BILL IN COUNCIL.

Colonist, Issue 795, 9 June 1865, Page 5

BILL IN COUNCIL.

SCAB IN SHEEP,

The Bill consists of 38 clauses. Clause 1 repeals Act of 1863. 2is the interpretation clause. 8 authorises the appointment of Inspectors by Superintendent. 4. Inspector not to be flockowner, nor receive payment in consideration of dipping or depasturing sheep. 6 deßnes inspectors' duties, which are—to inspect flocks, issue certificates of cleanness and licenses to cleanse, inspect public dipping tanks and quarantine ground, and to prescribe materials to be used in tanks, to inspect flocks entering province, and prescribe what

measures shall be token to prevent contagion before they onter, and to report condition of flocks in province. 6. Inspectors may enter lands and stockyards. 7- Sheepowners to make returns of number of sheep in their charge, and pay \d. per head, on Ist January every year. 8. Inspectors, on inspecting sheep entering province, to be paid 2d. per head for the first 500 in a flock, lid. per head for second 500, and Id. for all the others above a thousand in any flock so entering. 9. Owner of diseased sheep must give immediate notice thereof, and shall mark infected animals with a conspicuous mark, and, if required by such owner, on payment of 2d. a head, inspector shall issue a license giving three months to cleanse sheep, and at the expiry of that time may renew the license for three months longer on payment of 6d. per head, the issue of such license to be notified in the Gazette and the newspapers. 10. Every owner having sheep infected with scab, and not having a license to cleanse, shall be liable to a penalty of 6s. a head for infected sheep. 11. Flock held to be diseased if one scabby sheep be found in it. 12. Persons permitting diseased sheep to stray or be driven on any public road or land not in his own occupation, to b« fined Bs. for every such sheep so straying or being driven, providing that if the sheep be fewer than 400, the penalty may nevertheless be any sum not exceeding £100. 13 makes any person introducing sheep, by himself or his agent, into the province, without • certificate, liable to • penalty of ss. per head; but (14) sheep may be driven to the Quarantine Ground. 15. Sheep, when examined by Inspector, must be branded with Inspector's brand before being introduced; if owner offend against this provision he shall be liable to a penalty for each offence of not less than £25 nor mor* than £100. By clause 16 all sheep are to be held as infected unless owner hold » certif c«te of cleanness, but such certificate shall not exempt the owner from the penalties of the Act if any of his sheep shall be proved to be actually infected. 17. Certificate not.to last more than six months. 18." Inspector may require declaration of cleanness from owner, and (10) may require evidence from persons in charge as to condition of sheep, whether depasturing or travelling, and may also, (20) in certain cases, require that • precautionary dip be given to sheep. 21. Twenty-four hours' notice must be given of intention to drive sheep ftcrots • run or along any public road, under •> penalty of not less than 6d. nor more th»n Is. for each sheep so driven. 22. Occupiers of runs may provide yards, and require sheep travelling through runs to be yarded at night, rut not if within three months scabby sheep have been yarded in it, and provided also that such enclosure shall be not less than six nor more than ten miles from last resting place of sheep. 23. Owners of sheep on unenclosed land j before mastering tb?m shall give twenty-four hours' notice to occupiers of adjoining runs before yarding the same. 24. Infected sheep found trespassing on runs may be sold if owner shall not remove them, and pay all costs and damages. 25. Superintendent may establish dipping tanks at or near the boundaries of the province, and fix a price per head at which sheep may be dipped ; and, (26) may also appoint quarantine ground, and charges for sheep depasturing thereon. 27. Superintendent and Executive Council may make by-laws and alterations, a month's notice to be in Qatett: 28, Provides a penalty not exceeding £50 for neglect or refusal to make returns ; and (29) persons making false returns or declarations are liable to penalty of not less than £20 nor more than £100 for each offence. 30. Inspector making false Reports, or delivering a false certificate as to sheep, shall be liable to a penalty of not less than £20 nor more than £100, or imprisonment for six months ; and if lie shall accept any reward or bribe, ho shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £50. 32. Penalty of £20 for driving sheep across runs without consent of occupier. 33. All penalties recoverable in a summary way before two justices ; and, (34) all rates and fees to be paid to Provincial Treasurer. No penalty, (35) on one conviction to exceed £100, and, (36) act not affect remedy at law that any person might have. 37. Act (except 9th and 10th section) to come into operation immediately on its passing ; and said 9th and 10th sections shall come into operation in the districts comprised in the basins of the Wainiea, Motueka, Tukaka, and Aorere, on Ist February, 1866, and in rucli other parts of the province at such times as Superintendent and Executive Council shall see fit. 37. Short Title, " The Nelson Scab Act, 1865."