CATTLE ON THE MOUNTAIN

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 73, 27 March 1915, Page 2

CATTLE ON THE MOUNTAIN

DAMAGE TO TREES AND TRACKS.

There will be .a fall in beef on the Mountain very soon, judging from expressed opinions and the action that is to be taken by the Egmont National Park Board. The ".Cattle Nuisance" affords much food for discussion at the meetings of the Board, and yesterday's was no exception. Some idea of how the members feel will be gathered from the following notes on the subject— Mr Morison, in reporting on the East House, said the track was completely scoured out with cattle, and he considered the Board should take a serious view of the position. Personally, he felt strongly as to their duty in connection with this public park, and looked upon it as a sacred trust. In fact, they should look at it from the point of view of their own gardens ; none of them would like their places destroyed by wandering cattle. He regretted that some of the most beautiful ferns and trees had been ruined.

This was the beginning of a long but interesting discussion. The Chairman said they had to be very guarded in dealing with the matter. He had issued permits to shoot wild and unbranded cattle, but he believed the Board should employ cattle drovers to run the beasts out of the Park and impound them. The trouble was that if they destroyed valuable cattle they might be mulcted in heavy damages, as they had no power to 4hoot private beasts. Mr Wilcox emphasised the fact that working bullocks were deliberately (turned into the reserve. The Chairman questioned whether it would not be advisable to have someone to patrol the district where this sort of thing went on. As to the expense, it was a question whether the Board could afford it, but as against this there were the driving fees and the value of the hides of the beasts which were shot.

Mr Collis pointed out that anyone causing dapiage to the reserve was liable to a fine of £SO. The Chairman said the amount of I the fine rested with the Magistrate. Of course, it paid the trespassers better to allow the animals to be sold. He had signed the permits as Crown lLands Commissioner, and also as. chairman of the Board, as the Park was not vested in the Board in any way. Trespassers on Crown Lands could be fined anything up to £SO: it all depended on the view the Magistrate took.

Mr Hill said some of the cattle were specially driven on to the reserve. The Chairman: In that case the Magistrate would fine the offenders heavily.

It was pointed out that in one case a mob had been driven deliberately from Toko up to the reserve. The Chairman,,,said.- the. .Park,„ was Crown lands.in one way, but not in another, being not vested in the Board. Mr Morison: Can we not acquaint those who have the power to deal with the matter?

Mr Hill, referring to the suggestion tp get drovers to discover the offenders, said there was a sort of co-oper-ative society among the people right round the Mountain.

The Chairman admitted that it was a very hard matter to find out who, owned the cattle. He knew of ,one case where an attempt at seizure had heen made from one to whom a permit had I been given. This should have heen agreed to, as it would be proof of trespass. It was very difficult to sheet these matters home.

It was pointed out that the only effective way was to get the cattle in the pound. The Chairman: We are simply a Board of management, and the Park is Inot vested in us.

Mr Smith suggested moving the Crown Lands Department. The Chairman said that some years ago 100 head had heen deliberately driven in. He also quoted a case ol what had been done at Tariki on Crown Lands, where, after he had given permission to graze and later had ordered the cattle to he taken off, the property was found to be alive with cattle when it was supposed to be clear. In this case he gave instructions to have the animals impounded, and this was done, and the offender had to pay nearly £SO in grazing fees. "That showed what these cattle men will do," • he concluded.

Mr Collis: There is no end to their cheek!

I Mr Wilcox said the working bullocks did the most damage. The Chairman: How would it do to

have a shooting expedition and howl them over! It might he good war practice! I would not mind giving a day to muster. If I got within range I guarantee I would kill anyone of them, We ought to make an example of these people. Mr Morison: Between this and the Stratford House the track is scoured out with cattle.

It was pointed out that owners were not bound to fence a road frontage. A local body could not compel a man to fence, but his neighbour could do so. Mr Morison : The Government would have to fence halt way round the Mountain.

The Chairman: The fact that the road is not fenced is no excuse. Mr Morison : As a Board we arc not doing our duty if we sit still and do nothing when we know that the cattle

are there. Members in choru-:: Shoot them ; that is the only way. Mr Hill doubted whether they would get drovers to do the job, remarking that they would lose caste with the whole of the cattle dealers in the county.

The Chairman : What about a day's shooting for the Board, and let them deal with the whole Board! Mr Hill: What will we do with the beef? A facetious member suggested salfc-

ing it down, and a laugh went round the table, and members became more reminiscent.

Mr Wilcox said he had heard of a. mob of 300 being put in the reserve at one time somewhere in his district! Another member said one man wont the length of fencing in a. mile of the reserve for his own use!

The Chairman said that one auctioneer, while selling a property, had in fact held out as an inducement to buyers that it was next to the Park, where there was plenty of free grazing. "I wish 1 had been there,'" Mr Bollard added significantly. Mr Smith said they should try the Chairman's idea of drovers, and see how it would answer. He agreed with Mr Morison's,remarks that they should not allow the bush to be destroyed. The Chairman said he never refused to issue permits, but oidy for three months; he had issued about twenty, and he understood these had accounted for a good many wild cattle. He thought the Board should advertise for two drovers to drive out and .impound cattle from the Park.

Members agreed that this was practicable, ami a motion on these lines was moved by Mr Collis, seconded by Mr Smith and carried, the matter to be left in the Chairman's hands to take action.