THE IMPOUNDING ACT.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 3, 23 June 1883, Page 4

THE IMPOUNDING ACT.

Sowrc considerable misapprehension lias existed in reference to portions of tlio Impounding Act, and at the request of some of our readers we Hiibjoin an rbstrnot of the principal piovisions :—: — This Act renders it lawful for any person, or the agent, bailiff, or Rervant of any person upon whose land, enclosed by a substantial fence, and not situate within JO miles of any public pound, U) impound trespassing cattle in any convenient place upon the said land. If the impoundor Khali know the owner of the cattle, he must, wirlrin 24 hours' nJ'lcr the impounding, give notice to such owner in like manner as notice is required to be given to the keeper of any pubic pound by the person sending cattle thereto. Jf the owner shall not be known, notice mu«t be given, it within a highway district, to a constable, if there bo one resident within the district. If no constable, then to the Ohairm in or Secretary of the District Hoard, and a copy thereof shall be posted in some conspicuous position at the place where the Assessment List for the district is kept for the inspection of ratepayers. If without a Highway district, nolice must be given to the nearest Resident Magistrate or Constable. And if there be a newspaper nwblMicd within 50 miles, the impounding notice must be inserted in one such uowsp.ipor. The notice must specify date of sale not less than 14 days after impounding-. If owner at any time bofoie p,i!e claims cattle, they must be given up on pa/m^nt of lawful damages and charges authorised by the Av\, but if owner shall not appear the rattle may be sold to defray trespass and damages. The sale must be by public auction, for c.tsh, by liwnsnl auctioneer, if one within 10 miles. Tf no auctioneer, then sale to be conducted by a member of District Board, and if! without llii'liwny District, then by a Constable or Fenceviewer, the costs and charges to be according to scale proclaimed in Provincial Government CxM'ttto. All impounded cattle must be supplied by the impounder with a su/liciency of wholesome food and water. If' other than nominal damages have b«">n incurred, two fence-viewers of the uLstiict must bo called upon to assess the damages and give notice to owner of cattle if Known, and aKo to certify whether the icneeh aie substantial or not. In c.ise of trespass by go,) ts or swine, it is not necessary to prove that the fences are M'b.st.intial.