Sheep Stealing.

Manawatu Herald, 10 March 1892, Page 2

Sheep Stealing.

What has every appearance of a sheep robbery came to light one day last week. In one of the paddocks of Mrs B. Lilley's Spring Hill farm at Bulls, a number of ewe lambs were put about four weeks ago. They were gone over last Monday, when it was found that there were 40 missing The fences, were' of gorse, and in a remarkably safe condition. The paddock borders on the road which branches off theTurakiua road, going through Mr Read's property, and joining Wellington road at Mrs Willis' . There is, however, no direct outlet from the paddock to the road, the only exit being through another paddock to the main gate just beside the house. That the lambs could have on their own acoord got out is hardly possible, judging from the state of the hedges, and that they were driven out by some person or persons without arousing the occupants of the house, which they would have to pass in such close proximity seems - equally impossible. 3he lambs, however, are gone, and ,the only reasonable solution to the mystery is that they have been lifted over the hedge one by one, either on to the road or one of the bordering farms, and thence driven away. When the loss of the lambs was discovered the rest of the stock was gone over, and it was found that from a paddock on the opposite side of the road 6 ewes had been purloined. The hedges of this paddock were also in a safe condition, and there was no direct outlet to the road, the main gate being one paddock further along and almost opposite the house. A thorough search of the neighbouring flocks has been made to see if by chance they might have strayed, but withont result The missing shncp are all ear-marked with two front marks and a circular punch on the left ear. We understand that the Hammond Bros are also losers of sheep in a similar mysterious manner. — Advocate.