DOGS AND GENERAL.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 289, 23 January 1878, Page 2

DOGS AND GENERAL.

{To the Editor of the Patka Mail.) Sir,—ln your last week’s columns# appears a letter from a ratepayer, re dog tax, &c. I think most of the public will agree with him, regarding taxing curs, sporting, and pleasure dogs. Those that can afford to keep such animals, and there are not a few, in the little townships m the County Maori pahs, who can well afford to pay taxes for the pleasure they have of seeing them run at every horse’s heels, and see some poor devil’s horse throw him, or bolt with fright at such a pack. Then they can have a laugh, and say, “ did not little Towsey, or my so and so, wire in.” To see them do such a clever trick, not considering the benefit of the hearty laugh, is suerly worth twenty shillings a year, let alone seeing them run among some mob of sheep passing through, or a few of them stand on the road and stop their progress, or scatter a herd of cattle. _ But to tax the farmer or shepherd’s Collie dog, it just amounts to the same as taxing a man for being allowed to earn his bread —because the Collie is hundreds of men’s bread winners. How often, or I may say, most always, in large sheep districts—not Patea district, where they chase them in on horseback, with a stock-whip ; but in large sheep farming districts. When stationholders are advertising for shepherds, do they not conclude — “ None need apply, unless with good dogs.” Our County Councillors are capital hands at sticking on taxes. Let them do it in the right direction. The useless curs, and the public house want a double share, and it won’t injure the publican’s purse,_as he can double his nobblei, and there will be-all the more honour of getting “glorious fa’." It is only to bo hoped that they will begin to look after the interest of the people when they do pay for it, and jet them have a clear road to ride and drive on, for all over the County, bothbye-ioads and main-road, you can’t drive or get

along with sheep or cattle, but yon aitf annoyed with stray animals at every tuiii, let alone the damage they are doing to the’ roads, embankments, culverts, &c. Do our County Councillors and Eoaa Board members consider they are doing their duty, when they allow sach to be thecase. A servant may as well say he isf doing his duty faithfully, who sits and sees his master's property going to wa’ste, They are the servants of the County. They let pounds, shillings, and pence be’ destroyed,- and won’t make a move in the matter. Is it because some of them have the benefit of a few chains adjoining them,that they hang back ? If such is the case,I would say, away with them ! away with them ! The sooner we are rid of tbem, Couuty and all together, the better. —1 am, &c., ANOTHER RATEPAYER,