BRANDING SHEEP.

Otago Witness, Issue 1243, 25 September 1875, Page 18

BRANDING SHEEP.

A matter of some importance to sheepowners is again referred to by the Hay Standard of the 11th August, as follows : — " In our issue of Lust week we referred briefly to the fact that a conviction had been obtained against a drover of sheep named Martin Nertz, at the instance of our local inspector of sheep, under the Scab Act, for travelling 3000 sheep (part of a flock of 12,000), having no distinct brand. Two similar cases have been heard since that date with similar results, making three convictions under the Act within the week. In each case a lenient view was taken by the Bench, and the lowest penalty, one penny per head, inflicted ; in fact, in the last one heard, the drover was fined according to his own estimate of the number of sheep that were imperfectly branded, Mr Keighran being satisfied that the sheep had been well branded before starting, and that the only blame attaching to the drover was for not having kept them branded. These actions will probably act as a warning to owners and drovers, unless indeed they prefer to incur the penalties consequent on their neglect to comply with the Act, rather than risk the deterioration in value of the wool by putting on a brand the distinctness of which cannot be questioned. It should be remembered, however, by any who may take this view of the case, thai any repetition of this offence will be visited by the infliction of an increased penalty, and that persistence in such case might be found ' penny wise and pound foolish.' "