which the respondent may have to the children.