Friday January 5,1906 NATIMUK COURT ( Before Captain BURROWS, P.M., and Mr. A.E. BEARD, J.P. ) W.C.TULLY, rabbit inspector, proceeded against A. C. HATELEY for failing to destroy rabbits on his property, at Tooan. Mr POWER defended. Complainant deposed that he served defendant with notice to destroy rabbits on the 31st August. Inspected the land again on the 12th December, when he found no sign of any work having been recently done, excepting a plough furrow. To Mr POWER: Do not think that the notice served on the 31st August had expired on the 12th December. Did not see the land in the meantime. If reasonable work had been done the rabbits would not have increased. If all rabbits had been killed others could not have got through the wire netting which surrounded the property. Wouldn't swear that nothing had been done to the burrows. Did not find that rabbits were worse than other years. To the Bench:-- The rabbits I saw on the 12th December were of all sizes. Mr POWER contended that his client had taken all reasonable means to destroy the rabbits. Captain BURROWS said the bench took in that defendant had done something, but not sufficient work according to law. A fine of 20s was imposed. Duncan McLACHLAN was similarly charged in regards to the property in which Mt. Arapiles was enclosed. The evidence as to the inspection and services was the same as in the first case. When he inspected the land on the 12th December the inspector found evidence of a furrow, but saw no poison and no dead rabbits. Defendant said the property was a special area fenced to keep the rabbits in. He had laid poison on the fringe around the rocks. Captain BURROWS:--You could lay poison. You must destroy the rabbits. Defendant: Oh, give us British Justice. Captain BURROWS: We have to administer the law as we find it. Defendant: I have done my best, I can not employ an army of men. If poison were laid now it would be worse than useless. Captain BURROWS: Why not get the army? Defendant (laughing heartily): What ! the Salvation Army ? Defendant was fined 20s. Daryl Crabtree Gladstone C.Qld Australia WEST WIMMERA MAIL WEB SITE www.ballaratgenealogy.org.au/goroke/index.html