DARING SHEEP STEALING CASE AT CRANSTOUN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1924, 4 November 1884, Page 2

DARING SHEEP STEALING CASE AT CRANSTOUN.

A few days ago Mr Geoffrey Micleui, manager of the Auckland Stock aid Pedigree Company's estate at Craustoun, noticed that two valuable imported rains, valued at £o!) each, had disappenied during the previous night. In proccd ing round the road fence he found ihe skins and heads of the'missing sheep, the thieves having killed them on the ground, only taking away the mutton. This was only one of a series of depredations of a I like character which had been occui ing of late, and no time was lost in communicating with the police. It was first suspected that some tramps had perpetrated the deed, as it was deemed unlikely that natives in that part of the country would have the boldness to attempt such a thing. After his arrival at Paeioa, Constable Brenuan, accompanied by Mr Cameion, the shepherd, proceeded round the country on a visit to the outlying native settlements. On their appicaching a small settlement near Mataniata, the inmates seemed rather fliuried. A smell of roasted mutton pervaded the vicinity, but on the approach of the visitors, the mutton had been taken off the fire and hidden away in one of the what es, Constable Brennan proceeded to the whare where the smell was the strongest. His entrance was blocked by a poitly figure of a Maori dame, who for some time sturdily resisted. After removing a pile of old sacks and rubbish, about a carcase of mutton was found, evidently just off the fire. There were no mcii about the settlement, and the women said that some Pakehas who passed through the settlement in the morning left the mutton behind them. Tiny could not say who the Pakehas were A piece of the neck found in the wh.ire afforded unmistnkeable evidence of having belonged to the same sheep as one of the heads found on the estate, and there were other proofs of identity of a like character. Mr Maclean communicated with Mr Grace at Kihikihi, asking that gentlemen to lay the matter bef >ie Rewi and the other chiefs, who it was thought would he instrumental in ascertaining who the culprits were. Constable Brennan has now succeeded in getting a fair clue to the thieves, and before long it is confidently expected they will be brought to justice.