MAGISTERIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12796, 30 September 1905, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

TIMARU—FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 29th, 1905. (Before Me*sts Moss Joiius, and E. Holdgate, J.l'.'s.) , 'DRUXKEXXESS. A first offender was charged on remand with having been drunk on Tuesday and also with having been drunk iu the Courthouse on Thursday when called to answer the first charge. Accused had already been locked up 48 hours: A fine of 6.« was. imposed for each oilcnce. ILL-TREATJXCr I'IUS. .

Joseph Matthews, of Sutherlands, Was charged with cruelly ill-treating 42 pigs by not supplying theut with food and water or shelter. Ti:e charge was laid tinder section 7 of the Police Offence Act. whichprovides a maximum penalty -of £2O or two months* imprisonment. " ' Accused pleaded not guilty. "Constable Hamitfond related how, in conrcquencc of a complaint, 4ie went, to cused's farm and saw fhe pigs .as they were being fed. Tliey were in a pen of hurdles, 27 feet by 12 feet, entirely without cover, and owing to the wet weather there was a layer of slush four or live inches deep on the ground. A boy had half a bag of oats and scattered it ou the ground among the pigs. There was no trough. This amount was fed to them every other "day. He thought that not enough for the pigs if they had il twice a day. There -were seven store pigs ; the rest "were big suckers. Cross-examined, witness said the pigs were thin. Joseph Webb, the boy who r »d the pigs, gave evidence in support. Accused called William Rogers, who said' the pigs were in good condition, and when some were killed, the pork was very good and was used on the farm. They were well treated and the sfy'e cleaned out regularly. Three days before the constable came, there was n load of straw put in one corner for them. Constable Bammond recalled said when he called there was not a vestige of straw visible.

Accused, sworn,, said that lie wag awav at the time complained of. liuf wlie'a at home he attended to. the pigs himself. There'-nras a paddock of turnips adjacent, and a spring, and to these the pigs were taken to feed. When he fed them with oats he let them out of (he etye. Admitted having given them more room, and a covered sfcve, and more food after the constable's visit. The Bench found accused guilty, and imposed a fine of £l. with costs 8s 6d.