The Sheep Inspector.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6062, 8 May 1891, Page 2

The Sheep Inspector.

We are pleased to learn that a petition has been prepared for signature and presentation to Government as a protest against tho reduction in Mr Campbell Thomson's salary. The petition reads :-— "To the Honorable the Minister of Lands. — The petition of the undersigned settlers and occupiers of land in the Counties of Cook, Waiapu, and Whakatane, on tho East Coast of New Zealand, humbly sheweth : —

1. That Mr Campbell Thomson is the Sheep Inspector appointed by the Government for the subdivision comprising the Counties of Cook, Waiapu, and Whakatane, and that hitherto his salary has been ab the rate of L2OO per annum, with a travelling allowance of LIOO per annum.

2. That his subdivision is the largest in the colony : extending from Cape Runaway in the north to Te Reinga in tho south, and includes the Uriwera country, and involves journeys of some hundreds of miles.

3. Owing to the very large extent of the subdivision he has to be constantly travelling ; much of the country travelled over having no regul.tr roads or houses of accommodation, and in consequence he has to use pack horses for carrying his provisions and other requisites for oamping out, which he has often to do. 4. The number of sheep in the subdivision is 660,000, upon which the sheep tax amounts to L 660 per annum. 6 . New country is boing rapidly taken up, and the number of sheep is constantly increasing ; a large number of th© sheep -are held by Maoris requiring special supervision. 6. Your petitioners have heard with surprise and regret thafe the travelling allowance of LIOO per annum, heretofore allowed to Mr Thomson, is to bo discontinued, and they consider the salary without such an allowance is totally inadequate for his support. 7. Mr Thomson has given the greatest satisfaction to the public in the discharge of his duties, and from his character and oxperience is particularly well qualified for the position he holds ; and your petitioners submit that a competent inspector cannot bc> found to do the work of the subdivision in an efficient manner for less than L3OO per annum. 8. Your petitioners fear that the appointment of an incimipotenfc person as inspector would facilitate the introduction of disease into the flocks, resulting in most disastrous and irreparable loss to this district, which is almost wholly dependent on shoepfarming., Your petitioners therefore pray that Mr Campbell Thomson's salary and travelling allowance be restored to the amount formerly allowed, viz., L3OO per annum, your petitioners being of opinion that for the reasons stated in this petition the very important duties entrusted to Mr Thomson cannot be efficiently performed by a responsible person at a less remuneration than the sum above stated. And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray, &c.

Settlers desirous of signing the petition will find copies at the following places : — Waimuta, Mr W. F. Richardson ; Waer-enga-o-kuri, Mr C. Detto ; Tolago Bay, Mr W. W, Brown ; Waipiro, Mr A. H. Wallis ; Opotiki, Mr P. Dumersrue ; Karaka, Mr E. H. Ingpen ; Whakatane, Mr J, McAlister ; Matawharo, Mr F. Morice j Gisborne, Mr John Coleman ; Awanui, Mr W. Milner,

The Omimi (Otago) Dairy Factory have received intimation thafe the cheese shipped to London per Ruapohu realised 55s to 58s per cwb. The Southern Club and Gymnasium, (started on a flat in Dunedin to provide rational enjoyment for youths, has been so successful that ib has become necessary to refuse members until more room issecured. About 170 attend nightly.

The Btutistics appended to Nelson Bros 1 Limited, monthly mont report received, by the last mail from London, show that the frozen mutton landed in the United Kingdom from New Zealand during the month of February last was 60,907cwt, an increase of 13,375cwfe on the quantity landed in February, 1890. Now Zealand is by far the largest contributor of this important; item of English fo«d supply, the next largest contributor being Rivor Plate, with 41,058cwt, and America (United States) third with 9154.0wb. In the foreign beef aupply America, for the same month, ifl far and away at the head with 139,367cwt, New Zealand being second with only 4497cwt, which is a falling off of 1427cwt on her contribution in February. WQ*