SHEEP ACT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVII, Issue 2954, 17 October 1891, Page 2

SHEEP ACT.

The sixty-seventh section ot the Sheep Act is worthy of being borne in mind by sheep-farmers, especially juafc now wben shearing is about to commence. It reads thus : — " Every owner of sheep shall forthwith, after shearing any of suoh sheep, and before they leave the wool-shed or drafting yard, distinctly brand the said sheep with a wool- brand ; and every such owner who fails so to brand any sheep as aforesaid, in manner as herein required, is liable to a penalty not exoeeding five pounds and not leBS than two shillings in respect of every Bheep not so branded. The Governor may, by Order in Council, from time to time, on petition of a majority of tbe owners of sheep in any district or subdivision of a district representing tbe ownership of not leas than two- thirds tbe total number of sheep in such district or subdivision, exempt any suoh district or subdivision from the operation of this section ; and may similarly alter or revoke any such Order in Council in part or in whole as he shall think fit. Any such Order in Council when gazetted shall take effeot as if it had formed part of this Act, and been inseited therein. Tbe provisions of this section shall not come into operation until the first day of January, in tbe year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one." It is understood that last year tbe provisions of the Act were not very well known and not very closely complied with, but tbe law must be carried out, and, no doubt, will be strictly enforced for tbe future. Like some other sections, this was passed more especially for certain districts in the South Island where sheep-stealing is a very prevalent offence and exceedingly difficult of detection. Wheo tbe Act was passing through it was pointed out that these sections were inapplicable to many parts of this colony, and would be burdensome in operation. Therefore the provision as to districts being exempted under certain circumstances was inserted. Bnt this district has not been exempted, and tbe clause needs to be remembered.