TUAPEKA MOUTH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 111, 24 March 1870, Page 6

TUAPEKA MOUTH.

(From our Own Correspondent.)

A. meeting of the principal cattle-owners here wa3 held at Mr. Anderson's store on Monday, the 14th inst. ; Mr. Anderson took the chair In a few brief remarks he explained that the meeting had been called to take into consideration what was best to be done to get rid of Smith's sheep plague. He stated that the nuisance Avhich had for some time abated, had again broken out in full fury ; and that now when autumn was coming on, they were eating up all the winter's grass which should feed the cattle, the owners of which had to pay sufficiently heavy for getting the grass. Mr. Ingram before making a motion

would simply^ remark that he thought it disgraceful on Mr. Smith's part to overrun the goldfields reserve with his sheep, as he surely monopolised a sufficient number of acres already ; but like the rich man in Nathan's parable, he rather chose to take what belonged to the poor man. He would propose that this meeting views Avith indignation the mean way in which Mr. Smith depastures sheep on land set aside for great cattle ; and that the cattlo-owners of Tuapeka Mouth should take all legal means, Ist, to have the sheep removed. Mr. T. W. Mailler seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried. Mr. Paierson quite agreed with all that Mr. Ingram had said, and remarked that it was strange Mr. M'Kay did not interfere in the matter; he (Mr. M'Kay) had been repeatedly made aware of the grievance, and as often had promised to redress it, but had never done so. He would propose that Mr. M'Kay be again informed of the enormous number of sheep belonging to Mr. Smith now eating, up the pasture of the goldfields reserve, and that he be requested to take immediate steps to have them removed at once, and finally.

MxT.lngrim seconded the motion, which was carried nem-. con.

Mr. John Brown, dairyman, wished to make a few remarks. He had at considerable personal inconvenience, made up a list of the number oi" great cattle iioav depastured on the goldfields reserve, these including calves, which would

shortly require to be entered for registration, numbered upwards of 300 ; and as the reserve only contains 3000 acres, there was little enough room for great cattle which paid for the right, Avithout Mr. Smith's sheep being fed gratuitously. He would move that Mr. M'Kay be informed of the number of great cattle iioav dejiastured on tho reserve

Mr. John Hughes said he had much pleasure in seconding Mr. Brown's motion, d.s he perfectly agreed in all he had stated, and sincerely trusted the present influential meeting would have the desired effect, as the writing to Mr. M'Kay to try to get him to do his duty was becoming as great a nuisance as the sheep. Carried.

A cordial vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting.