MORE " CATTLE LIFTING."

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1490, 21 January 1882, Page 2

MORE " CATTLE LIFTING."

Judging from recent disclosures we should say that the spirit of the old Highland riever has got abroad hi the Waikatp. For the last month or so the local Bench of Magistrates has been daily engaged in protracted sittings, investigating offences of this kind, and to all appearance we , are still" some' distance away from the last of these inquiries. Six or seven committals to the .Supreme Court have been already recorded n and as further prosecutions are talked of, it is not yet plain by any means when or where matters are liWely to end. ! '"' " "'

Grove Vowless was charged at the R.M. Court, Hamilton, " on;, Thursday, with the theft of a heifer valued at £3. Sergeant McGovern prosecuted on behalf of the police ;Mr O'Neill, solicitor, appearing for prisoner* Jas Raynes deposed to havingl<)9t;tlli3 and other three heifers from Kirißurirb^in October last, and that on December acting on instructions'*given him by the police, he, went to Alexandra,, was able to identify the heifer referred to in tlie information, which he was shown in a paddock there. Subs,equentiy,accused came to him and offered to give him "the beast back again ■ alleging; that he had taken it by mistake. Witness refused to take the beast stating that the affair was in the hands of the police. He had not yet obtained any trace of the other heifers. —Col. De Quincev deposed to' having mustered the cattle on his land on 7th November when accused was present. He claimed the heifer in question which was amongst the cattle so mustered, as his property — Alfred Smith, of Alexandra, disposed to having' purchased [the heifer for £3 7s 6cl at an auction dale 'held at Ohaupo, on 7th December. It was ..disposed of for accused. After it had beeft indentified by Mr Raynes accused applied to witness and wished him to sell the heifer back again to him which witness agreed to do for £4. Accused was formally committed for trial at the Supreme Court bail being accepted.