CHIEF GOVERNMENT VETERINARIAN.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 283, 28 November 1905, Page 3

CHIEF GOVERNMENT VETERINARIAN.

RESIGNATION OF MR GILRUTH

DEPARTMENTAL FRICTION

Mr J. A. Gilruth, Chief Veterinarian, has tendered his resignation to the Government. The Premier stated on Saturday that the resignation had not yet been dealt with by Cabinet.

Mr Gilruth's resignation has been in the hands of the Government for some time. It is understood that he is dissatisfied with the methods of the department in the. administration of the Veterinary Division, and that he can get none of his recommendations satisfactorily carried out. Some months ago, Mr Gilruth, through the Imperial authorities, was offered a highly lucrative position in the Transvaal.

Mr Gilruth was selected in London in 1893 for the position of Chief Veterinarian of this colony, out of a large number of candidates. Born in Forfarshire, Scotland, and educated at Arbroath and Dundee, he spent two years in a lawyer's office before studying for his profession in Glasgow and London. In his first year at Glasgow he became medallist for botany and anatomy, and was second in chemistry. The following year he was medallist in physiology, in histology, and in anatomy, and was the winner of the twenty-guinea prize for the highest number of marks in the first and second professional examinations. In his. third year he was first Jn cattle Jiathologv, and second in horse pathoogy, besides taking other prizes. In London Mr Gilruth was medallist in his first year for examination in all the subjects of the curriculum. He was the writer of the prize essay to the Royal Veterinary College Medical Association, and prizeman in pathology. For one year in Glasgow he acted as prospector of anatomy to the Veterinary College. He practised his profession for five years in Fifeshire, Ross-shire, Glasgow, Liverpool, and London, prior to coming to New Zealand.

During Mr Gilruth's term of office he has brought the Veterinary Division of the Department of Agriculture to a high state of. efficiency. A visit he paid to Paris some years ago, when lie studied at the Pasteur Institute, enabled him to gain knowledge in the treatment of diseases in stock that has proved of the greatest value to the farmers of this colony. Thoroughly up-to-date in his methods, Mr Gilruth has gained the utmost confidence of the farming community^ and his resignation will be received with surprise and regret by the colony generally. As pathologist to the Public Health Department, he has also rendred invaluable service. Mr Gilruth's lectures to farmers in both-tb^North and South Islands on diseases^ Wtock and how to deal with them have been iij^the least important feature in connection with his work. His resignation is the severest loss such an important department as that of Agriculture could possibly sustain, and in the interests of the farmers of this colony the wish will be general that Mr Gilruth may yet be persuaded to retain his connection with a department in which he has done such signal service.—"N.Z. Times."