Page 4 Advertisements Column 2

Otago Witness, Issue 291, 27 June 1857, Page 4

still within the letter of the law, harass the flockowner by frequent inspections; he could insist on a muster of all .the flocks owned b^ one Runholder, assemblings them together, if he so willed it, though some of the flocks might be free from, others infected with, disease, thus disseminating the infection.; he could insist on a muster at a time when the condition of a flock might be such as to render folding them most injurious, of which circumstances he is constituted sole judge. Thus the Inspector, by the infliction of repeated fines, and by frequent musters at improper times, could bring a Runholder to the brink of ruin. No useful end is answered by this clause which would not be attained equally well by having general musters for inspection at stated periods. This would suit all parties. On the one hand the Runholder would not have his flocks harassed by folding them at improper" seasons ; and on the other, the Inspector could ascertain with equal certainty the presence* or absence of disease. In several of the clauses where fines are specified, the amount appears to be immoderate ; and the simple matter of returning a stray sheep is dealt with by provisions which are at once vexatious and ludicrous. It appears from clause 33 that sheep stealing is to be punished henceforward in the Province of Otago by a small fine only. We object to the appointment of Registrar or other officers, indicated in the Ordinance, as' being unnecessary ; the returns of the various marks and brands could be made when making the return of sheep for assessment to the Land Office ; and those returns should also be sufficient for the guidance of the Inspector, without putting the stockowner to the necessity of making a special return to that officer. There are other clauses which are more or less objectionable, but, being of secondary importance, are [not now specified ; those mentioned above^are so^injurious as to neutralize any good that might possibly result from the measure ; they render the Ordinance so highly objectionable that we trust it will never come into operation in its present form. In conclusion, we express the hope that you will unite with us in opposing, and co-operate in endeavouring to bring about an alteration of the Ordinance. ALEX. M'NAB, Chairman. FOR SALE, A HEAVY DRAUGHT MARE, broken in to Cart and Plough. Apply to William Bakr, Kaikorai. FOR THE BLUFF AND INTERCARGILL. "U mHE Schooner " ANN JANE," JiNf^ JL John Paton, Master, will j^f^f^ Sail about 27th June. filega^gsJL For Freight or Passage, apply to JOHN JONES.