Poison in Soil

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 60, 12 March 1938, Page 9

Poison in Soil

TART LING DISCOVERY IN ROTORUA DISTRICT MYSTERY OF STOCK LOSSES SOLVED ROTORUA, March 8. As a result of a recent visit paid to the Reporoa district, 25 miles south of Rotorua, by an official from the Wallaceville laboratory, it is understood that a most'startling discovery has been made in regard to the properties of certain portions of the soil comprising part of the Reporoa settlement. Over a lengthy period of years, dating back to the foundation of the settlement after the Great War, stock on certain farms in this area has been subject to a mysterious malady which, it is estimated, over a period of years, has been responsible for the death of over 700 head of cattle. Heavy Losses of Cattle Although the trouble was variously ascribed to bush sickness and other causes, it is now disclosed that analyses taken by the official in question reveal that certain portions of the soil in the district are impregnated with arsenic. This, taken in by the cattlo through their drinking water, has been responsible for heavy stock mortality, which has proved such a problem, to Reporoa farmers. Consideration dissatisfaction is felt in the district with regard to the position for, in the case of one farm at least, no less than three occupiers have been forced to walk off owing to continual loss of cattle. A large number of other farmers have also been heavy losers. From inquiries made in the district it is felt that the Department investigations which have been made from time to time have failed in getting to grips with the real problem, with the result that struggling soldier farmers have been forced to labour under unprecedented disabilities. Frequent complaints have been made and at different periods investigations had been carried out, but the chief result of these has been that farmers have been told that they were conducting their operations inefficiently. They have been recommended to use iron and limonitc licks,, used to counteract bush sickness, but' these have been found quite ineffective, a fact which is not difficult to understand in view of the more recent discovery. The trouble apparently occurs chiefly after rain, when surface waters lies iu the paddocks and is absorbed by •the stock in dry weather. The trouble is not manifest to any extent, leading to the assumption that the arsenic is contained in surface water. Twenty Farms Affected It is estimated that approximately 2G farms, situated on both sides of the Waiotapu Stream, are affected by the trouble, which, however, appears to be most acute on one particular holding, a property of about 90 acres. No lctcs than threo soldier occupiers have left this particular property because of being unable to make any headway against the mysterious disease which lias infected their stock. The symptoms in all cases arc- uniform. The cattle first become mopy and then are affected with staggers and the drying of the skin. Death almost invariably follows within two or three days. Some relief can be obtained by rotational grazing of the stock on clean country, but in the case of tho majority of the Reporoa settlers, who are working small properties, this is impossible. The trouble does not occur in what is known as the Reporoa Settlement proper, but on an area nearer Rotorua to which a road, known as Campbell's road, gives access, and which is largely watered by the Waiotapu stream. It is possible that the arsenic properties found in the soil may originate from the adjacent thermal areas in the vicinity of Rainbow Mountain, although this is purely assumption. Although the possibility of human beings using surface paddock water for drinking or other purposes is remote, it is also felt that if arsenic exists as it obviously docs in dangerous quantities, some steps should be taken to protect not only stock but human beings from the possibility of becoming subject to the effects of the drug. Poisoning has affected chiefly milking cattle and dry stock, but it has also affected sheep, which have been left on certain areas or

country too long. In one case a bullock was found in a ditch with three broken legs, the whole of its bone structure apparently have become chalky owing to effects of slow arsenic poisoning.