HAWKESBURY.

North Otago Times, Volume II, Issue 28, 1 September 1864, Page 3

HAWKESBURY.

(From our own Correspondent.) August 24, 1864. A case which may be of importance in its reeults, was lately decided by the Resident Magistrate. Mr James Mitchell was charged by the' Wardens of the Hawkesbury Hundreds with a broach of the Ist Clause of their Bye-Laws, by which they are empowered to give notice in writing to any ono who has diseased cattle running on unfenced portions of the Hundreds, to remove the same forthwith, under a penalty of £5 a-head for refusal to do so. The case, as brought forward before the Bench, had the appearance of a friendly suit, and seemed to be merely for trying the merits of the question —inasmuch as the defendant did not deny having received the notice required; but that he wished to be satisfied the Wardens were acting according to law. His Worship was clearly of opinion that the Wardens had this power conferred upon them by the Bye-Laws. The Wardens did not wish to press this case, therefore it wae dismissed with costs. This case has caused some little stir among the cattle-holders here, and would appear to have taken the majority of them by surprise, as being ignorant that the law so stood—a fact the more striking as the Bye-Laws under which the Wardens act was proclaimed in the Government organ on the 13th April last. There can be no doubt that the law is very strict, but - whether too much so is a matter of opinion. This district has been a great sufferer, and is, by pleuropneumonia. The disease I believe to be general throughout the district; it therefore becomes next to an impossibility to keep it from spreading. This being so, the only means of removing them from off the Hundnds is by putting them under it—destroying and burying the I carcase; and as the disease is by no means fatal in all caees, but, on the contrary, many proofs can be given where infected animals have recovered ; it bears very hard on the cattle-holders generally, and if the "law be too strictly enforced it would be the ruin of many. I have no doubt that the Wardens will use a wise discretion in ' the matter. In any case, I trust that Mr Logic a recommendation to throw open the whole country will be acted upon, and so do away with a question which may prove fruitful of much dissension and litigation among us. I have no doubt that the District Ploughing Match, which comes off here on the lit Septem-

ber next, will be a success. Mr Jones having kindly placed a paddock at Cherry Farm at the disposal of the Committee, has smoothed their difficulties greatly. Subscriptions in aid of the object are freely given, and although somewhat behind our neighbors, we hope to make a creditable show. August 29th, 1864. A meeting of the subscribers towards a newspaper proposed to be started in this district, was convened by Mr Carrick, the gentleman who purposes publishing the same, at the Royal Hotel, on Tuesday evening last. As the evening was unfortunately wefc, the meeting was but thinly attended. Mr Carrick, however, stated that the success he had met with in canvassing for subscribers was such as to encourage his starting a local newspaper/ The prospectus which he proposed issuing was also read; this, together with the name under which our " bantling" is to appear to the world, that of the " Waikouaiti Herald," met the approbation of those present at the meeting. Two gentlemen were also chosen as trustees, to receive the money as collected from the subscribers, to be handed to the publisher so soon as he has got the paper fairly started, and which he anticipated doing in the course of a month's time. I am pleased to think that the Ploughing Match will be a success, con°idering the somewhat hurried manner in which it was got up. The prizes are somewhat liberal,—more so than I anticipated. lam led to believe that the " Daily Times" proposes sending up a " Special Reporter,"—a fact, no doubt, highly flattering to the residents here.