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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9401, 6 January 1894, Page 4

Strong complaints have been made to us of the killing of sheep and bullocks on the Botorua railway, at a place beyond Morrinsville. The line is here quite exposed, and cattle and sheep are peculiarly apt to stray on to it. A few days ago five bullocks were killed. A neighbouring landholder found that he was several hundreds short in his count of sheep, and the only conclusion he could come to was that they had been killed by the engine, and considerately buried by the railway men in order to save irritation. This question of fencing the railway line is an old one, which has caused much complaint. The railway authorities are not legally liable to fence, but we think that at a place which has been found much exposed to the incursions of animals grazing in the surrounding country, the railway authorities should offer to contribute part of the expense. As a matter of fact, although in most cases the animals are killed and there is an end of it, there is very considerable danger to human life in such collisions.