GOATS.

New Zealander, Volume I, Issue 3, 21 June 1845, Page 3

GOATS.

To the Editor of the "New Zealander." Sir,— Sometime since there was a great stir about the goats being so numerous on the hills very adjacent to Auckland, and it wasasseited that they were a nuisance to tl c peiambuidting inhabitants, as well as destiuctivk to the gardens of the snbu ban settlers. {. In the earliest da)s of tie Colony, there was an ordinance passed the Legislative Council, to empower the Magistrates to levy lines on such animals near the town of Auckland, that weie not tethered or tied to a stake. Into theoiigin of that ordinance, and of the influence and real cause of its becoming law it is not my intention to cnquiie, hit I fearlessly asseit a more arbitran, injudicious, unnecessary enactment never pa sed our sapient local legislature. It is well known that the hills, around Auckland never would have been the down?, the\ now are, but for the goats that have been kept h\ the 'inhabitants. These animals, like sheep, browse on the joiing grass, or herbs, and then continued quiet pasluiage, has con veiled the rising gtounds around the town from a wilderness of loin and sci ub to a beautiful undulating down. But to return to the real object of my trespassing on )onr columns. At the present time it has pleased the Magisteiial authorities of Auckland, to be very busy in matters, on which there happens to exist some local ordinance, and the poor goats have been selected as objects of constabulary imposition and annoyance. Now Sir, as a man with a family, I protest against this vexatious, unnecessary and tyrannical interference. On the hills neai to the town, the goats, if not tethered, wander for theii daily subsistence over 'he hills, and in truth, impiove all the ground ever which they search foi food, — besides, howfe^v can keep a co - v, and the milk of a goat, it is Vvell known, is far more nutritious to invalid*, and children, than any othei. The poor man oqght to receive every pioieetion in this unfortunate Colony, and instead of consiables employing 'their time in anno)ing the peaceable inhabitants about their goats, they could be very well occupied m mending the roads. There seems to have sprung up, within a short time, a s\stem fioin the -Police Office to shew a knowledge of existing ld«.s. Wucthen, this be

to /ill up the vacant houis of the M/igislivifos, or to prove lo higher powers that due vigilance is exciciscd, I know not; but if the inhabitants of Auckland cannot keep such a harmless animal as a goat without coming imd-er the sin veillancc of the politic, provided tliey do no injury to enclosed «ji«unds, 1 think they had better initiate ,to Turtai). I am, Sir, Your's, &c. CACMMERE