MEETING OF CATTI B -OWNERS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 1, Issue 43, 7 September 1870, Page 5

MEETING OF CATTI B -OWNERS.

Tho tneeting called for Thursday 'jreiiing.last by tho Mayor, for the purpose -of making at rangemonta with Mr Loughnan regarding tlio cattle running on tho Cromwell Flat, hail to 1m postponed until .Saturday high t, in conaoquenoo of Mr Loughuan’s inability to attend. Perhaps owing to this postponement, only ab'Ktt a dow;n cattle-owners attended on Saturday night. The chair was taken by the Mayor, Mr W. Smitham, who explained the object of the meet - ing, and called upon Mr Loughnan to state the boundaries within which the cattle might run, and the terms npon which they might be depastured. Mr Loughnan said the boundaries would boas they had been hitherto : from Kawaran Gorge to Porriam’s paddock, along the foot of tho terraces. The terms would lie, 10s per head per head jier year ; 5s to bo {mid in advance, and bs at the cad of six months. In future, tho cattleowners would have to find their own ranger, and it was advisable that a person should be appointed at onco, because the term of office of the raugor who had been employed by tho firm expired on the Ist of September. In answer to questions, Mr I«oughnan further stated that tue number of cattle mustered this year on tho Fiat was between 330 and 340 ; but he would return to the Government only tho number on which the depasturing fee was paid, aud ho was certain there would be many left out of his return, lie might take this opportunity to state that, instead of £lOl which was due last year for fees, ho had only' received £4O, which w r as about sufficient to pay tho tax of 3s 6.1 per head to the Government. He decidedly considered the Flat to bo still a portion of the Hun, aud therefore tho sheep had the first right to the grass : anything tho sheep left, the cattle would be welcome to. He could not see that the Lower Flat was a very great loss ; until Mr Goodger had put up his fence, nothing had been said about the two farmers who were there before him, each with a good slice. The boundaries must be as ho had stated. The cattle-owners had once been offered as far as the Five-mile, but they did not choose to accept it, and it was too late now, for the sheep had little enough grass as it was. If ho gave them to tho Fivemile, in two or throe years they would want as far as the Wanaka, leaving nothing but Mount Pisa for the sheep. After a long conversational discussion, it was moved that the meeting be dissolved, and, after a vote of thanks to Mr Loughnan for his attendance, the Mayor left the chair. Both gentlemen shortly afterwards left the room. Mr Barr was then voted to the chair, and the meeting proceeded to consider the election of a ranger, and the raising of money wherewith to pay that officer when elected. A committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs Barr, Howe, Box, Hayes, Williams, Ritchie, W. Shanly, Lindsay, R. Brown, Trudgen, Goodger, and Redhead, with Mr F. Foote, as Secretary. They were instructed to advertise as follows :—Xotico of the boundaries laid down by Mr Loughnan ; for tenders from persons willing to act as ranger for twelve months ; aud that a meeting bo held on Thursday (to-morrow) evening, for the purpose of considering the tenders, &c. It was thought that the best plan to raise the money for the ranger’s salary would be, to wait upon those cattle-owners who do not attend the meeting to-morrow night, and see if they are willing to sign a paper binding them to pay so much per head per year. With a vote of thanks to Mr Barr for presiding, the latter meeting separated.