Claim for Sheep Worrying.

Patea Mail, 11 August 1882, Page 2

Claim for Sheep Worrying.

In the R.M. Coart this morning, before Mr R. C. Tennent and Mr H. F. Christie, J. P.’s, a claim was heard for damage done to.Mr H. I. Davis’s sheep by a dog belonging to Mr A. J. Redgrave. The damage was laid thus: 11 ewes worried, at 16s each, L 8 16s ; also damage done to 42 ewes in lamb, L 5 ; total Ll3 16s.

Mr Hamerton appeared for plaintiff, Mr Barton for-defendant.

H. I. Davis deposed: lam a carter, living in Patea. On Sunday morning, July 24tb, I was told that the sheep wore all out of the paddock, except one, partly eaten by a dog. I went to the paddock, and seeing a dog coming from Smith’s run adjoining, I followed the dog’s track, and at a ledge in the cliff I found one sheep half worried, and two sheep over the cliff in the snrf. I came back, and found the flock scattered over several of my neighbor’s properties. I also found a lot of sheep worried, some dead. I know Mr Redgrave’s dog, a large retriever, and saw it on this Sunday morning quite wet, as if after a .hot chase. In the afternoon I wont out again, and saw the same dog in the Association paddock following a sheep, and having hold of it by the throat. ' I fired at him, and he howled. I followed him with rny dog to Mr Redgrave’s house, and told Mr Redgrave about the sheep. He said he would shoot the dog in the morning, but I said he had belter let me shoot him, as I'had a gun. He agreed, and I shot him. He said he had heard that the dog was a sheep killer, but that it would not go unless with other dogs, 1 told him that Mr Read had parted with this dog because it had killed some sheep of mine in the Cemetery paddock last year. A little black sheep dog was seen that Sunday afternoon licking one of the worried sheep. Eleven sheep were killed or so maimed that they have since died, and they were all supposed to be in lamb. I saw them all right on the Saturday night. I have been offered 16s each for them by Mr Bayly and by Mr A. Young. They were worth £1 each to me. I have charged £5 for damage to 42 ewes; that is because some may slip their lambs, and for my time in hunting up the scattered sheep. Cross-examined: I bought these sheep five months before from Williams Brothers.

Mr Barton : How many dogs have there been worrying your sheep ?

Plaintiff: Your dog (laughter) and Mr Redgrave’s. How many sheep has my dog worried ? PI aintiff: Your dog has pulled the wool out, but not worried any sheep. He may have made one or two slip their lambs through fright. I don’t know of any other dog worrying the sheep. Mr Smith has threatened to shoot dogs chasing the sheep. I have sat up with him wailing to shoot dogs. But if there are no other dogs chasing the sheep, as you say, what dogs are you afraid of? ; Plaintiff: Well, there is your dog, for instance. Any others ?

Plaintiff i Yea, there is another lawyer’s dog. Mr Adams’s, a pointer. Re-examined: I have not had any other sheep worried’this year, before or since this Sunday, On first seeing the dog, I examined the truck, and followed it. I saw no other dog’s tracks. D. Smith deposed: I live near Mr Davis’s, and saw Mr Redgrave’s dog trotting about the paddock in a suspicions manner on the Sunday afternoon when Mr Davis was there. I saw one sheep being chased by the dog. I consider that 2s 6d each is a reasonable estimate of damage-done by chasing the 42 sheep in lamb. By the Court : Could you trace a dog by its track ? Witness: Yes, I have proved that years ago.

Mr Barton : Have you seen a dog shot on the run ? Witness: I have seen a dead dog on the run, but I don’t know who shot it.

W. Balmforth, settler, said : I saw Mr Davis’s sheep this morning, and I have sold similar sheep lately for 16s each. I consider them worth very little after hunting with dogs. I should estimate the damage by hunting at 5s a head.

Mr. Fulton, experienced in sheep, thought £5 a reasonable estimate of damage. (Case not concluded.)