PRESENTATION OF THE PETITION IN FAVOR OF THE PUKE IMPORTATION*OF CATTLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 567, 11 October 1862, Page 7

PRESENTATION OF THE PETITION IN FAVOR OF THE PUKE IMPORTATION* OF CAT TLE.

A deputation, consisting of Messrs Isaacs, Cooper, Baylivs. Jones, and Symvns, waited upon His Honor the Superintendent, on ]\[oiiil:iy,to present the petition in favor of the remo\al of the restrictions on die importation of enH'o. The deputation was very graciously received by tlie Superintendent, and Thomas Dick, Esq., the Provincial Secreta;}'. The petition Learinz 7,000 signature 1 ?, finl measuring 180 fevfc in length, was read by Mr bynnn<; as fu!lo>vs : — "To Kis Honor the Superintendent of Otago. '* May it ple::«e your Honor, — '• We, the mulei signal merchants, land-owners, tradesmen, and re^Uents of this Pr< vinco, beg most respectfully to urge upon your Honor, the immediate necessity of lepealiug the pio'iioitoij liw relative to the importation of cxtt'e into this province ; and in asking this, we feel bound to stale that we are fully . alive to 1 lie benefits that will I c ennfenvd upon this community, by the piockun;-tion which it is the intention of jour Government to io->ue, thereby admittingcattle from Gipps Land ; but whilst acknowledging this as a bnon and a &t"p in the right direction* we frel pair-fully aware that the supply from that particular locality, will not be sufficient to meet the lequirements of our constantly increasing population ; and, therefoie, we would lespectfully suggest to your Honor the a<h inability of at once admitting cattle from all and evrry port of the Australian colonies, and all oilier ports,— of coin-be, at all times such importations to he subject to the supervision of a competent Inspector. Your Honor will perceive that wlmu bieedeis of cittie aic urtde aware that all cattle coming into this port have to be examines by an inspector, such will in it-df act as a check, and"prevent them liom bending cattle here rhat are infected, or that there is the slighter chance of being condenmed. In conclusion, we would again earnestly and urgently solicit your Honor to give this matter jour se>-iou3 consideiation. involving aj in does the welfare o c the whole community. And trusting you will see the necessity fo granting our request," We hay the honor to be, kc, Your obedient servants. (Sigued) S. G-. Isaacs ) Samuul Symjis W. H. Mumfoud OUVKR COOPEII . n ... J. Switzbk V Committee. And W. Cahter, N. E. Valley. j Heie follow the names of the memorialists. After the memorial had been read, His Plonor enquiied on what grounds the deputation thought that Gipps' Luiil would not supply the demand ? Mr O. Cooper said, he had been a cattle importer for many years, and had imported cattle from Wellington at os low a price as 3d, per lb., but the cattle when landed, were only fit for store cattle, and had to be sold as such. In Gipps' Land they had nothing but fat cattle, and if tho shoit passage from Wellington had such a depreciating (fleet upon the stock, what would the passage from Gipps' Land do ? His Honor remarked that when in Wellington, he consulted with many persons he believed to be fully competent, who would undertake to deliver fat cattle in. Otogo at fid per lb.. and have a handsome profit on the transaction. Mr Cooper was disposed to doubt the accuracy of the calculations of His Honor's informant. He had himself tried the experiment and lost £500 on the last shipment. His Honor would submit the memorial to the Provincial Council, but he was peisonally decidedly opposed to any further relaxation of the restrictive enactment, until the Gipps' Land plan had had a fair trial. His Honor then read the following letters from the Hon. the Colonial Secretary upon this question :— (Copy.) Colonial becretary'g Office, "\Veilingron, 19th Sept., 18G2. Sir.— l have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter of the 26th ultiun (written at Wellington) transmitting a letter from the Ueputy Superintendent of Otasro, together with a memorial to yourself, expie«sive of an opinion of the desirability under existing circumstances, of relaxing the restrictions which have been promulgated under the " Diseased Cattle Act, 1861," against the importation of cattle into that province from other countries. The opinion of the Superintendents of the provinces

of Ciiafeibury and Southland have, in accordance wirh your sutr^estion, bo -ti i tken on the subject, and they entertain sti'ui'fobjci-ti.jiis to the relaxation of the present prohibitioa :iL,"iinst the imp.irtati'm of cattle. Your Honor li.is aKu pe.inn-1 out tlie diaostrous coiHoquenci's of ilie iutj-<» lucLum of plenro-uneu-monia. and as I an iuforin-d th it th<>re jh« cattle in plenty in othoi' provinces of New Ze iland, which may lie exported to Otago. I trust your Ilonoi- will agivo with me, that it is not advisable to make the relaxation iv question.

I have, &c, kc. (Signed) ALFIIED DOMETT (Copy) Colonial ScciHary's Ofto 5 . Wellingtou, 24t,h" Sept , \i'>»2. Sin.— llnfi-i r'na I > your Honor'- letter iV; S.I, of the 17ia instant, 0,1 thcsuiij -,'t ot't'ie iniporta:im ot c ttle into OLynroai Au-uali<i, J ha\e to infnm yun flo ior th.is the opinion of tho Uo\crniuont on this quustiuti his bivu cjia.uu.iicitu'l i.i my letter ot fie t imd tlatc as tine on wlu'jh your lulfcor xvm written.

I will communicate with the Colonial Secrr tari>-s of New South Wales and Vietom, in nrvoiuance w : ih your Houor'h ieee immen liti->ri, with iMe-'.v in C''«e .in absjlule wc^ssi'iy should ari«. j for the relaxation of the piohibition of the imputation of cattle, to the sua^'stion of any inea^un s, the adoption of which, would diminish t'.e risk of infection anting from .such importation. I hive the honor to bf, Sir, Your iiio^t obedient servant. (Slaned) ALFRED DOM. SIT.

His Honor farther observed that he w i-.be 1 the deputation not to go away with the idea th it he he v.as at all favorable to* their -views.

Mr Cooper thought his Honor saw two great evils, on th.j one hmd the rieuro-lY.eumonia ififeuthn, and nti the other a f-unhie. He {\k Cooper) could prove that L'leuio-Pneumutji 1 alu ulv existed in the- piovinci 1 .

M> Bayliss then thanked his Honor on behalf of tho deputation, for their gracious icception, and the deputation withdrew.