GREAT CATTLE AND SHEEP COUNTRY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 205, 4 January 1872, Page 6

GREAT CATTLE AND SHEEP COUNTRY.

(To tlie Editor.) - Sib, — I would commend the following, copied from tbe" Arrovv Observer" of the Bth ult., to the notice of those gentlemen in the Tuapeka Depasturing District, who are continually allowing their sheep to' trespass oh tb'e country set apart for great e'attle. — "Tdokey v. Cotter. — -Complaint that defendant had allowed 400 of his sheep to trespass on great cattle country at " Cardrona. Defendant's statement was .to the effect that the sheep indicated in the complaint were his property. That he had a shepherd for the purpose of keeping them off cattle country. That on the night previous to 4th September, he had the sheep in the yards, but as the lambs were very young, he had to let the sheep out. That next morning they were being driven to sheep country — to do which it was necessary to pass over cattle country — when plaintiff eamo up and took the brands. The Warden -thought a deliberate trespass had been proved. He saw it was no use being lenient with offenders in this respect. They soemed to set the Depasturing Board at defiance, and thereby entailed expenses on themselves by being brought to Court." In this case he must inflict the highest penalty allowed — a fine of £10 — with costs, £10 15s Od." I have not given plaintiff's evidence, the Warden's summing? up being sufficiently explanatory. I admit we have no Depasturing Board, as ifcis called, but the boundaries of the country set apart for great cattle and sheep respectively, were defined by the late Board of Wardens, and approved of by tbe Government. If one or t.wo offenders were brought before Warden Simpson, it would tend to check that utter disregard evinced by many, for the lines separating the two countries. One gentleman I have heard of, who not content with allowin? his sheep to trespass on cattle country to the number of some hundreds — has actually had the audacity to fence off about fifteen hundred acres of .the commonage. Whose duty is it, I would ask, to enquire into such acts of unlawfully occupying tbe public estate ? — I am &c. " A Common" Dlggeu. Waitahuna, December, 25th 1871.