CATCHING POACHERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16861, 11 October 1922, Page 8

CATCHING POACHERS.

♦ RANGER ASSAULTED. When the Acclimatisation Soceity’s the Acclimatisation Soat Lake Ellesmere in July last he saw someone shooting from a cylinder. Later he proceeded to question a man named Vin % and met a lot of opposition from Vince’s relations. This and a good many other incidents were related in the Magistrate’s Court to-day when two members of th" Vince family were charged with five breaches of the law relating to game and sanctuaries. The cases were brought by the rangerr. John Digby. Sydney Vince was cliarged that lie resisted the ranger in, tbe execution of his duty at Hart s (reek. Lake Ellesmere, on July 10: that he killed native game within a sanctuary at Hart’s Creek ; that he used a cylinder for the purpose of taking game and that he used more than twenty-five decoys at one time within *au area of less than 100 yards square. George Vince, brother of the above defendant, was also charged with assaulting the ranger. Ah - M. J. Gresson conducted the cases on behalf of the Acclimatisation Society and Mr C. S. Thomas appeared for the defendants who pleaded not guilty to all the charges. IDENTIFIED THROUGH GLASSES. According to Mr Gresson. who ex plained the case for the society, Digby, a ranger, was at Hart’s Creek on July 10. He noticed a man shooting on the sanctuary from a cylinder and through ins glasses he recognised S. Vince. Digby went away to get a man named Overtoil, who was formerly an honorary ranger, and Overton was also able to identify Vince. Through tho glasses it was seen that the man in the cylinder was gathering up his game ; lie had a swan with him as the white tips could be noticed through the glasses. Digby and Overton would bo about 800 yards away. Digby lost sight of tho man for some time but came upon Vince about to enter his own property. Vince threw all the game over the fence. His family came rushing out and a general melee seemed to have occurred then. “ I’LL SHOOT HIM.” When Digby went up they demanded his warrant. S. Vince rushed out and hit Digby on the sde of the face with the gun. It was subsequently proved that the gun was loaded, because when Overton came up lie ejected two cartridges from it. Sydney Vince said to George Vince, “ Let the go. I’ll shoot him. Air Gresson said that from the account of things it was fortunate the results of the affair were not more serious. Reverting to the struggle between the Vinces and Digby he said he understood some of the women folk joined in and it was stated that two of them were dancing around with carving knives. Digby called for Overton and eventually things quietened down. Afterwards, however. Overton was threatened. He was told it was a nice thing to help the ranger to “ put up ” a neighbour. The complainant, John Dig hr, gave evidence on the lines of Mr Gresson’s opening. OVERTON’S EVIDENCE. I hoinas Henry Overton, farmer, Lakeside, said that as he was fully a mile away ho could not identify the man. Digby had his glasses, but they were an old-fashioned pair, and of no use. The man on the sanetuarv was carrying something w hich looked like a gun. They saw the man leave the sanctuary, and lost sight of him for some time. They made towards ' incc 3 house, with the object of heading the man off. The next man they saw was Byd mce. He waited some distance away, arranging that if Digbv wanted him lie should call. He received a call from Digby. and on going into Vince's yard saw a hit of a struggle between the \ ince brothers and Digby. One of the Vinces appeared to be trying to prevent Digby from getting t lie gun. Ho told Svd Vince not to be a fool. Tbe Vinces told him it was an iinneighhourly action on his part to appear against them. These were the only witnesses for the

THE DEFENCE. Mi Thomas said that on July 10 K. Vince went out at six and shot till, two in the afternoon. He was not the only one about, as lie saw a neighbour on two occasions. Vince got ten ducks altogether, and a swan. For the halfhour _ previous to two o'clock he had a bad run. hot shooting anything. For the whole of the time up to two o’clock, Vince w as never off his side of the lake, and he was never sbopting from a cylinder. A RELUCTANT WITNESS Air Thomas proceeded to refer to the evidence of Overton. The Magistrate: He. was a most reluctant witness to give evidence against his neighbours. Air Thomas: It makes our case c< much harder one. The Magistrate: Well, that is the opinion I formed of him. Evidence for the defence was given by Sydney Vince, who was examined at length by Mr Gresson concerning the argument with Digby. Mr Gresson : Did any of the ladies, have knives Y —l think one did. What for?—-I don’t know what she was doing with it. \\ as she threatening to jab anyone w ith it I"—No. Did you hear her talk to Digby or to Overton ?—She said someting to OverSamuel George Manson. farmer, said he saw a man shooting from a cylinder but he could not say who it was. CON VICTIOXS RECORDED Reviewing the evidence the Magistrate said he did not believe the Vinces’s ac- ‘ count oi Digby’s arrival. He tought Sydney Vince’s actions showed he had got the game unlawfully, and did not want to tell ol liis movements. There - 1 tore he must convict Sydney Vince of ' the four offences. The other brother, ; for assaulting and resisting the. ranger ’ must also be convicted. He laid liis hands on Digby- not in any degree of ' violence, but still lie did what ho should not have done. ' Mr Gresson said that, as a general 1 rule, he dicl not press for a heavy penalty, but there might have Tjeen serious consequences in this instance. TO STOP POACHERS. " I have never experienced so many ’ prosecutions for this class of offence as have come before me in Canterbury,” ' said the Magistrate. “ When one find® this to be the case and informations are numerous, the fact haw to be given con sideration, and Canterbury hits the reputation of providing very good shooting and fishing, and the Acclimatisation Society is apparently desirous of keeping up the high quality of the sport. | For that reason, penalties to be inflicted in cases of poaching .must, be something that will have a deterrent effect. i It is unpleasant work for the ranger, and the thanks of the community are due to the honorary ranger who assists the paid ranger. There is a class of poison who seems to have the idea that poaching is not a bad sport, and the

only thing to curb that instinct is make the risk too big to be taken- -In this case there might have been very serious consequences, and a much more serious charge laid against Sydney Vince. He is the principal offender, and the penalty against him wfll be £lO for assaulting the ranger. His brother will also be fined .£lO for assault. Sydney Vince will be fined £lO for taking native game, and on the other two charges he will be convicted and ordered to pay costsSolicitor's fee of £2 2s was allowed on each of the assault charges. At the request of Air Thomas, security for appeal was fixed by the Magistrate.