THE BYE-LAWS AND THE FARMERS.

Western Star, Issue 20, 28 March 1874, Page 6

THE BYE-LAWS AND THE FARMERS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —l was disappointed to see in your columns repeated appeals to those in power to have the municipal bye-laws rigorously enforced in Riverton. I do not suppose that it was intended as directly against us country chaps, but it is mostgundoubtcdly a blow aimed at us. If the town eoidd accommodate us with stabling for our horses it would be altogether different, but at present there is not stabling for one-tenth of the horses going into town daily during the grain driving season, and what are wo to do with them, for according to your bye-laws wc dare not feed a horse in the street, nor leave a dray or waggon in the street except the horses are yoked to it, and us there attending to them. Now just fancy us, having plodded through the mud some five hours, both man and beast in need of sometlung to eat by the time wo reach town, but instead of getting ourselves and horses fed, it is no uncommon thing for us to have to wait, it may be for hours, hungry and sometimes wet, in attendance upon a number of horses which are restless from the same causes. I hope that gentlemen will not bp offended, but wo do feel it rather provoking when we happen to arrive at Messes. Whittingham Bros, and Instone’s just in time to see the door shut, because the person who takes in the grain is going to dinner. This might be avoided too ; but why so very particular about a dray or waggon sitting on the side of the street, or for a horse or two eating their feed, when there is plenty of room? Wc try to ■ bo as accommo-

dating as possible to townspeople when they come out to the country. We are not particular about their horses going on our roads, or oven in our grass paddocks, and wo would like that townspeople would ho a little more accommodating to us ; wo do not moan to set up anything like an air of independence, hut I shall plainly tell our town friends that wo can just as well do without them as they can do without us—we do not expect to find mercy when the Worshipful Mayor does not. One day that I was in town lately, I saw a number of men grubbing up the grass on the side of the street; whore I come from the trustees allow the grass on the sides of the turnpike roads to be eaten by cattle. Now, might I suggest to the Municipal Council that if they would let tire grass on the sides of the streets to someone, say to be eaten by sheep if the people cannot bear to see cattle and horses, it would be far cheaper than grubbing it. So I think, but lam only A Country Chap.