S.M. COURT.

Wairarapa Age, 5 August 1921, Page 4

S.M. COURT.

CARTERTON SITTING. (Our Travelling Reporter.) At the Carterton Magistrate’s Court yesterday, David Petersen was fined 10s, with 7s costs, for allowing his car to stand in High street at night-time without a light. He had previously been warned. FAILING TO ATTEND PARADE. D. Brazendale and Leslie J. Smith, pleaded guilty to being absent from a Territorial parade without reasonable excuse and were fined 10s, with 7s costs. Leo. R. Sayers, similarly charged, pleaded that he was out of the district when the notice should have reached him, and a conviction only was recorded. Joseph Rewai, whom the officer said was hard to locate, pleaded that the notice to parade had reached him simultaneously with the summons. He was convicted and fined IDs, with 7s costs. James Kingi, with two previous did not appear and was fined 40s, in default one week’s military detention. Manihera Jury, who did not present hiirself, was convicted and fined 10s with 7s costs. The Magistrate warned Territorials that it devolved upon*them to notify the Department of any change of address. LICE-INFESTED SHEEP. C. Jensen was convicted and fined 4Os, with 10s costs, for offering liceinfested sheep at public auction. B. J. O’Neil, for a similar offence, was fined 60s, with 7s costs. O’Neil did not answer to his name. CIVIL CASES. Judgment by default for the amount claimed was in the following civil cases • George H. Eaton v. John Patterson, claim £29, costs £3 17s; Watson and Co. v. Agnes Rayner, claim £9 12s 3d, costs £i 17s 6d; H. E. Jackson v. Albert Rayner, claim £l, costs 17s 6d; \\ .F.C.A. v. Foster G. Yelverton, claim £5 4s, costs £2. JUDGMENT SUMMONSES. Percy Nicholls was ordered to Geo. Phillpotts the sum of £2 12s 6d, at the rate of 10s per month, the first payment to be made on November 3. Ralph Morris is to pay Harry Catt the sum of £4 19s 6d forthwith, in default imprisonment. FAILING TO DESTROY BABBITS. Thos. Reid, farmer, of Clareville, was charged by the Rabbit Inspector with failing to take proper steps to keep rabbits under control on his Miki Miki property. The inspector stated he had visited the property several times since March, and. in spite of warnings, proper and systematic steps had not been taken to keep the pest in check. The rabbits were a menace to surrounding property-owners who were taking proper precautions.

A. T. P. Hubbard, Stock Inspector, stated he had visited the property and found rabbits , very numerous. There were indications of ineffective poisoning.

The defendant said he had started poisoning on February 14, but the rabbits would not take the pollard. He and two neighbours had thoroughly poisoned the property in March, and since then men had been engaged with ferrets, to reduce the rabbits, and over 1000 had been killed. He considered he had done everything possible to keep the pest in check. In answer to the Magistrate, Inspector Blair said he was not satisfied defendant had taken the necessary precautions.

His Worship pointed out that the Act provided a penalty of £lOO if land was not cleared to the 'satisfaction of an inspector. It was not for the Court to say it was satisfied, but for the inspector. Defendant had evidently done something, but not soon He would be convicted and fined £5, with 7s costs. The Magistrate •mentioned that the fine would have been 10 times what it was had not defendant nroved he was making an effort to kill off the rabbits.