UNBRANDED CATTLE.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 247, 17 March 1888, Page 3

UNBRANDED CATTLE.

PRESENTMENT BY THE GRAND JURY.

Auckland, March 14. Tub necessity for compelling owners of cattle to brand thoiv animals, to which allusion was made in our leading columns yesterday, wa3 the subject of a presentment mado by the Grand Juty at the Supremo Court, to tho following effect : — "Your Honor: The Grand Jury desire to make a presentment to tho Court on tho practice of settlers turning out unbranded cattle on to runs and into unonclosed bush, a practice which the evidence submitted at the present sittings in the various cases of cattle-stealing shows to bo too prevalent. The Grand Jury consider this practice to be pernicious. It conduces to and gives facilities for carrying on the serious crime of cattle-stealing ; it is a fruitful source of strife amongst neighbours regarding the ownership of cattle ; and in some cases it may bo the means of men being punished for cattle - stealing when in their opinion they were only exercising the rights of owners. The Grand Jury desire that the matter may bo brought under the notice of tho proper authorities, and hope that stops may bo taken to mitigate the evil, should it be found impossible entirely to prevent it." His Honor said that he quite agreed with the views expressed, and would be very well pleased if a law were passed that would make ib obligatory to brand cattle and to have the brand registered, so that people could not recover unbranded cattle.