WANDERING STOCK.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 17 August 1929, Page 5

WANDERING STOCK.

TOWN DISTRICT LICENSES. NO RIGHTS TO COUNTY ROADS. Eight changes of permitting stock to be at large were preferred! by the Egmont County ranger (Mr F. Williams) before Mr R. W. Tate, S.M., in the Oipunake Court yesterday. Mr A. A. Bennett appeared for the County Council. The discovery in the county area on July 23 of cows belonging to town residents who had secured licenses from the Opunake Town Board to graze the animals in the town district accounted for four of the informations. Carlo Lorenzo Butturini admitted that three cows had- been on the load, but denied having permitted them to wander.

Riding from Okato in the early morning, he picked up throe oowg at the Arawhata Road, about four miles north of Opunake, said the ranger. The cows -wore the town board collars, but were a long way from the town area. He was proceeding to drive them to the pound, when they were released by defendant’s son. The ranger also sanv defendant, who was abusive. The magistrate said l he understood that the conditions of the licenses issued by the Town Board provided that the cattle should be placed in an enclosure at night, and could not justify the grazing of the cows four miles away on the county roads. Adolphus Harry Moore, two of whose cows were found about two miles from the town, also contended in evidence that he had not permitted them to wander. He stated that for over 4o years the system of licensed grazing in the town district had proved useful in keeping down the grass on unfenoed reserves and street borders. As only a stream divided the town district from the county, it was natural that cows going to the stream to water might walk across and feed. He submitted that the cows did not constitute a danger to road traffic, from personal observation, he noted they always kept off the roads.

Two other town residents, Charles Humphries and Donald Ross, pleaded guilty to similar charges in respect of the same date. Ross stated that his cows had only to look over the fence to be in the county. Each of the four defendants was fined 10s and £1 Os 6d costs. Three other informations were against Ivalhui, fanner of Parihaka, who was charged with reference to cattle found on the Main South Road at Pungarehu on July 19. and a horse found on July 13 and July 19 respectively in the same locality. Defendant forwarded a letter pleading guilty to the offence concerning the horse on July 19. —On each of two charges ho was convicted and fined £1 and £1 Os 6d costs. A fine of 10s and similar costs was entered on the remaining count.

George Horo, of Rahotu,. who was charged with a similar offence concerning cattle found at Pungarehu on July It, was fined 10s and £1 Os 6d costs.