STRAY CATTLE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 106, 20 April 1881, Page 2

STRAY CATTLE.

Complaints have been made by the Maoris occupying the so-called Continuous Reserve, of damage done to their cultivations by cattle turned out upan the Plains, and suffered to stray upon the reserve. A notice appears in another column requesting settlers to prevent a recurrence of this complaint. It may be pointed out that many of the settlers complain that a great deal of the feed upon their laud is being eaten by Maori horses, and that they have hitherto refrained from impounding them, knowing that their cattle were likely to stray upon the Continuous Reserve. It is no doubt true that no man can by right be called upon to fence out another man's stock; but it is being done by the settlers in respect to the Maori horses, and it would be easy for the natives, in many cases, to follow the example set them by the Pakehas, and to strengthen their fences, so as to be strong enough to keep out trespassing cattle. It certainly seems preferable to a continual and ever-recurring impounding of all stray stock, which is apt to engender much bad feeling among neighbors, whethei' Maoris or white men, on newly settled land. The request urged by Mr. Parris on behalf of the natives is reasonable enough. The only doubt we have is whether each of the offenders will not blame some other man's cattle, or working bullocks, for the damage done, and continue to let his own cattle run at large, firmly persuaded that they would never break into Maori cultivations.