NEW SOUTH WALES.

Otago Witness, Issue 537, 15 March 1862, Page 3

NEW SOUTH WALES.

The Gueat Scab Casu at Moulamein was finally settled at the Police Court there on Wednesday, 2'Jth January. The facts were simply these : — Mr. M'Kenzie, of Poon Boon, desired to cross 14,000 sheep over the Murray from Victoria into New South Wales. He posted the notice required by law to the Scab Inspector, but, from not being sufficiently stamped, the letter containing the notice was neirer delivered, and of course permission to cross was never obtained. On its first hearing the case was adjourned, the two magistrates not being able to agree as to the amount of penalty. On the second hearing of the case, there were no fewer than eleven J.P.s on the bench, and, after along hearing, the defendant was fined Gd. per head on the 14,090 sheep, together with £42 professional costs, costs of court, nnd .£9 for witnesses, or, in default, six months' imprisonment. On the application of defendant's attorney, one month was allowed for the payment of the penalty, which would amount altogether to about £400. The main facts of the case were admitted; some legal points were unsuccessfully raised in bar of judgment. An opinion by Mr. Miehie was alluded to ns adverse to the infliction of any penalty. Mr. Miehie based his opinion on tlie fact that the Scab Inspector was not appointed till 12th November, and the sheep crossed on the 24th October; but the bench held that the fact of Mr. M'Kenzie having posted a letter to the reputed Scab Inspector, showed that be acknowledged him to be such.

Nakdoo. — The lower Murrumbidgee correspondent of the Sydney Herald says that this plant is very plentiful throughout the whole of that portion of the colony, and has long been known as an article of food, although going by different names in diifurent localities. It is a fourleafed clover, bearing small black pods about the size of acacia seeds, These pods are full of very small seeds, at first green and juicy, but when ripe very farinaceous. It is noticeable that the leaves of this plant turn with the sun, facing the east in the morning and the west at night. The blacks here do not appear to eat nardoo, having probably a sufficiency of food without, but the aborigines of Menindie have always been known to partake of it. This plant only grows in flooded ground, and althouglrthe leaves die away during 'the heat of summer, tho seed pods last a considerable time. Sheep are very fond of nardoo, and when eating it makes a curious noise, cracking the seeds between their teeth. Mr Green, the post-master at Hay, has forwarded specimens from this locality to Professor Mueller, who pronounces them to be genuine nardoo, similar to that eaten by the unfortunate explorers.