Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1881. "THE BRANDS AND BRANDING ACT, 1880."

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 42, 25 January 1881, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1881. "THE BRANDS AND BRANDING ACT, 1880."

«. As the new Branding Act' came into force on the first of January, a brief statement of its, principal provisions will be of interest to country settlers.. Until the Act now before us oaaW into |orce,:the? law relating to brands and branding was founded upon the different provincial ordinances, and- consequently there 1 was the usual diversity between the law ■ in* different distriefcs which obtained under the provincial system. The passing of a colonial Aqtdealing with the matter is calculated to simplify and improve the law regarding brands. The only provisions the Assembly had made previous y as to brands were contained jn '", The Diseased Sheep^A&t, 1876," but " so much of Part 11. and of the second schedule as relates to brands "arid branding" is now repealed, as are the seventeen provincial ordinances referring to the s^me matter. Of the number mentioned, Wellington enjoyed the luxury of possessing three of the repealed Act*, but WhSt we have lost in number we have decidedly gained in both simplicity and pointeduess* Before go- 1 ing any further, it may be explained that the provisions of " The Sheep Act, 1878," are not in any way affected by the Act we are now considering. We print in full the following definition :— , * " Brand " means and includes a distinct an<bpl«in mark, made as follows : In the case of 'horses and cattle, burnt with a branding-iron in the skin, or on the horn of oatrte ; *■ " *>» :< --' i In the oase of sheep, a wool-brand made with pitch, tar, paint, raddle, or lampblack *nffxed with oil or tallow, or other suitable substance, in letters, figurjs, or otherwise, fitot 1«m than t**4nom ffl length, on the fiftoi back, shoulders, hips, or rump, or a wlfcook includes an ear-mark made by cutting, splitting, or puaohins the ear, but so that in no cue ahalrmOre tnitrone-third of the whole ear be removed. Power is given to the Governor to appoint registrars of brands and also chief registrars. Mr R. K. Simpson, sheep inspector, of Marton, is the registrar for this die*

trict, whilst the chief registrar is W^^lWrardson, of Wellington, whose jawgrity extends over the whole i-W^pßgton provincial district. Du|plidates of registers effected a^a, *°Jli the chief office at thto'-endspt and all Justices of the (Peafefc, constables, or officers of either Borough or County Councils may s^cn^llie. register without charge, private individuals may do so upon payment of one shilling. All brands <iuly registered under auy law hitherto iv force will be considered as registered for a period of two years under the new Act. It is the duty of the new registrar to obtain a lUt of all brands now in .force, and enter them in his book, but, as already hinted, they must be registered afresh before the beginning of 1883^ otherwise they will lapse. "Every stogkowner whose brand is not already registered is required to do ro, the penalty for neglect being any sum up to £5. In registration a description accompanied by two correct copies or impressions of the brand must be deposited with the registrar. The re gistration fee is ss. The registrar is required not to register similar brands, likely to lead to mistakes or confusion, and power is given him to require a brand to be altered. A J.P. may settlo any dispute as to whio!js of the parties should alter his branC Any person refusing or neglectu^* to alter his brand when required to do so is liable to be treated as if he were using another person's brand, the penalty for which is .€SO. Miranda may bo relinquished or . transferred by notice iv writing, whereupon" the registrar is to cancel it from theregister, and any other person may then use it. Brands not used for a year are to be deemed to be abandoned. The penalty for branding 9toek without authority, or defacing brands, is a sum notexceeding £100, " provided that if on the hearing of any information for a penalty under this section it shall appear that the defendant or person accused acted under the reasonable belief that he was owner of such stock, such information shall bo dismissed." The brand on stock is to be taken &&prima facie evidence of ownership. All sheep over four months old are to be branded, and the brand renewed from time to time ; a penalty of £10 may be inflicted upon the owner for every sheep uot branded. Horses or cattle running upon fenced lands are not required to be branded. Clause 17 says : — " If any person shall wilfully shorten or otherwise mark the ear of any eatfcle, sheep, or horse belonging to any other person, he shall be liable to a penalty of not rnoro than .-620 for each h«»ad of cattle and for each sheep or horse in respect of which such offence has been committed." All moneys received under the Act are to be paid iuto the colonial account. The (Jovernbr in Couucil may make regulations under the Act having the force of law.

The natives were all billeted at the pah on the other side of the river. As may be eXj&gcted, the consumption fond was gr3j|! and to provide for the large number two*»Bti Hocks and 20 sheep were killed yeaterdavjAfl a, ton of flop wMfobtained from the Some'of the influential nativef^ero very much annoyed at tha bad fcairtd -of some pakehasL who were smoking at the bnrial, and asked us to mention thfr fact that they were.aware of the disrespect »howiL The Regatta Day—lt has been smr. gested to us that a very fair band might be got together in Foxton for the Regatta Day. Tbe**e are several good players in the township, and some good instruments. If a band could be obtained for the day, it would greatly enliven the proceedings, and we hope that Bomething may be done in the matter. POxfOtf SeSboL— This school re-opened yesterday, after the Christmas vacation. There were 115 scholars present, including about 12 new ones. In the couree of a few days the attendance trill no doubt greatly increase. l. Highways Works. —ln another column tenders are called for various works to 1 be performed for the new Highways Board. Telegraphic. — The present officer in charge at Foxton, Mr W. G. Crannaway, is now enjoying a month's leave of absence. Mr Bailley, from Blenheim, ia relieving Jf. Z?BIAiLWAYg.—The total receipts and e^penditjp*e on the New Z-aland Railways for^feiy&ur weeks ending 11th December. lSSaSffe as follows t—Receipts, £62,107; g^j|P^t£g£37,4o2. The whole receipts thexffi^int financial year to the 1 lth ult. were £555.267. This is at the rate of £800,000 per annum. The Colonial Treasurer's estimate wmi £950.000, so it will be seen there is a heavy deficiency. On the other hand the -expenditure has been materially reduced,* and -up to last date the returns were only ettual to 66 per cent of receipts. :-*&jJ? information has been laid Against Mr^jpymons, the. occupier, and Mr Tlfos.; Mi|li? the owner, ot the Horokiwi Pbte^E^irlelling, or allowing to be sold, liquors before the license had been properly transferred. The cases will be heard on Tuesday next, at Wellington. Wool.—At Donald Reid's wool sale at Dunedin last week, several lots of greasy fetched the highest pricos yet obtained in the local market They brought from 9|d t-» 12£ d; washed, 15d to 19d; scoured, 19£ d. . Marriage Laws in Switzerland.— The facility with which a diverce may bo obtained under the new Swiss marriage law is causing some discussion. Notable, Professor Naville has devoted several page 3to the subject in an article in the Bibliotheque Universelle, published at Lausanne. Under the new law, which came into force in 1874, the formalities accompanying the solemnisation of a marriage are cut down to the lowest possible point. Wheu bi>th parties are 20 years of age, not only is it nnnecessaiy to ask the consent of th<? parents, but it is even unnecessary to ac quaint them with what is goiug on. Tue bonds of matrimony being bo lightly pu on, it follows —at least this is the theory — that they should be lightly put off. It is uot necessary, it would seem; to find grounds for a divorce. If a couple agree to demand it the cause is as good aB gained, the law having power to declare a divorce whenever " the continuation of the common life is incompatible wih the.nature ot marriage." This vagtie condition of things is not made better by'Jthe provision that,, if none of the enumerated /grounds for divorce exist, still, if the conjugal bonl i» in any way seriously prejudiced, the courts of law cau pronounoe for divorce or separation. Two Comets Predicted. —Two magaifioieuti come is are prognosticated for uux year by au iudiau writer, who according tv the Tunes of India, announces that thes. heaveuly bodied will be visible from April ldt to June 12th, will stretch across onefourth of the heavens, that they occupy 2,025^ yeara in their revolution, and tha they euiipse the brilliancy of the mid-da,) sun, and form the original Light of (Jre.itiou, the light with which the Genesis ot the world opened ; thus fulfilling all prophecy, aad setdiug biblical curouology beyond dispute. Fashionable Sca.vdals. — Tlie ladies who order gorgeous coatuines from the great Paris establishments do uot always pay for the same, aud acaudaluua developments are likely to happen at any time. Worth, for iuabauoe, has rofuaod to make auother article for a certain noble English lady, whose Uuaband is one .of the wealtui eat men in England, because he cannot col lect the amount owing him, now ove. £20,000. Oue fair luminary of the pecon- ■ empire died owiug Mr VV. some 50,000 dole. Oue day there came to tue Comuaguio des ludes (the great lace au 1 India shawl warehouse of the Rue Richelieu) a certain noble duchess with a set of poim lace flounces that she wished to havi altered. Tne courteous salesman took her directions very quietly, but when th«> were ended he remarked : " Bjfore w.alter your lace do you not thi<-k that you had better pay for it ?" The bill had been standing for over seven years.