PLEUEO-PNEUMONIA.

North Otago Times, Volume XI, Issue 349, 25 September 1868, Page 3

PLEUEO-PNEUMONIA.

(To the Editor of the Oamaru Times.) Sir, — I notice in vour last issue Dr Webster's letter on Pleuro-Pneumonia, and tho question of crossing stock between Otugo and Canterbury, and would trouble you with, a few remarks in reply. Taking the north bank of tho Waitaki, there aro numerous stations, the produce of which is shipped and the supplies required obtained from Oamaru, and I think the settlers have good reason to complain of the action taken recently by their neighbors in that district, with respect both to the Scab Act and PleuroPneumonia, — evidently with the view of preventing the crossing of our sheep and cattle from this side, and thus depriving many of their only and nearest market for suplus stock. We must all agree with j your correspondent, that it should be a quoston only of reciprocity, and where no danger really exists of spreading disease, that every facility should be granted for crossing stock between the tvro Provinces. But to bring this about, the settlers, north and Bonth, should first meet and decide upon proposals to be made to tho Governments of tho respective Provinces. First, with respect to Plcuvo — the disease has only recently appeared in Canterbury, where it is proved to have been introduced by cattle not long before imported from Australia, and one may eay, smuggled across tho border from Nelson ; it is still confined to the Kiiapoi District, or north side of the Waimakariri, 150 miles from this, several large and rapid rivers intervening, making perfect natural boundaries, while only re< endy (if not at the present moment) , it was raging in the adjoining district south of Oamaru, without any natural boundary between the two, and I think no sane man can say that under those circumstances it would be reasonable to ask for the withdrawal of the present proclamation prohibiting cattle crossing the Waitaki from the south. Second, with l'espect to the Scab Act, the recent addition to the Otago Act, making it compulsory to dip sbecp crossing from Canterbury, was obtained at the instance of settlers on tho south side ; no leasons were given (and scab has not been known for years within 100 miles from this) true, a similar clause

exisls iu the Canterbury Act, but this was pi°3<Kl years ago, vrheu Su.ib was very prevalent in Ota^o, besides, from the fact of nearly all the sheep crossing to tho south, it has but slightly afl'ected the stockowners in that Province. However, I can say that had tlia Canterbury U-overnruent brouglit forward an amended Scab Act, as they have promised to do, tho last two sessions of Council, it would have been proposed by members to repeal this clause, 1< aving the Inspector discretionary powers to enforce dipping, as all who are coversant with the subject will admit that whore sheep are only recently cleaned or have travelled through doubtful country, it is but prudent to dip them, although showing no traces of disease ; while, with sheep perhaps never diseased, and not crossing any doubttul country, it is a great hardship and loss, besides expense, that they should be dipped on crossing from one Province to another, and in sovno cases from one station to another, only divided by the river. Trusting that we may long continue to live on friendly terms with each othor, and not bo such fools as to quarrel over a matter that should bo so easily arranged to our mutual benefit. I am, lite, .North Waitaki.