WANDERING COWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 33, 23 September 1911, Page 7

WANDERING COWS.

W A WIKI HOAD SETTLED FINED

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning the County Hanger proceeded against George \V. Downes, alleging that on August 27th he had al- ( lowed two cows to wander On Makuri Hoad. Mr. Malone appeared for the prosecution. Defendant pleaded not guilty. . Alan Alexander Cuthbcrtson, County Council Hanger, gave evidence that on August 27tn ho (wont to Makuri Hoad and found two gpws, which Downes took delivery of as iiis. On his way up ho saw Downes about i. mile behind the cows, Downes excused himself by saying that he had had to leave the cows to get son dogs from among . his sheep. Counsel: If that is a true state raont of affairs I should not. think yo. would rub it into defendant. Witness: That, is only defendant’ statement. The cows were a long wa, from defendant’s place, and on an other road altogether. George Bain, farmer, Wawii Hoad, said ho saw the cows on th road from 8 a.m. to 9 a.in. Ho did no . see anybody in charge of the cows. H had often seen the cows grazing o the road. On previous occasions wil ness had remonstrated with defend ant for grazing on the roads. For th past six years, ever since he came tthe locality, defendant had been usin' the road for grazing. Since Angus 27th witness had seen the cows turnei out on the road by Downes. Tin usual practice was to turn the cow: on the road, let them graze for ; time, and then drive them up to tin paddock. Sometimes they were no put in the paddock at all.' For the defence, Norman Franci Downes, the young sop. of defendant gave evidence that either Tie or hi ‘ brother put the cows in the paddooJ and that they were never longer o; the road than half an hour. Defendant said he had left the cow: to get some dogs from, among hi: sheep, which took him about half ai hour., The cows turned up a .cros; road. Defendant sent his younj daughter to pick up the cows, but sinmissed them, and the ranger g 0.,, them. 1 ' ’ \f _By Mr. Malone: Witness adraittec that in the past his cows had beoi somewhat too much on the roads. S; had the cows of the witness Bain-y-Li fact both their Cows graced togetliei about two’years ago. ' Ail "the wintoi there, had been mobs of cattle of fron twenty to eighty grazing on the road r but no complaint had; been about them, and his ’ two cows’ had been, caught I .' To the Bench : There is a distance of half a mile between my gates. The Bench: But it should not take Half an hour to go that far. I realh suppose you want to let the cows gei as much grass as possible while going between the gates. Defendant: Yes; I suppose that it so. But I can’t stop the cows putting down, their heads and taking the. grass. i lie Bench: But you cun prevent them taking half an hour to do so. A hue of os,, with costs £1 3s 6d, was imposed.