SHEEP-WORRYING

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 3540, 23 February 1927, Page 8

SHEEP-WORRYING

FARMER CLAIMS DAMAGES. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday Mr. J. L. Stout, H.M., was engaged hearing a claim by Richard Matthew Lange, farmer, of Shannon against Thos. Dalziell, flaxmill manager, of Makerua, for ‘£l76 6s. Plaintiff alleged that defendant was the owner of two dogs which worried his sheep killing some and damaging others. Wherefore he claimed £44 as value of 22 evfes destroyed, £6 6s for two purebred Romney owes killed, £SO for <26 ewes worried and considered a total loss, £75 estimated loss through ewes heavy in , lamb haying been hunted and , unnaturally;, disturbed £1 labour repairing a fence. Mr. J. Graham (Feilding) appeared, for plaintiff and Mr H. R. Cooper for defendant. Plaintiff in evidence; stated that he was farming 1400 acres at Shannon, running breeding ewes chiefly. Or May 12 of last year he received word that dogs were worrying his flock so he went out after them with a gun. He shot one and wounded another which got away. Next day, .in company with a Mr. Bapber, he Inspected the flock, found 17 dead and numerous others badly torn about, and they also caught the wounded dog. Later he learnt that the dogs- probably belonged to defendant and he set out to verify the fact. Dalziell said his two boys had two pig dogs and had taken them out on the hills two days previously and left them there. He thereupon told defendant of the sheep worrying and asked him to come out and identify .the dogs. This defendant did and also saw some of the destroyed sheep. Dalziell did not see the dead sheep being satisfied that the damage had been done. H e asked plaintiff to estimate the damage. Accordingly witness said he took a rough look over the farm and assessed the damage at £IOO which he considered a low estimate. There were at least 23 dead sheep while he saw numerous wounded ones. At crutching time following June he personally found 30 ewes torn round the head and hindquarters and considered his lose was considerably greater than appeared at first. To Mr Cooper witness denied that defendant told him - that the dogs belonged to one John Wood. The defence was a denial of ownership of the dogs. Defendant gave evidence to the effect that one dog belonged to his son Leslie and the' other to a man named John Wood. Witness had nothing whatever to do with them and when- plaintiff came inquiring as to the ownership of the dogs he told him to whom they belonged. It was true two boys had taken the dogs out into the hills but they were not his sons. To Mr Graham witness stated that he never at anytime asked plaintiff tc send In his estimate of his loss. Wood accompanied him when the inspection of the dead sheep was made and acknowledged to plaintiff that the dog that had been shot was his (Wood’s) . The other dog belonging to witness’s son Leslie, had always been kept tied ■ up, at a neighbour’s place. When Lange came to complain of the worrying Wood was standing nearby and was informed of the fact. Wood asked witness if he would take him. up to see the sheep. This, defendant said, he agreed to do and that was the only reason why he had gone up to Lange’s place. Hearing was then adjourned till next Tuesday.