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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 1, Issue 32, 1 May 1858, Page 4

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To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Herald,

Sir, — As the subject of Mr. Harding's sheep has been brought before the public notice, I take the liberty of addressing this letter to you with the view of further initiating you into the amount of oificiousness which has been shewn in regard to those sheep. A feeling of justice to the right and an exposure of the wrong dictates tliis step ; and, knowing as I do the ill tendency such reports must have upon a district, as well as upon individuals and their property, I hesitate not in stating the following facts.

Whilst at Napier on the 26th March I heard a report, which appeared general, to the effect that Mr. Harding had brought into this district certain sheep which were diseased with the scab. My previous intention was to go to the Northward of this port, but on hearing such news I resolved to ascertain its truth without delay, and on my way inland for that purpose received a note from Mr. H. Russell informing me that "Mr. Harding has brought up 91 Rams from Mr. Burtorfs station which Jlighmore, Mr. Inglis, and I, looked at in his sheepyard on Monday and found to the best of our knowledge decidedly scabby." Another letter had, previous to that, been written to me, and which has since come to hand, stating that although the Sheep Inspector at Castle Point bad given Mr. Harding a certificate of the said sheep being clean, "I have good grounds for saying that they are not so, in fact I looked at them to-day with Mr. Inglis and Jlighmore, my shepTierd, and on two of tliem distinctly saw living scab, and no doubt many more are similarly diseased." All this, Mr. Editor, you will admit is most decided and unmistakeable language, and you may perhaps think nothing was left for me to do but to condemn the sheep before I saw them, and enforce the penalties accordingly. But I did no such thing, I acted on my own judgment and not on that of the parties above mentioned, and, after inspecting them, declared them healthy sheep. Now, Sir, let me tell you of the unlicensed proceedings of Mr. H. Russell previous to my visiting Mr. Harding's station. On his hearing that the sheep in question had arrived, what does he do but ride over in company with his man Friday, and in Mr. Harding's absence (he being on his run) coolly commands the shepherd in charge of the rams to pen them, in order that he (H. R. H.) may examine them ! The shepherd being an entire stranger to the place and people, and, probably a little surprised or daunted by the grand Magisterial air Mr. Russell knows well how to assume, complied with the demand and penned the sheep accordingly. They were then examined by those who were as ignorant of the disease as they then proved themselves of common sense; they were condemned by Mr. Highmore as "perfectly rattan, Sir" and his master no doubt approved of his learned man's decision, otherwise he would not have written to me to the effect that he "distinctly saio living scab on iivo of them." What do you think of such procre lings, Mr. Editor ? Don't you think Mr. Russell was well employed acting the part of Sheep Inspector and deciding for me the state I should find the sheep in. For so gallantly signallising himself the least recompense the settlers coidd give him woidd be the lucrative appointment I hold. There are not two Inspectors required here, and as Mr. Russell has proved himself the keenest of the two let him have it, I say

Captain Newmans and Mr. Inglis's names are unceremoniously introduced in the letters I have received from the new Inspector, but as I cannot imagine those gentlemen will place their ideas against my seven years practical knowledge of the disease, I shall refrain alluding to them beyond the quotations I have introduced. Besides, I much doubt they countenance the free use of their names in conjunction with Mr. Rtisscli's ! If they do and still hold the opinion Mr. R. is pleased to express, all I need hope for is that an opportunity will yet offer of proving their knowledge. It is not my intention of attributing a revengeful spirit to Mr. Eussell, but I must tell you, Mr. Editor, that for years both he and Mr. Harding have'bved at the greatest variance, — frustrating each other's intentions &c, &c, whenever opportunity afforded. Such being the case is it not very natural to form one's own opinions respecting the steps Mr. Russell has taken in the matter now before us ! And when one's property is at stake is it not cowardly as well as injurious to spread such false reports as have been so industriously spread lately ? Why ? may I ask, has not the now Inspector visited other ilocks as they have appeared in the district and not confined himself to his opponent Mr. Harding? Among the immense amount of information Mr. Russell's documents convey to me is an allusion to the effect that the said rams were being "dressed," which was in fact but a "dipping." Had they not been dipped on arrival I fancy Mr. Russell would have had just reasons for complaint, as such precautionary measure every one ought to take, — and such as the complainant himself did take last year. He calls it a "dressing" in order perhaps to magnify tbe charge, but he knows better all the time.

In order to shew you how much is in favour of the said sheep being perfectly clean before they were brought into this district, I may state that they were thoroughly examined before leaving Mr. Burton's station by the Inspector of the Coa^t, who is acknowledged a thoroughly competent person! They were then re-examined at Custle Point by undisputed oracles, and dipped after being declared clean.

It is really preposterous to think that against all that practical knowledge Mr. Russell is pleased to array his judgment, but so it is.

Mr. Ru3sell cannot even let Mr. Williams alone, -for he -writes very largely about carrying out the Act against him who has "sent two Maoris down as far as Castle Boint to collect certain donations of sheep" adding that unless the runs are Gazetted clean "no removal is allowed by the Act and the slieep must be taken back to wlienceiliey came." Mr. Russell has evidently a few lessons yet to learn, among which is how to read Acts properly, and an all important one of "How to mind his own business and leave other people's alone."

Imagining I have now tried your patience, Mr. Editor, I conclude with a sincere hope that you may never fall into the snares of Waipukurau, and if you do, I hope that the unjust will meet with contempt, whilst the just will have justice shewn them. I am, Sir, Yours very truly, F. J. Txfegn.