Residents Protest Against Preston Board Stock Route

Grey River Argus, 17 December 1948, Page 2

Residents Protest Against Preston Board Stock Route

A protest against the use of Preston iwad as a stocK route was received by the Grey Borough Council last night from the Blaketown-Preston ituau Ratepayers’ and Citizens’ Association. ft was stated that this was the only means of access between Blaketown and Greymouih, and residents were concerned at recent occurrences, particularly when a man was injured by a bull. The association further asked what redress people had in the case of personal injury or destruction of property by stock. It was suggested that the stock be driven via Herbert Street, Turamaha and Cowper Streets. This route offered more protection to pedestrians. In reporting on the matter, the Inspector of Nuisances (Mr J. Guerin) said the cattle nuisance question in the Blaketown-Preston Road area had made headline news. A black Poll bullock broke from a mob, and charged everything in sight. A cyclist was knocked down and injured, and all efforts to get the ammai back to the herd were futile. “With the assistance of the police, a drover and Mr Leach, we managed to get this animal into the lagoon. It had the staggers, and was in a dangerous mood, so I adopted the only course possible, and in the interests of the public arranged for him to be. shot. I would suggest, in the event of a siding not being available at Karoro a second set of rails, this side of South Beach, used by the railway for picking up gravel, might be available. The cattle could then be driven from there along the beach to the abattoirs,” said Mr Guerin The Mayor (Mr F. F. Boustndge), said that the abattoir committee was going into the question and the Blaketown Ratepayers’ Association would be notified when a decision had been reached. There could be no reply on the question of redress because that was a question of law. Cr G. R. Harker said he would taxe up the matter of the hours or droving cattle with the manager of the abattoirs.