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Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 17, 21 October 1879, Page 2

At the last sitting of the County Council, the dog nuisance came up for discussion, letters having been received from the Resident Magistrate of the district, and Sir William Fox, drawing the attention of the Council to. the great losses the settlers in the Lower Raugitikei District sustained through the attacks of unregistered curs on their, sheep, and asking the co-operation of the Council in endeavoring to abate the nuisance. After lengthy consideration of the subject, the Council passed a resolution asking the Government to legislate with a view to the increase of the fee payable as a tax, with the hope that this would lessen the number of dogs ; the Council also resolved to cause all dogs found wandering without their registered number for current year affixed to a collar, to be destroyed. These resolutions have provoked considerable comment throughout the district, and owners of dogs have been heard muttering " curses not loud, but deep," on the heads of our County Councillors, for proposing to increase the tax. As the power of the Council to carry out these resolutions lias been questioned, we may explain that that body in this instance is working under an unrepealed Wellington Provincial Act. By clause 9of that ordinance, it is enacted that all dogs found without their badge on shall be destroyed. The Act also states that any dog found worrying live stock, &c, may be destroyed at the time, whether registered «r not. Non-registration of a dog renders the owner liable to a fine not exceeding £5. We might allay the fears of those who are now trembling for the lives of their canine friends by stating that in this part of the district the Tax Collector has no deputy, and as the local guardian of peace does not care to undertake the duties for the few remaining months of this year, the dogs are tolerably safe for a month or two longer. While we do not say one word in favor of allowing a number of useless curs to roam about at their " own sweet will," destroying sheep, &c, we cannot help thinking that the Councillors might just as well have bottled up their virtuous indignation for the remainder of the year, and have started the new year with a determination to make eveiy owcer register his dog, or submit to its dsstruction. we notice amongst the new bills to be considered by Parliament is one to deal with this question.