A Plea for Starving Cattle

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2030, 25 February 1887, Page 2

A Plea for Starving Cattle

To the Editor of the Standard. Sib,— Why is it that in the midst of all onr misfortunes public bodies do not give us a little thought ? The other week you proposed that during certain hours of the day horses, (Sc., should be allowed to eat off the growth in the back streets in order that danger by fire might be lessened and that our suffering beasts might get a bile of good feed. The Greytown Borough Council talked about it, but only talked-nothing was done. I consider it a hardship that we should be in danger of having oar cattle impounded because we allow a half starved beast to pick np ft little off our neglected roads, bit, I will ask your readers to judge whether there is much sympathy in onr public bodies when I tell them that at Morrison’s Bush our fences ate nearly all destroyed, our properties have been overrun with fire and scarcely a vestige ol grass is left. Dpou the high roads there is ft good growth of grass. Now, what is to be done ? Onr cattle are almost starving ;it is with difficulty that we keep them from straying, and we have been glad to see them on the read side greedily devouring the herbage there. Will the ranger dare to come this way and drive them to the pound ? Will cur Road Boards and Councils look coolly on and see us find heavily in addition to onr mis fortunes by fire ? Perhaps they will; I know not. But 1 would suggest that should the ranger be fool enough to come along and attempt to drive off the cattle that we will give him a ducking in one of the side drains. I am not joking. I with others am exceedingly annoyed to find that when a newspaper suggests that a little latitude be allowed ns, no notice is taken ol it by those who have the power to assist us—without even putting their hands in their pockets. Look at our paddocks and see the parched up state they are in—eaten down to the roots, and then look over the fence upon our roads and see the long grass waiting for a stray match to fire it. We have suffered in loss of fences, grass, timber, and even fruit trees and outhouses already. We have been kept watching night and day to beat off the danger by fire to our dwellings, and this loss in time and labor has crippled some of us lor a long time to come in means. We have had to leave our ordinary occupations to save onr tittle all. As it is I suppose some of us mnst sell onr cattle, for there is t.o feed ; but then, again, where is the market now ? On behalf ol my fellow settlers 1 ask the Boards end Councils to reconsider the matter. Don’t, most worthy fathers be like the dog in the manger. If you don’t want the feed that is going to waste all over the place, don't snsrl at us and send the ranger after ns if we try to get a bite. Be a little considerate of your unfortunate brethren and remember that if you don't caie about our welfare, and we suffer to each an extent that even onr rates becomu a burden, that it will be a bad state ol things for the district—and you will in a measure be to blame lot it. 1 am, &0., Morrison Bush Settler.