SHEEP STEALING PREVALENT

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26633, 19 January 1952, Page 2

SHEEP STEALING PREVALENT

LOSSES REPORTED IN NORTHLAND "The Press” Special Service KAIKOHE, January 18. Sheep stealing has in recent weeks reached serious proportions in the Kerikeri. Waipapa and Puketotara areas. Sheep of all types—woolly ewes, wethers, hoggets and lambs—have disappeared. The disappearances are widespread. Stock valued at more than £lOOO has vanished from several properties. The heaviest known losers are Messrs H. and S. Bates, of Waipapa. who have lost 250 hoggets in recent months from their Puketotara property. About 50 are known to have died because of the harsh spring. The owners are prepared to allow a loss of 100 hoggets by this cause, but, although a very careful search has been madg, not nearly this number of carcases has been found on the 150-acre area. Another heavy loser is Mr V. B. Short, of Puketotara road, whose losses in the last year amount to about £soo—almost 100 woolly sheep. More than a score have vanished since shearing in early November. All Mr Short’s losses, according to his manager. Mr Bailey, have been big sheep. Captain Edkins is another loser. In his case most of the missing sheep are lambs. He said that at night his Dorset lambs will lie and not move when anybody approaches them. Carrying them away would be no trouble at all. His losses amount to about 40.