A BISHOP'S LAWN.

Otago Witness, Volume 06, Issue 2899, 6 October 1909, Page 67

A BISHOP'S LAWN.

WOODHAUGHS STRAY HORSES.

EPISCOPAL RESTRAINT.

"When a gentleman possesses a tennis and croquet lawn, on which pains and money have been lavished; and when the lawn aforesaid has been trodden to pulp by wander-ing horses " with covers on," not once, but thrice, just after repairs have been effected, his remarks on the situation may better . be imagined than repeated. Following, however, is the manner in which his Lordship the- Primate (Bishop Nevill) deals with the case, and here is his letterT©ad at the meeting of the Maori Hill Council on the Ist inst.: — " I regret the necessity of applying to fo^ your protection against the damage which is caused to me from time to time by horses which are- let out every evening with covers upon them to feed on the roads near to my • property. I have suffered for' years from this nuisance, and have tried expostulations with "my neighbours -in vain. About a year ago a large tennis and croquet lawn within my grounds was rendered co useless by the trampling of horsea •nd cattle that I had it dug up and rclaid yritii prepared and riddled soil, and sown ffe^:>wn seedjß. .This year it was expected

to be in good order for my friends, but on three or four occasions horses have got in, or have been put in, and had done great ' injury. I had to employ men to fill up the holes and sow fresh seed. Last Saturday night two horses were in my ground, and, besides other damage, rendered the tennis lawn useless for the purposes for which at great expsnse I had it made. My entrance gates are closed at night except when the carriage is out. I request the ! council to take such steps as may be necessary to sse that this trespass of horses and cattle upon the roads is stopped." The Mayor (Mr A. J. Butterfield) thought | the. best course for the Primate to take ■ would be to "approach the constable in ' the matter." Cr Duncan said that, considering the damage done and annoyance caused, his Lordship's letter was very moderate indeed. i He co.uld not but think that it was only because the. writer was a Bishop that his I language had been so restrained. He I moved— "That the letter be received, and j that the council express regret for what has occured, and that steps be token xo have the next offender prosecuted." Cr Laurie seconded the motion, and said it was high time something was done. A Councillor raised the" question as to whether the council ought to express regret. < Voices: He has written us a gefttlemanly letter. W.e will -write to him as he has , written to us. . " ! The motion was caried unanimously. It. ' was stated, however, that one of his Lord- | ship's.own churchmen was the most flagrant ' offender in this respect.