"RATEPAYER'S" REPLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1477, 9 March 1886, Page 2

"RATEPAYER'S" REPLY.

TO THE EEITOR. Sir,—Mr Duncan says people say they make a living in turning cattle on the roads, and troubling their neighbors. Well, he must be a cowardly man, or he would pound himself instead of asking the Board to do the work for him, thereby spending the ratepayers' money. And I think no man would like to see his cattle in a another man's crop if he could help it. But there is a class that deserves no sympathy at all. They are not worthy of land, and some of them do not know how to strain a bit of wire on a fence, and they tire a perfect nuisance to their neighbors. Then they say they must get a ranger. Mr Duncan says a fow turns of a ranger would do good. Well, let those parties take them to the nearest pound themselves and they will do the same good. We do not want a rangor passing our gates, and if he S'e3 a chance to make good wages, perhaps opon a man's gate and let his oattle out—there may be some bad enough to do it. People are put to enough expense when they ha\o to keop the roads clear of gorse and rubbish, und then if a poor man has a cow, that might help to pay his rates, if she chances to go on the road she is collared and taken to the pouad. Mr Duncan said the Board is a governing body, and i believe it is. They should pass by-laws to make people keep fair fences on their land, the same as they have to do on deferred-payment land. 1 think that would put aii end to the grievance. In a part of his letter he speaks of horses, cattle, an'l pigs frightening horses. I think it must be a man's own fault —driving or riding—for cajole and pigs are quite familiar to hqrses. But when some people get in a buggy or on horseback the public are not safe. I saw one day three men riding on the road going to Geruldine at such a mad rate that one of them ran np against a man's cow, which he was taking from his yard to his paddock, and nearly killed himself and his horse. Now, sir, it is not safe for children going to school to be on the roads when such furious riding is allowed. Ido not mean to say Mr Duncan was one of them. He seems to be a steady rider when on the roads. It is the poor cows and pigs that are blamed for all. I had several narrow escapes myself from such people, and never from cattle or I am not one of the crowd that let cattle run at large, but 1 am one that likes asleep instead of turning out in the moroiDg to watch the raoger. The Board seem to be frightened they will be pulled for damages. It never happened 1 yet, but if jhey are not careful it might happen the other way. If I should see any person taking my cattle unlawfullv I would go for the Board, but it seems to me it is some of the members themselves who want a ranger—they know well he will pass their cattle and pigs.—l am, etc, A. Ratepayer. I Gerttdiue, tjth March, W, '