CATTLE VERSUS SHEEP.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 325, 28 January 1874, Page 3

CATTLE VERSUS SHEEP.

(To flte Editor.) Sic. — Loud and long have been the complaints against the encroachment of the sheep during the last two years, and the cry is s^ill they come, thicker than ever. I see in your issue of last Saturday a list of applications to depasture stock in the Tuapeka district. In that list M'Donald and Matheson have 3200 ; W. Livingston, 1500; — 4700 sheop in all, which sheep have been the cause of all the grumbling. Now, I would like to know what is the reason of all this encroachment. It cannot be that the ground is overstocked, as some would have one believe. Overstocked, forsooth ! The ground, I believe, is capable of grazing from 10,000 to 12.000, aud then leave a few of the hills and gullies for cattle. It savours more like omnivorous greed. There might be various other reasons ; but whether or not, I cannot see why a whole community should have had to suffer so long at the hands of a few slieepowncrs. I wonder if our new Board of Wardens is defunct. I have not heai*cl anything of them since their election. If ever they should come to maturity, they might take some steps to assist suffering humanitj', even although it may be at the eleventh hour. It is surprising how soon some men forget the golden rule, after Dame Fortune has doled out to them more than her average share of luck. They forget that ever they belonged to the humbler class, or that they even have a right to live. Their motto is : " Stand back; we want this." — I am, &c, Jealousy.