CATTLE THIEVES AT WORK.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1917, Page 1

CATTLE THIEVES AT WORK.

Sydney, Oct 31

Reports from various country districts indicate that the cattle thief is at work to a greater extent than has been known for years. Somehow one associates cattle-stealing in Australia with the clays of Starlight and the Kelly Gang—though why it is difficult to say. Recent instances suggest that it is just as easy to steal cattle now as it was 50 years ago and a good deal more profitable.

There are two reasons offered for the increased cattle thefts. The first, of course, is the high prices being obtained for cattle. A man can get as much for 10 good steers as he could for 20 a few years ago—and it is easier to steal 10 than 20! animals. The other reason is that the voluntary system of enlistment in Australia lms naturallj* taken away the best class of men, including the good and trustworthy type of stationhand, and has lett the rogues. Fastoralists complain bitterly these days of tlie lack ol dependable servants. Some oi the stories sitggest that, given plenty of cheek, it is not so difficult to steal cattle as might be supposed. well-known squatter who lives near a country town, decided to sell eight fat bullocks, and had them brought into the homestead paddock. They were about for a day or two, and then they disappeared. The most careful search failed to discover the slightest trace of them. One dav in another country town, there was a big cattle sale, to which stock was brought from all parts of the district. A farmer, whose land is partly within the municipal boundary, brought in two bullocks, and left them in the hotel yard while he had his dinner. After dinner

and a game of billiards the farmer went for his bullocks to take them on to the saleyard. They were gone. Ardent inquiries in every direction disclosed no trace of them. The farmer dashed olf to the police station. The sergeant and the one black tracker were away on a manhunt. The only policeman available made a frantic inspection, but every road and lane iu and about the town held strings of cattle, and half the cattle corresponded to the description of the missing beasts. These two fat bullocks were never heard of again. There is another story of a young • English squatter who was interviewed one dajq soon after settling down, by two men passing with a String of cattle- They offered him the animals at a fair price, and he bought them then and there. _ The point of the story really lies in the remarks made by the Englishman's head stockman, who came- in from the run a few hours later and recognised in the newly-purchased animals a small mob he had just I been searching for The English - I man had bought his own cattle.