to acquire and keep sheep . . . it affords
to the stock-men a cover frequently for disposing dishonestly
of sheep belonging to their master."

1822. G. W. Evans, `Description of Van Diemen's Land,' p. 68:

"At its junction there is a fine space, named by the stockmen
Native Hut Valley."

1833. C. Sturt,' Southern Australia,'vol. i. c. i. p. 6:

"He was good enough to send for the stockman (or chief
herdsman)."

1846. J L. Stokes, `Discoveries in Australia,' vol. ii.
c. xii. p. 402:

"An exchange of looks I caught the overseer and stockman
indulging in."

1854. W. Golder, `Pigeons' Parliament,' p. 96:

"Here and there a stockman's cottage stands."

1882. A. J. Boyd, `Old Colonials,' p. 5:

"Would you still exchange your comfortable home and warm
fireside . . . for a wet blanket, a fireless camp,
and all the other etceteras of the stockman's life?"

1886. H. C. Kendall, `Poems,' p. 17:

"One stooped--a stockman from the nearer hills
To loose his wallet strings."

<hw>Stock-rider</hw>, <i>n</i>. a man employed to look after
cattle, properly on an unfenced station.

1870. A. L. Gordon, `Bush Ballads' [Title]:

"The Sick Stock-rider."

1892. Gilbert Parker, `Round the Compass in Australia,' p. 33:

"`Thus far into the bowels of the land
Have we marched on without impediment,'

said a lithe-limbed stock-rider, bearded like a pard, as he lit
his pipe--the bushman's only friend. And this was once a fellow
of St. John's, Cambridge."

<hw>Stock-riding</hw>, <i>n</i>. the occupation
of a <i>Stock-rider</i> (q.v.).

1880. Fison and Howitt, `Kamilaroi and Kurnai,' p. 260
[Footnote]:

"Like other Australian aborigines, the Kurnai have a natural
aptitude for stock-riding."

<hw>Stock-route</hw>, <i>n</i>. When land is first let in
surveyed blocks to a <i>Squatter</i> (q.v.), and is, of course,
unfenced, the lessee is required by law to leave passages
through it from two to four chains wide, at certain intervals,
as a right-of-way for travelling sheep and cattle. These are
called Stock-routes. He may fence these routes if he
chooses--which he very rarely does--but if he fences across
the route he must provide gates or s<i>lip-rails</i> (q.v.),
or other free passage.

1896. `The Argus,' May 21, p. 5, Col. 1:

"To-day the Land Board dealt with the application for the
re-appraisement of the Yantara pastoral holding. The manager
said that owing to deterioration of the feed through the