Police Court.

Southland Times, Issue 12022, 13 May 1892, Page 3

Police Court.

"'. Thursday, 12th May. (Before G. E. Rawson, Esq., R.M.) FALSE PRETENCES. A. young man named Archibald McNeil was charged with having obtained board and lodging from Mrs Baggott by means of false pretences. He had represented that he was in work but cleared out without paying 13s that was due. Defendant stated that he would pay the amount within two weeks. As it was accused's fir3t offence his Worship said he would let him go, but that he would have to pay the money. A DESERTER. August Wold was charged with absenting himself |from the barque |Waaland without leave. — In reply to the Bench accused said he left becauso his wages were too small. — The captain said that defendant had shipped at Napier at L 4 per month. He had advanced him L 3 12s, and defendant cleared oat after being aboard 11 or 12 days.—Sergeant Macdonell stated that tlie captain wished defendant kept in gaol until the vessel was rea.ly for sea, which would be in atont a. week's time. His Worship Said that, as defendant had offered to go back to the vessel he would sentence him to be imprisoned, without hard labour, for twelve weeks, to be taken aboard when the vessel is ready for sea. THE SHEEP ACT. Alfred Beaven was charged, on the inforl mation of tlie Inspector of Stock, with having on the 19th April exposed for sale in the Invercargill saleyards sheep infected with lice. — Defendant admitted that the sheep were infected, but maintained that ho should not be liable owing to the neglect of the Stock Department in allowing infected sheep to be soldjto him on a previous occasion .without 'notifying him that they were lousy. He paid sheep tax, and this he understood was to provide protection to cheep farmers from the infection of their flocks and he had not got this protection. He considered that instead of being liable he had a claim against the department for the expense he had been put to in getting'his sheep clean again. — H. T. Turner, Stock Inspector, deposed that Mr Beaven's sheep were very badly infected. It was a little risky to dip sheep in winter.— His Worship said that what Mr Beavan had stated did not exonerate him from liability, it only went in mitigation of penalty. A fine of LI, and costs 7s, was imposed. Frederick Campbell was charged with exposing lousy sheep for sale at Foster's Yards, Thornbnry. — Defendantadmitted the charge, — The Inspector said this was a first offence. He did not intend to ask for any heavy fines this year, but next year he would press for heavy penalties, as there were a great many lousy sheep in Southland. — Fined Ll and costs, 7s. William Curran, Thomas Forde, James Clearwater and Thomas Macdonald were each Ll and costs 7s for similar offences. Alexander Swhan was charged with exposing one lousy sheep for sale in the Invercargill yards on the 3rd May.— Mr Harvey appeared for defendant. — From the evidence it appeared that the Scottish and New Zealand Investment Company (for whom defendant acts as inspector) had no sheep for sale in the yards on the day in question, and that the one referred to had either staayed into another mob or had been stolen. His Worship thought it would be straining the Act to convict under the circumstances, and dismissed the case. THE RABBIT PEST. Thos. Cumming, of West Plains, was charged with failing to take proper steps to destroy the rabbits on his property.— Mr H. Carawell, who appeared as agent for the defendant, said that poisoning had been done j last winter, and trapping was now going on. Poisoning would be commenced almost immediately.—His Worship said the defendant would have to take steps to cut down the hedges and cope with the pest. Fined Ll ; costs, 7s.— Arthur Kerr for a similar offence was fined 30s ; costs, 7s. DYLAW CASES. James Poraeroy was charged with allowing a cow to wander in Ann street, North Invercargill, on the 17th April.— Mr T. M. Macdonald appeared for the Inspector of Nuisances. Mr Brodrick for defendant raised the point that the word " allow " implied an active consent, and contended that as Mr Pomeroy was away from home at the time the cow got out of his paddock that he could not be said to have been in any way a consenting party to the trespass. — Evidence was given by defendant that a panel of the fence was down, and that the cow got out.— His Worship said he should have known that the fence was not in good condition, as he admitted that the cow had been out once before. — Defendant stated that, on the previous occasion, it was out of a different paddock. The fences of the one it last got out were in good condition.— His Worship said he would dismiss the information, without costs. — Mr Brodrick asked for costs, but his Worship said defendant had got out of the charge upon a quibble. Andrew Mitchell was charged with allowing a horse to wander on the 12th April in North Invercargill.— Mr Macdonald for the corporation, Mr Brodrick for the defendant, who was fined Is ; court costs, 7s ; and solicitor's fee, Ll Is.— Mitchell was further charged with allowing the same horse to wander on the 4th May, and was fined Is, without costs.— ln a case against John Crowther of allowing two cows to wander, the same counsel appeared : fined Is, costs 7s ; and counsel's fee, Ll Is.

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