MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14156, 5 August 1916, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

NELSON.—FRIDAY, AUGUST 4th.

Before Mr. J. S. Evans, S.M

ALLEGED FAILURE TO .DESTROY

RABBITS

INFORMATION DISMISSED.

Frank Brooks, of Blue Glen station, ' was charged cm the information of John A. Melrose, inspector under the Rabbit Nuisance Act, with having failed to destroy and with having failed to take steps for the destruction .of rabbits on his property. Defendant, for whom Mr. Hayes appeared, pleaded, not guilty. Informant in evidence stated that he posted it notice to defendant on the 6th of January last, to take steps to 'destroy rabbits on his property, bub he did nob obey the notice. On the Ist of April he sent another notice to defendant, urging him to go on with, the work. On April 25th and 27th he inspected the property, and found that nothing had been done. He also visited the property on June 24th and July 20th. The property comprised some 9000 or 10,000 acres, a great portion of which was fairly clear. It was not a rabbit infested run. On all occasions he found rabbits on about 2000 acres of the property. ' By Mr. Hayes: The adjoining runhojder had cleared his station of rabbits, and had'had no-trouble'in getting labour. Local men did the work. Ho always advised 'owners to -poison, March and April being the best season. Peed did i*;ot affect poison. He had poisone"ti successfully- round a turnip <>

crop. This was the case for the prosecution. Defend ant in evidence stated that when lie received the notice of the 6th of January he had a man and two boy's poisoning, and he had one man on until May. There had also been five different shooting parties of seven men each, and several parties, of three men each on the place. Mr. Qore, avlio was staying with him, also went out about four days a week shooting. He had intended to poison in July. Since July, 1910, 120 dozen skins had. been sent away from' the run. The large shooting parties had destroyed about 500 rabbits, and the others between 40 and 50. On the last occasion one of the party said it was not worth while coming but again. One rabbiter had obtained 20 dozen skins. He did not poison this year because there was too much s^rass about. There were less rabbits on the station than last year. He stated that it was difficult to procure labour.

Charles G. R. Gore, retired Customs officer, stated that he had been living with defendant for over a year. Rabbits were scarce as compared with last year. He was out on three occasions last week and only got two rabbits. The Magistrate said that o-n the evidence he coiild not say whether defendant had taken reasonable steps to destroy the rabbits oh his property. There was no evidence as to the number of rabbits on the place, and it was an essential part of the case to prove the number of rabbits there and the steps taken to destroy them. Some steps had evidently been taken to destroy the rabbits, but he coiild not say whether they were reasonable or hot. The information was dismissed.