PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. (To the Editor of the Oamaru Times.)

North Otago Times, Volume XI, Issue 352, 6 October 1868, Page 3

PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. (To the Editor of the Oamaru Times.)

Sib, — Your correspondent " North Waitaki, in liia letter which appeared in your issue of the 25th September, in answer to that of Dr Webster, quietly begs the whole question, and jumps to a most erroneous conclusion, by assuming that the steps lately taken by the Government and settlers on this side are " evidently with the view of preventing the crossing of any sheep and cattle from this side, and thus depriving many of their nearest and only market for surplus stock." As one of those who signed the petition in question, will you allow me to assure " North Waitaki" that he is entirely mistaken, and that the dread of importing that frightful scourge, the pleuro-pneumonia, was the sole actuating cause of the* movement. When the disease first made its appearance down south, the Canterbury Government very properly took immediate steps to prevent any chance of the disease being brought into their Province, across the Waitaki, and we are now only calling on our G-overnment to imitate the highly commendable example already shown them, for we must bear in mind that if the disease has been already " smuggled" from Nelson to the Waimakariri a' distance of 200 miles, there is nothing to prevent its being brought a little further. With regard to the recent Scab Act, it is only some few weeks ago that we had a most forcible example of the necessity of the precautionary legislation, as the Canterbury Sheep Inspector and the Manager of one of the large stations on the north side came over and went in hot pursuit, for a distance of upwards of 100 miles, of a flock of sheep which had crossed the Waitaki, and which they had every reason to believe were scabby. When overtaken the sheep had evident signs of having been recently dipped, but so far as is known, up to the present time we have got off with the fright. It is all very well for the Canterbury settlers now to talk of reciprocity, but hitherto they have had it all on oue side, and it is at the least cool of them to turn round and throw " protection" in our teeth, the minute we find it necessary to take the same precautionary measures, the benefits of which they have been enjoying for years ; the more so that at the same time they have had the trifling contingent advaul ages of an open market on one side, while being protected from any competition on their own. It is, I believe, held out as a threat by some ultraCanterburyians that if the recent legislation is not repealed they " will go to Timaru ;" depend upon it, if Oamaru had not many advantages over Timaru, they would never have hitherto given the former the preference. Yours &c, Otaoo. 2nd October, 1868.