LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1165, 28 June 1870, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

The Editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents. Sik, — In your issue of the 16th instant appears a letter of Porangahau Settler complaining of the hardship of the anticipated fines attendant upou the appearance of scab in the flocks of the runholders of this province. Now, although I can fully sympathise in Porangahau Settler's fear of the disease, and fines consequent upon its introduction, I think that ifc would have been far more sensible if he had given our representatives and the settlers in general a good rap over the knuckles for their supineness and utter indifference to the fact thafc tho scab is steadily advancing towards the Southern boundary of the province. Should it break oufc there, (and I think it is useless forthe settlers to buoy themselves up with the hope thafc ifc wili nofc), ifc will be a mosfc serious thing for them, as I think no one will deny thafc they can ill afford to have the incomes derived from their sheep farther reduced'by the cost of the expensive plant necessary for— and costly process of —^curing the disease, added to the depreciating eflect both the disease and its cure have on the wool ; besides which, fchey will nofc, according to our Sheep Act, be able to remove their sheep to the boil-ing-down establishment, ana will consequently have to kill them on the run. They will then have cause to repent thafc timely steps were nofc taken to prevent the introduction of the disease into the province. If nofc so malignant, it is certainly more contagious, more expensive to cure, and more damaging to tho fleece, than the foofc-rofc, which is causing so much alarm. And as to any of the flocks, as Porangahau Settler supposes, being comparatively safe, those who know anything of the constant mixtures through tHe different flocks will know thafc there is little chance of safety for any. — I am, &c, A Well-Wishee to the Peovince.