MR. M'NAB'S VISIT TO AUSTRALIA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 149, 23 December 1908, Page 7

MR. M'NAB'S VISIT TO AUSTRALIA.

THE MITCHELL COLLECTION IN SYDNEY. FRUIT FLY REGULATIONS. BONE INSPECTION: PREVENTION OF ANTHRAX. Mr. M'Nab, ex-Minister of Lands, returned from Australia by the Maheno to-day. Mr. M'Nab went to Sydney piimarily for the purpose of inspecting the Mitchell collection of literary and historical works with a view to seeing whether he could not' augment the material already in his possession (concerning the early history of New Zealand) which will be issued in book form aboufc May or June next, and will form a valuable supplement to Mr. M'Nab's previously published works. Unfortunately, however, Mr. M'Nab found that while the Mitchell collection is rich in literature relating to early Australia, it is rather poor' in New Zealand manuscript. "Some material," he said to a Post reporter, "may be unearthed before the catalogue is completed, but I was unable to get anything that would help me. It is, at the same time, a magnificent collection of Australian literature." THE FRUIT FLY. In the midst of his quest for historical matter the ex-Minister found time to make an inspection of the fruit orchards which abound at Parramatta. He discussed with the fruit-growers the New Zealand regulations regarding the fruit fly, and also made enquiries as to what steps the Victorian growers were taking to cope with the pest. , Mr. M'Nab discovered that the State of New South Wales had legislation on the statute book dealing with orchard inspection, but owing to the cost of appointing inspectors the legislation had. been allowed to remain a dead letter for a time, but when it was seen what other States were doing, the demand for a clean fruit supply asserted itself, and a sufficient staff had been appointed to do the work. "The results." he declared, "have been really marvellous. At first it was thought that owing to the quantity of native fruits in Australia, it would be impossible to eradicate the pest but the growers informed me that this is not so. As a result of one season's work the fruit fly and the codlin moth have been enormously reduced, and it is hoped to absolutely exterminate the latter. The growers I met considered New Zealand was quite justified in the steps it had taken to secure a clean fruit supply." DRASTIC REGULATIONS. The New Zealand regulations, it may be explained, require ail imported fruit from Australia to be accompanied by a certificate that it is grown in an orchard free from fruit fly and that fruit fly is non-existent* f or a radius of one mile from such orchard. It was the regulation respecting the mile limit which caused such a stir in New Zealand last year. "While I was Minister," Mr. M'Nab said, "I had some trouble in resisting the demands made by people who imported fruit into New Zealand. The regulation, however, had to be enforced in the interests of the N£w Zealand growers, -particularly those at Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Nelson, and Central Otago." BAD SEASON IN VICTORIA. In Victoria, according to Mr. M'Nab, the fruit growers are suffering for want of rain. The result 'will apply particularly to small fruits, which are .undergrown, and have ripened too rapidly. ANTHRAX PREVENTION. Mr. M'Nab's activities also extended to an inspection of several of the bono factories in Sydney, which export large quantities of -bone manure to New Zealand. These factories, strange to say, are licpnsed by the New Zealand Government and are inspected by New Zealand officers resident Jin Sydney. Tho product of tho factories bears a certificate of standard from the New Zealand Government, so that while the New Zealand Government takes this step in the interests of its own people the benefit accruing also extends to Australia. These precautions are taken as a means of preventing an outbreak of that terrible disease, anthrax. In Australia, in. the past, it has manifested itself nt different times and was known, as thb "Cumberland disease." The bones in going through the factories are subjected to high temperature. In Sydney there are immense supplies of bones on account of the large consumption of meat. Butcher-killed meat is not very liable to anthrax, and the precautions adopted are not so rigid as those applied in the case of what are called "dropped bones" which are found all over the country. These bones are specially treated in the factories during the attendance of a New Zealand officer. Any factory owner who desires to export to New Zealand must treat all the bones put through in the same way. "New Zealand's insistence on inspection," said Mr. M'Nab, "has raised the standard of bone manure in Australia and the result has been that Australia gets the benefit of the New Zealand Government's work." The work is under the control of Mr. F. G. Laurie. Since he took charge, it is worthy of note that anthrax has been almost unknown in New Zealand. Mr. M'Nab was particularly interested in the whole process of bone inspection, and the disposal of the by-products of the factories in question. Large quantities of fine bone, hoofs, tendons, hair, and other things are exported to Japan, where they are manufactured into articles of various kinds. Some of the factories are run by New Zealanders. The ex-Minister informed our reporter that he has thiee months' work before him on his book. As to the future : well he has no intention of forsaking Eolitics, and that is the most that can c said.

The Postmaster-General has made the following changes in the fcervice : — Mr! R. Keele, postmaster, Queenstown, to bs postmaster at Lyttelton, in place of Mr. J Delaney, who is retiring on pension. Mr. J. A. Algie, relieving postmaster, Wellington, to succeed Mr. Kecle as postmaster at Queenstown. The Taihape office having been raised in status, Mr. 0. Owens, postmaster, Woodville; is promoted to that office, Mr. R. Boyne, postmaster, Taihape, replacing Mr. Owens at Woodville. Mr. J. J. Pickett, postmaster, titrntford, and Mr. C. E. A'icholas, postmaster, Tauranga, exchange posts. At the quarterly meeting of the Loyal Britannia Lodge of -Oddfellows this week a motion was passed placing on record the lodge's appreciation of the services rendered to the district and Order in general by *Bro. J. Kershaw, on his retirement from the provincial corresponding secretary's office. The Petone Post Office will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. On Boxing Day, the office will open from y a.m. to 10 a.m. in all its branches except for money order and Savings Bank business. All mails usually closing on Fridays will close on Thursday 241h and 31f-t intt at 9.40 p.m. 'mere will bo a delivery of letters over the counter between '? and 8 p.m. on 24th and 31st December. There will be a morning deliveiy by letter carriers on Boxmg Da^.