STRAY SHEEP.

Patea Mail, 23 December 1880, Page 2

STRAY SHEEP.

Infected sheep have been running on the Plains, ami as the animals belong to Maoris there is some difficulty in dealing with the infection in the ordinary way. The Sheep Inspector is cmpow’crcd to destroy the sheep, if they cannot bo effectually dealt with otherwise, but to destroy sheep belonging to Maoris in a disturbed district is risky ivork that might produce a fresh political difficulty. Maoris cannot be expected to appreciate the killing of their sheep by shooting them down whenever found, Maoris would understand the destruction without appreciating the reason for it, and might be expected to act like savages who sec their live-stock wantonly destroyed on land which they regard as their own. They might repel the pakeha settler as a murderous trespasser. The Sheep Inspector is in a dilemma. Ho is expected to destroy the infected sheep straying on the Plains, and he is expected to do it without causing trouble or expense to the Government. We hear that 35 sheep have been shot on the Plains within a few days, and the new settlers have carte blanche to shoot all infected sheep found astray from Maori reserves. The game looks risky. If Maori owners can be promised compensation, the best thing the Government could do would be to make a clearance of all stray sheep, after notice properly conveyed to natives in the district. Until such clearance is made, the new settlers cannot prudently put clean sheep on their sections.