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Lyttelton Times, Volume XVI, Issue 907, 20 July 1861, Page 4

In our last issue we called public attention to the pressing necessity that existed for urging upon the Provincial authorities immediate action against the terrible disease known as pleuro-pneumonia. It was not till that article had gone to press that we became aware of steps having been taken to memorialise the Superintendent on the subject j the importance of the interests concerned -must be our excuse for again urging it on the attention of the public, and calling upon all alike, whether in their public or private capacity to do their utmost to save the province from the heavy loss which threatens one of the chief sources of its prosperity.

It will be a subject of great satisfaction to the public to hear that the Provincial Government intend adopting "stringent measures to stop all introduction into the province, either by land or sea, of any Australian cattle whatsoever. No cattle on any account, not even teamsters with drays, will, we hear, be allowed to cross the Waitangi from Otago, or the Hurunui from Nelson. Immediate measures also are likely to be brought before the council with a view of authorising any one to destroy any such cattle, which may have passed or be in the act of passing, or which it may be attempted to drive across the boundary.

To prove that such apparently stringent measures are absolutely necessary, we need only state that it is a known fact that this fatal disease is so infectious, that cattle in one enclosure have caught it from those in the adjacent ones. It is stated that an Australian stockowner, on discovering that an imported beast which had mixed a short time with his herd had the disease, with great public spirit instantly killed off every head on his run without effect however, the infection having crossed his boundary before it had apparently broken out among his own cattle.

We would urge upon the Provincial Government at once to frame a bill to meet the necessities of the case j to call the Council together by proclamation for the purpose of transacting this-special business; to invite suggestions from those able and willing to give them, through the" press or addressed directly to the authorities. Among other clauses it would be desirable that the bill should impose a penalty of £100, the maximum, (we believe) allowed to be inflicted by the law, on every person in any way concerned in bringing cattle within the limits of the province; any one should have the power to destroy them summarily, and be defended, at the public charge, against an action for so

doing. . Such a bill, of which this is merely an outline, would, we are convinced, be backed by the voice of the whole country, as the destruction of our herds would fall more heavily on the smaller settlers than on those few large holders who at present have their runs stocked with cattle. These would soon replace them with sheep on terms, but the dairy farmer, the carrier with his team or the small farmer with ,his pair or so of working1 bullocks would hardly recover the loss so easily. To many of them it would be very like irretrievable ruin. The measures the Canterbury Government are likely to take, will most probably answer the temporary purpose of saving our herds from all risk.until the General Assembly shall have dealt with the question by a thorough-going and complete Act. This, we have" no doubt, will be done. It is possible the North Island people may be short sighted enough to decline to prohibit the importation, but we have little doubt, from the known determination of some of the members for this province to agitate the question, that the South will before long be made safe against all risks.