POLICE COURT

Southland Times, Issue 17919, 26 April 1917, Page 2

POLICE COURT

BY-LAW CASES. In the Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., John Maher, for riding a cycle on the footpath, was fined 10s with no costs. John Shaw, similarly charged, was fined £1 with costs 7s. For riding bicycles after dark without lights, John Forde was fined £l, costs 7s; David Smith Was fined ss, with no costs; Elizabeth Nicholl and Edward Wohlers were each fined 10s and no costs. Benjamin Eastlake and Walter Lionel Bews were convicted and discharged. John Collins, Makarewa, when stopped by the police constable for not having a light, gave the name of another man, with the result that the latter was summoned for the offence, did not appear, but sent a letter to the Magistrate. His Worship characterised the offence as one in which he would like to inflict a heavy fine. Collins would be fined £3, with 7s costs. ACCLIMATISATION CASES. George Mann, a contract ploughman, pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully shooting two Mallard ducks, imported game, during the close season. Mr Eustace Russell prosecuted on behalf of the Society, and stated that defendant was working on a road contract at Ryal Bush. He obtained permission from a Mr Clark, farmer, to sleep in a hut on his property. Mr Clark was an active member of the Society, and on his property were two or three lagoons on which game, including English Mallard ducks, were liberated by the Society. Mr Clark told defendant that he was not to do any shooting on the property. Next night, however, Mr Clark’s son saw defendant blazing away at the ducks rising from the lagoon, and he immediately told his father. Mr Clark went down to the hut, and saw defendant, and under his bunk he found two Mallard ducks with the Society’s rings on their legs. Defendant admitted shooting the ducks, and Mr Clark ordered him off the premises. It was a particularly mean thing to do, as the Society was doing its best to protect the ducks in New Zealand, and it was also an abuse of Mr Clark’s hospitality. He (Mr Russell) would ask that an example be made of the present case. The Magistrate inflicted a fine of £5, with costs £1 11s. Harold Erskine, who pleaded guilty to a charge of shooting, at Merrlvale, two native pigeons, during the close season, was fined £1 5s with 9s costs. Mr Russell prosecuted for the Society.