CATTLE STEALING.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 6, 21 March 1868, Page 3

CATTLE STEALING.

(To the Editor of the Tuapeka Times). Sir,— Cattle stealing in the Tuapeka district is assuming an alarming character, and requires immediately to be checked. The mode that I would propose to adopt is this : —Let an association be formed, for the purpose of assisting each other in bringing to justice the 1 villians who are preying upon our cattle. If any individuals are suspected, let us \ keep an eye upon them, until the oppori tunity of convicting them presents itself

to us. I fear these thieves do not confine themselves to cattle stealing, but steal anything upon which they can realise money. As Mr. Robertson justly remarked, in his letter in last week's issue of your paper, these villians, whoever they be, are too lazy to work ; and I take it for granted, that as long as they are at large we must keep them ; and depend upon it they live more luxuriously than a large portion of the inhabitants of Lawrence. I have some idea of their rounds ; and I assure them that a little judgment will set matters right, and lodge them in the place best suited for them. There haa been a good deal said about the coolness of the people of Lawrence to each other — the want of unity and sociability ; but so long as we trifle with such important matters as this cattle stealing question, coolness must exist. There are, without doubt, some daring characters amongst us ; and my opinion is, that so long as we forget the duties which devolve on honest men, we shall fail to accomplish the object we should have in view, which is, to sweep from our midst these black sheep of the fold. Should these remarks be of any service in the formation of au association, I will be happy to encourage the same both by contributing my time and money towards it. — I am, &c, Ranger.