CRUELTY TO BULLOCK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 29, 4 February 1935, Page 6

CRUELTY TO BULLOCK

THREE MONTHS IN PRISON. ANIMAL BLINDED BY SHOT. KAITAIA, Jan. 19. Complaints that a bullock, bfiinded with shot, had been allowed to wander in agony for many hours before being given attention, led to the appearance in the Kaitaia Alagistrate’s Count yesterday, of a Maori farmer, Himi Wahi, on a charge of cruelty to the ami mas. Accused pleaded guilty. Constable E. Buckley said the bullock was a worker, and was the leader of a bullock team owned by ALr. E. H. Baker, farmer, of Herekino, who had lent it to Mr. C. Galana, a Alaori. It was valued at £l5. On December 26, the beast, wandered into the kumara patch of accused, who hit it with a shotgun at about 20 yards’ range. The pellets penetrated both eyes and blinded the animal. It stumbled away, but the next day was found by Gatana, who earetl for it. The owner of the animal tried to find out who was responsible for the shooting, and it. wa* not until January 8 that, the Kaitaia police were informed. Witness said he investigated the matiter and found the animal in a creek, | from which it had been unable to ftlimh. lit was then in a state of exhaustion and nearly drowned, and he gave orders I for it to be shot. He. later questioned accused, who admitted the offenoe. Tn sentencing accused to three months’ imprisonment, the magistrate, Mr. G. N. Morris, said he hoped the sentence would act as a deterrent to other natives, who wore usually kind to their children, but often rnsrel to their animals.