MEETING OF CATTLE OWNERS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 6, 21 March 1868, Page 2

MEETING OF CATTLE OWNERS.

A public meeting of the parties interested in the cattle question was held at the Victoria Hotel, on the evening of the 16th March. Mr. Vause was voted to the chair ; and introduced the business of the meeting by reading the notice calling the same ; and after a lengthened exposition of the

objects for which it was convened, called upon the Secretary to read a communication Mr. Grundy had received from tne Superintendent, the purport of which was that the question was under the consider1 ation of the Government ; tkatj new regu- 1 „ ■ lations "would be issued in a few days, vesting the management of the commons in a Board of Wardens. The following is a copy of the letter : - Superintendent's Office, Dunedin 25th February, 1868. Sir,— ln reply to your letter of date the 12th instant, I have to state that the subject of the memorial to which you refer has been surrounded with difficulties, and has engaged the earnest attention of the Government. In the course of a few days, I hope to be able to issue new Pasturage Regulations for the Goldfields, by which the apportionment of pabturage and the defining of separate districts for sheep and cattle, will be placed in the hands of a Board of Wardens, to be elected by yourselves. I have tbe honor to be, Sir, Yours most obediently, James Macandbbw, Superintendent. Thomas Grundy, Esq., Tuapeka. Mr. Chaimrrs would like to hear how the deputation was received in town, and wished fuller information on the subject. Mr. Grundy thought Mr. Brown could give" fuller information ; but he (Mr. Grundy) could say that the Superintendent received them favorably. The Superintendent thought the question could be got over. Mr. Brown said he had been in town last week, and saw the Government. They considered that in a short time they would be able to place the cattle owner on a satisfactory footing. An irregular discussion then ensued, there being no motion before the chair. The chairman called attention to the fact, when Mr. Robertson, after an eloquent and instructive speech, proposed, ''That a subscription be gut up at this meeting to pay the expenses of the deputation who waited upon the Superintendent in Dunedin." Carried. Proposed by Mr. Grttndy, and seconded by Mr. Robertson, "That the members of Committee hold office, and keep themselves in commuication with the Government until the obje*ct of their ~ appointment is attained." Carried. Moved by Mr. Rorertson, and seconded by Mr. Evans, " That a collector Tie appointed in each district to collect subscriptions to defray the expenses connected with this movement." Carried. Moved by Mr. Robertson, and seconded by Mr. Evans, " That the following gentlemen be appointed : — Mr. Currie and Mr. Munro, Tuapeka Flat; Mr. Robertson for Lawrence ; Mr. Low for Waitahuna; and Mr. Gascoigne for Wetherstones. " Proposed by Mr. Robertson, and seconded by Mr. Evans, " That the collectors be supplied with subscription lists by the Secretary, the same to be returned ' not later than the 4th of April next." Carried. After a vote of thanks to the chair this - meeting closed, when another opened with the same Chairman, to discuss a letter from Mr. Robertson to the Com- " missioner of Police, relative to the trade of cattle stealing in this district. We subjoin a copy of the letter : — Lawrence, March 16, 1868. St. John Branagan, Esq., / Commissioner of Police. SlB, — "We, the undersigned cattle owners, and settlers residing in the Tuapeka and 'Wjaitahuna districts, beg most respectfully to state that for the past three years we have been victimised to a very great extent by some person or persons who nave made it an habitual practice to take away our fat cattle. There cannot be any doubt as to the object for which they were taken, for in no instance has a beast ever turned up after being once missed from a mob. We would therefore humbly request that you will cause a proper Inspector of Slaughter Yards to be apappointed, whose duty it would be to use the utmost vigilance in endeavoring to detect "such nefarious conduct as we have endeavored to describe, and which has been carried on, and is still being carried on, to the very great loss and detriment of the settlers of the above-men-tioned districts. Trusting you will be good enough, to give this serious matter your very early attention, We have the honor to be Your obedient servants, (Here follow a large number of signatures). Moved by Mr. Robertson, and seconded by Mr. Mttnro, " That the letter now read be forwarded to St. John Brannigan for consideration." Carried. The letter was numerously signed. Moved by Mr. Grundy and seconded by Mr. Evans, " That the thanks of this meeting be tendered to Mr. Robertson for the energetic steps he had taken in reference to cattle stealing." Carried.