Friday, June 21.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 143, 21 June 1867, Page 2

Friday, June 21.

The Speaker took the chair at 11 o'clock. All the members were present exct'pt Mr. Thompson. The Provincial Secretary laid upon the table the Eeport of Messrs. Sparrow and Newton, on the supposed cases of pleuropueumonia at Richmoud aud Stoke. Mr. Sparrow then moved the suspension of the standing orders, iv order to enable the Council to. resolve itself into a committee of the whole, for the consideration of the reports of the commission appointed to investigate the alleged cases of pleuropueumouia, Mr. Wastney in the chair. The motion v.'as carried, and the Council having gone into committee, the various documents alluded to were road by the Clerk of t lie Council. Mr Sparrow said that he did not entertain the slightest doubt that two animals, a cow and calf, which he had examined at Kichmond, were iudeed suffering from the true pleuro-pueumouia. and in consequence he had suggested that the calf should be killed at once, and the cow was probably dead by that time, his Honor the Superintendent having taken action nnder the provisions of the Diseased Cattle Act, and ordered it to be destroyed immediately. The cow in question had been in possession of Mr Muntz for several years, but had mixed with cattle imported by Captain Johnston from Queensland. He had been informed that pleuro-pneumonia had been in existence for some time past in the Grey district, and had committed great ravages there. Mr Baruicoat said that by the 10th clause of the Diseased Cattle Act certain powers were delegated to the Superintendent which allowed him to order the . destruction of cattle so diseased, it? a district which had been proclaimed as diseased, but a difficulty presented itself, inasmuch as no diseased district had been proclaimed iv this province. Be was of opinion that the Council could only arm the Superintendent with such powers as would have the effect of stopping the progress of the disease at once by voting mouey for the purchase of such cattle as might be pronounced to be diseased; and he therefore moved, " That pending the framing of regulations under the powers delegated to the Superintendent by the 10th clause of the Diseased Cattle Act, 1861, *he Council pledges itself to vote any sum.of money which his Honor may see fit to expend for the prevention of the u isease."

Mr. Baigeut considered 'the subject so important thai the Council should be very cautions in taking action on it, for whilst, on the one side, it was imperatively necessary to prevent the progress of infection, it was also equally necessary not to inflict injury upon consumers. Mr. Sparrow said a portion of the diseased lung taken from the cow examined by him, had been preserved, and was now in town, and would satisfactorily prove the existence of the disease. If the Couucil were still sceptical on the euhject., it would be well to appoint a Coinmitiee of medical men to inspect and report upon this lung. In reply to a question from Mr. Simmouils, whether the disease was endemic or epidemic, Mr Spai row replied that it was both infectious and couuigious. The Provincial Secretary said that the Government, was fully alive to the importance of the sul'ject, and had at once given ordeis for the destruction of the diseased cow, v measure which, it was hoped, would s-iop the further progress of the disease; and they had also given instructions to the Inspectors to inspect very frequently the cattle which had been brought by the Kate Waters. Mr. 11. Redwood enquired whether Mr. Sparrow was aware whether any test existed by which plenro-pueurnonia might I be detected? Possibly the iunoculation of some diseased matter into a healthy subject would test its existence. The manner in which cattle wete treated in Nelsou Province would, in his opinion, naturally produce pleuro-pneusnonia. Mr. Sparrow replied that iiiuoculation would not produce the disease. He thought that sufficient proof was before the Couucil that the disease existed, and it would be most disastrous to the province if it were allowed to go unchecked. 21r. McMahon thought the Council should not separate without coming to some definite resolution which would define the requisite action to be takeu in the matter. Mr. I-I. Redwood urged that there was no proof before the Council that the disease alleged to ex in had been brought he>o by imported cattle. He- had never seen more healthy cattle that those which had arrived by the Kate Waters, and there was no evidence at present that pleuropneumonia existed in Queensland, whence they had been imported. He had long ago prophesied that, looking to the manner iv which cattle were managed and bred here, some disease would show itself of this desciiption. An animated discussion ensued, and an amendment, proposed by the Provincial Secretary in the following terms — "That this Council pledges itself to vote any sum of money which his Honor the Superintendent may see fit to expend for the preveutiou ol the spread of the cattle disease in this province," was ultimately agreed to. The House then resumed, and the Provincial Secretary requested permission to withdraw the motion standing iv his name with reference to the future management of the Nelson Hospital, in order that the motion might be introduced in another form. Carried. Mr. Akersten, in moving that his Honor the Superintendent be requested to furnish to this Couucil at its present sitting, if possible, the Report of Mr. Balfour on the Nelson Harbor, said that if the Report, was not furnished, it- would seriously interfere with the projected harbor improvements. He understood that soundings of the harbor were required by Mr. Balfour, before he could write his Report, and he thought they should be sent to him. The Provincial Secretary apposed the motion, stating that the Provincial Eu- . giuee'r was now fully-employed, and that there was no probability that the report would be, furnished for two or three , months. , .

The motion was carried. Mr. Akersten moved that his Honor the Superintendent be requested to take the necessary steps to secure to this province the sole right to quarry stone from Adele Island, and said that the Provincial Engineer, in his evidence before the Harbor Improvement Committee, had expressed an opiuion favorable to this stove, and also to the use of stonework for the harbor improvements. Mr. Baigent having stated that it was his impression that the island had been purchased by the Government, The Provincial Secretary said that part of the island had been made over to the Government by Mr. Blackmore, but part had been reserved, and was now in the hands of trustees. The Government might or might not purchase the island. The motion was carried. Mr. Wastuey enquired of the Provincial Secretary, if it is the intention of the Government to take any measures towards completing the trigonometrical survey commenced some time ago by the late Government, and urged the desirability of such a course. The Provincial Secretary said that £356 had already been expended by the Government on this survey, and in order to complete it a great expenditure would be required, in which the Government were not at present prepared to engage. On the motion of the Provincial Solicitor, the Patent Slip aud Dry Dock Bill, the Licensing Bill, and the Gold-fk'Lis Licensing Bill, were read a second time. Mr. Donne's motion for a Select Committee to consider the re-adjustment of the Cobdeu aud Buller Electoral Districts, and the enlarged representation of the gold-fields, was carried. •/.'..Two motions standing in Mr. Dreyer's name were postponed until Tuesday. Mr. Pitt's motion for a sum of £250, for the erection of a. Foot-bridge over the Maitai Kiver, in Nile-street East, was carried. On the raotiou of Mr. Kingdon, in the absence of Mr. C. Kelliug, the motion stuudiug in the name of the hiUt-r honorable member, for a sum ef £15, for completing the Public Cemetery, at Moutere, was allowed to stand over until Weduesday. The Council then adjourned at one o'clock, until 5 o'clock on Tuesday.