WAIMATE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 17 March 1926, Page 4

WAIMATE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

MAGISTRATE’S COURT. At the usual sitting; of the AVaimate Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., presided. BOROUGH BY-LAW BROKEN. Alex Boyd, who did not appear, was proceeded against by the *V\ annate' Borough Council (Mr, Fitch) for herding a cow in Goldsmith Street. The borough ranger (Mr A\. C. Tavlor) gave evidence. Defendant was convicted and fined ]os, with Court costs 7s. and solicitor’s i'eei 6s Bd. LAND AGENTS’ LICENSES. W. E. Taylor, G. F. Richardson, and B. R. G. Rattray were granted the renewal of their land agents’ licenses. DEBT CASES. Judgment for plaintiffs by default for the amounts stated was given in the following undefended debt cases: — G. S. Meredith and Co. (Mr Middleton) v. Bertie Allan Bryson, £5 ss, Court costs 17s, solicitor’s fees 15s 6d; E. H. Watson v. C. Raorangi, £4 8s 2d, Court costs 13s, solicitor’s fees 15s ,6d; Thomas AVilson (Mr Middleton) v. Joseph Kerr (costs only) 14s; Chas J. Martin v. Stewart Bnrr, £69 Os 3d, Court costs £2 7s, solicitor’s fees £1; I). E. Rout v. Charles Albert Timblick, £9 13s 9d, Court costs £1 9s 6d, solicitor’s fees 15s 6d. ARBITRATOR’S AWARD OBJECTED TO. 1 Mrs Mary Young appeared to protest against the award of an arbitrator i who had ordered her to accept £l3 9s lOd in full settlement of her claim for £49 7s 3d against Cornelius McKee for, labour and material in connection with the erection and repair of fences. Mrs Young was not represented by counsel. Mr Tweedy appeared for defendant. The Magistrate refused to hear plaintiff’s complaint stating that she had agreed to arbitration, and had to abide by the result. The case was adjourned to permit Mrs Young to reconsider the position. “If you refuse to accept the award, the case will be struck out," His Worship told plaintiff. CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES. Two claims for damages done by straying stock were heard. Percy Wild (Mr Boland) proceeded against George Loper, who did not appear, for £6 damages caused by de- 1 fendant’s three cows which had trespassed in his garden. A. H. Naish, nurseryman, gave evidence that the. cows had eaten apples and vegetables on plaintiff’s property, doing damage, to the extent of £5. Judgment was given for plaintiff for £5, with costs and witness’ expenses. William D. Wilkie, farmer. Hook ! (Mr Fitch) proceeded against Maurico j and Annie Moore (Mr Boland), claiming £lO damages caused bv defendants’ I pigs trespassing on his wheat crop. | Mr Fitch said the plaintiff was a | , farmer at Hook. Defendant and her husband occupied land nearby, there being a section owned by Mrs Young (defendant’s mother) between the two. | Mr Wilkie had a crop of wheat on , 1 his property, and on a certain day in February he saw some pigs in hist ~erop. Mr Moore admitted owning the pigs. On a later occasion plaintiff saw • the pigs there again, and the Moore children drove them home. It was apparent the pigs had been there on several occasions, and a good deal of damage had been done. The amount claimed, £lo,' was very moderate. ... William D. Wilkie, the plaintiff, gave evidence. There was a small section' between Moore’s place and his. < The boundary fence was a good sheep ’ fence, with five and six wires, barbed,, i and posts and stakes at frequent in-' 1 tervais. His wheat crop had since been i leaped, and would go over 40 bushels. J Plaintiff had taken Mr Moore to see < the damage, and the latter had stated i he would have to do away with pigs i if they did that., On Saturday morn- 1 ing (February 6). there were three nigs i in the crop, and the Moore children < came to drive- them out. There were J a number of patches where the crop i had been trampled down. Plaintiff had . had trouble with Mrs Moore’s stock ( two years ago. 1 To Mr Mosley: Plaintiff said he had 1 16 acres in wheat. i William Haynes, farm labourer, at 1 Hook, said be was harvesting on plaintiff’s property early in February. On v February 6 (Saturday evening) wit- i ness was asked to have a look at the 1 wheat. He found big patches trumped , ( down, and three pigs in the crop ! i they chased through the fence towards - Afrs Moore's house, when the latter’s ( children came forward and took charge 1 of them. A good bit of crop was c damaged; there were tracks all through C it. C

George F. Richardson, fanner and produce merchant, ‘ said lie had inspected the damaged crop. Ho found p'enty of signs of pigs, but no sign of of sheep. The crop was laid down in patches, land there were tracks all through it. It was difficult to estimate the damage, but he would say £lO would hardly cover it Mr Boland said the defence was a denial that the da'mdgo had been done by the pi|k’; that there had been a number of sheep about: and that the pigs had been continually in the yard. The defendant, Mary Moore, wife of Maurice Moore, labourer, of Hook, said the pigs were three months old on February 6. They would have to go through three fences to get to Mr "Wilkie’s. Defendant denied that she had admitted to Mr "Wilkie her pigs were in his crop. She hut*, told Mr "Wilkie on one occasion when there were' forty-three sheep in his crop: there were sheep in it several times. To Mr Fitch: The sheep belonged to Mrs Young. Defendant’s daughter drove them out of the crop. Her pigs were not out of the yard. There were neighbours all round, some of whom had pigs. She had never heard of her children driving the pigs out of Mr "Wilkie’s crop. Defendant’s daughter gave corroborative evidence.

Mr Mosley, in giving judgment, said experienced farmers could not be deceived as to whether damage was done by pigs or by sheep. Quite satisfactory evidence had been given as to

the nature and the amount of the damage, and he had to accept the evidence as to catching three pigs in the wheat. The .sheep were in the crop early in January, when it was green, so that", tjiereb was, not .the slightest doubt the damage complained of was done by the pigs.' Judgment would be given for plaintiff for £lO, with; costs.,

PRIME MINISTER VISITS HUNTER SCHOOL.

The Hunter School Committee feel proud that they were honoured witli a visit by the Prime Minister (Hon. J. I G. Coates) recently. When Air Coates visited Waimate' re- ! oently, Mr ,T. Bitchener, M.P., placed ! before him the request that he should meet the committee, who desired to , discuss certain matters affecting the | school with him, and accordingly. Air Coat6s Thud a brief visit to Hunter next morning. ' After-the'spokesman (Air P. AlcNeill) and other members of the'-committee had received a sympathetic hearing of their request from the Prime Alinister, Air Coates inspected the work of the children, and delivered an inspiring address to them. He was given three hearty cheers on his departure for Air Bitchener’s residence, where he was entertained at morning tea, prior to his departure for the north. ■The school was given a half, holiday in honour; of the visit. - LATE J. F. HUTT. In the report of the funeral of the late J. F. Hiitt, it wns.*site# that a wreath was sent by the Timaru branch of the C.F.C.A. This should have read E.F.C.A. (Engine-drivers, Firemen and Cleaners’ Association).