Pleuro-Pneumonia.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 3081, 5 March 1880, Page 3

Pleuro-Pneumonia.

MEETING OF AGRICULTURAL AND TASTOIIAL ASSOCIATION

T/itE Committee of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, met (his , afterftooil, and received the fuli^wibg I'eply to their vesoltition jpK^cnted to the Government on Frrd'&y last " AUukiaud, 2ntl March, 1880. Slß,—Tin? resolutions passed by the Auckland A gricultural and i'astoral Association, plawd iv my hands for traiisniission to the Colonial Secretary, hftve rSceiVed our very ( careful cousideiiltion. With re2ard i ,to the proposal to destroy certain cattle hi.'ou^ht down fioin New $outli Wales in the Hero hy Mr Fdyne, it appears to us that it would be useless to do so. The proposition is to destroy a portion only, and it appears to us that if any were destroyed all should be so dealt with, Again, the cattle, refefrcd to have for several weeks bees mixing with other catt'e iv Various parts of the district, and it would appear useless to destroy the ship cattle unless those with which they have mixed were destroyed also. Moreover, the Government have no power to direct the destruction of cattle as is prolposed. Indeed, 1 itlAy add that tile Very ample pOweivi Conferred iii reference to diseased cattle- are vested in the Cattle Board and not in the Government. With regard to a quarantine ground for cattle, not being on the main land, I kuow o£ no inland available except Motuihi, but that only could be so used with the consent of the tenant, Mr Barnsley, who has written to me that he purposes coming up to see what arrangement can be made. The proclamation, however, of a quarantine ground is of little importance, as under section 12 of the Diseased Cattle Act Amendment Act, 1873, the Local Cattle Board have full power to appoiut any place for the performance of quarantine. I see uo obiection, however, to the island of Motuihi being proclaimed a Quarantine Ground if the Local Cattle Board shall so desire it, and arrangements can be made with Mr BarnslCy. With regard to the appointment of a duly qualified Veterinary Surgeon, I have to iufoitn you that on carefully considering the whole subject it has appeared to us that the present arrangement of our Local Cattle Board for the whole of the Provincial District of Auckland is very insufficient and unsatisfactory, and steps are being taken to divide the district and appoint two efficient Board", who will be authoiised to employ, whenever they think it necessary to do so, a qualified veterinary surgeon, who will be paid by fees in proportion to the work performed. With regard to regulations, I have already informed the Local Cattle Board that if any are required to facilitate the working of the very large powers they possess, I am ready to consider them with a view to recommending their adoptiou by the Governor in Council. His Excellency has been absent from Wellington for some time, but will return there to-morrow. Permit me to point out that the administration of laws relative to diseased cattle is vested iv Local Cat tie Boards and not in the Government, and it would be convenient, therefore, if the Board were first communicated with hy the Association, but at the same time 1 may add that if the Association desire to communicate with me on any subject, 1 shall be glad to receive their views and wishes. —I have, &c.,

Fred. Wiiitakkr,

Mr May attended the meeting as Chairman of the Cattle Board, and made the following report : ' That the cattle in the neighbourhood of Auckland among which the disease at Brat broke out arc now regularly inspected by himself and the lospectir, assisted by a veterinary surgeon that no fresh symptoms have shrown themselves, and that the present owners have isolated tiie cattle as much as possible, so as to minimise the danger." "That the two bulls landed from the Hero, and those cattlo by the Mary Mildred have been duly quarantined and arc also visited by the Inspector at regular intervals"