Victoria Valley.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 16, 20 November 1906, Page 4

Victoria Valley.

(From our Own Correspondent.) We have been favoured with a visit from the Stock Inspector lately. The visit was made at the request of Mr. J. D. Edwards, who wished to have his cattle inspected, and as a result two head were found to be suffering from tuberculosis and destroyed—one belonging to Mr Edwards and one to a neighbour. I understand the Inspector will shortly be round again and inspect all the stock in the district. Some of the settlers did not appear to relish the idea of the Inspector’s visit. This is surprising, as the eradication of possible disease from their herds is very essential and obviously to tbeir advantage. Mr. Edwards deserves the thanks of the community if his action results in a thorough overhauling of all stock in the district.*

Weasels have been playing havoc among the fowls out this way, and the pest seems to be on the increase. For the past two years a blight has been noticeable on the blackberries in this locality, and as a result the bushes are gradually dying. It is to be hoped this particular blight is otherwise innocuous to orchards, etc. A number of trout have lately been placed in the streams near the Valley — 300 in the Totaranui at Mr. Pearson’s, 300 in the Waikoropupu (near Mr. Vernon Thompson’s) and 500 in the Hiapo (Mr. J. D. Edwards’s). The young fish have already shown surprising growth. The settlers are taking a great interest in the experiment, and intend to protect the streams by all means in their power.