CATTLE POUNDING IN AUSTRALIA.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 147, 18 March 1859, Page 2

CATTLE POUNDING IN AUSTRALIA.

(From the Melbourne Argus'.) Shakespeare remarks that "there is infinite, theft in limited professions." Most of our readers, : including the law-makers, will' probably be surprised to learn, that during the last six years the pound-keepers of many localities have been making from a thousand to two thousand a year. We have reason:to believe, in some cases, much more; and several of these individuals were scarcely able, to write their own names. It was certainly, proved by their answers to many correspondents; that'they were among the "most illiterate meivin., thtf.community.^ By what mean 3, then, were 'in-' coined of from one to two, or perhaps three, tbou-' sand Ui: year filched out of'the piiblia pockets? They'are obviously not derived from the Government salaries, which are not large, out from the fees, damages, charges for keep (i c., semi-starva-tion), purchase of cattle and horses by secret agency, and other knaveries. One or .two illustrations will serve to open up.the ground. r '■ The local instincts of the horse, the accuracy of his memory of places even when the adventitious characteristics have been changed, and the tenacity with which he will work his way to the desired spot, however distant and beset with obstacles, are natural peculiarities well known to those [ who have, practical experience of horse 3.' The same, fact exists, and sonic think in a yet, stronger degree, with respect to bullocks. A .bullock reared in Gipps Land, and brought to Melbourne, has been known to escape fro in bondage, at a convenient opportunity, and make his way back to Gipps Land by crossing over the ranges. A curious record also exists.-'pf a bullock'-r-a:,grand;specimen of obstinate continuity of purpose—who actually made a journey of three hundred miles in hobbles, till he reached his native place. Now, it is not difficult to see how the agents of the! poundkeeper, in the days of which we more especially speak, have often acted upon the above, knowledge, and turned it to the profit of the poundkeeper. A mob of five hundred horses,' or say a mob of a thousand head of cattle, coming down the country, arrive in the vicinity of a small township, and are lodged in stock-yards. Somebody,' or rather "nobody," lets them out in the middle of the night. Theie is every appearance of course, that they broke away of themselves. The shattered gap and splintered fence prove this. Away go the horses, or the cattle, and begin to stray all over the neighboring runs, while the stockmen who have charge of them are lying: asleep, or drunk— made drunk on purpose, very likely. Many are certain to be driven into the pound in a few days; but, if not, the agents of the poundkeeper, probably with the assistance of the police, know whereabouts to wait for them on 'their.'way to their breeding-place, so that the majority are, sooner or later, picked up and pounded. Eighteenpence ahead has generally been given by poundkeepers to those who drove in. cattle, whether regular agents, stockmen, pt police. ; ■■■_''':■ — ; Delay in advertising, falsifying brands, or writing them so badly as to answer the same purpose —by these means the drovers and stockmen in charge of the cattle, and the illiterate owner himself In many instances, have been puzzled or kept in the dark as to what had become of scores'of their mob,-while they were far 'away in pursuit of the others. Then comes the pound sale.. The poundkeeper always the auctioneer.- It is;illegal for him,to purchase any animals himself. ,So lie employs"an agent. But this is equally illegal. He therefore says he docs nothing of the kind; and if his agent keeps his counsel, which it-is his interest to do, it might be exceedingly difficult to prove such charges. A horse, therefore, worth fifty pounds, may easily be summarily knocked down to an agent for five-and-twenty pounds, or to one of the police stationed near the pound, who has to be conciliated ; and, in like manner, a large working bullock, in good condition, worth thirty pounde, may be hastily knocked down to a friend as an uneducated dirty savage, only fit to be slaughtered. If the sale-day happen' to be very rainy, or the sale can be prolonged on a doubtful day till the storm comes, the number of purchasers very much diminishes, and a " good bit of money" is made.with very, little trouble. "' ,' *■ \ ■. It may be again asked if these things are still done? We answer, very likely. They, were commonly done, we know; and we do nor see why they should not continue, more or less, as similar opportunities exist, and there are no adequate checks. That our legislators had no inkling of such dishonest proceedings was obvious enough. We certainly think some properly qualified inspector, of pounds' should be appointed; and, if he cannot do" the work, especially the important duty of attending pound sales, lie should havc/isub-insjjector to assist him. We should, however^ recommend that the inspector of pounds should be kept quite distinct from Die police department. ■He ought to be attached to the department of the Chief Secre-

tary or Treasurer. We are convinced that a "good round sum of money annually de||fcls upon the proper management of this rather dark and intricate business.