FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 217, 7 September 1908, Page 4

FARM AND DAIRY.

Mil. C. J. REAKES. THE NEW CHIEF VETERINARIAN. A POPULAR APPOINTMENT. The announcement by llic. Minister for Agriculture, the Jloa. It. McNab, ■that Mr. C. J. Reakes, M.U.OLVX, is to succeed Mr. J. A. Gil ruth as Chief Veterinarian of the Dominion will give unfeigned pleasure to the fanning community in general, says the Wellington Times. A more popular ollicer is not in the service of the State. T.lic veterinary division of the Department of Agriculture has set a high standard for the State control of animal di«ease, and there is every reason to believe that in the hands of M». Rcako* ths service will lose nothing of its deserved ■prestige. As a practical worker in the field of veterinary sciencts, Mr. Reakes has 'been conspicuously successful. licfore ■ .taking up his professional duties lie had two years' experience of practical farming i7i Canada. Then he returned to England, and served a period of pupilage under a veterinary Burgeon fcc- . fore entering the London Veterinary College. Here his career resembled that of his brilliant chief, Mr. Gilrulh, as lie look honors in every subject hut one, and was tile Coleman prize medallist of his year. After graduating, Mr. Reakes entered into private practice at Orpington until his departure for New Zealand in 185)7 to join the (jo-

vei-mneut service. During his connection with the Department 3lr. Reakes ; Ibas gained considerable reputation as a practising veterinary surgeon, in addition to doin'g valuable scientific work. He has proved an able lieutenant to Mv. Gilruth, whom lie assisted in several important investigations and in [ valuable research work. He took an active part in the eradication of swine fever and in dealing with the outbreak of blackleg in Taranaki, also assisting Mr, Gilrutli in dealing with other outbreaks of infectious diseases in stock. Mr. Reakes has also efficiently con- ( trolled tilie veterinary division during the absence of the Chief Veterinarian, from the Dominion on several oeeaj sions, I No more capable man could have been Selected to control animal disease on the successful lines pursued by Mr. Gilruth. lie possesses the scientific

. attainments necessary to initiate and I carry out research work bearing on the I local aspect of stock disease. Tin's is I essentially necessary in a country like | New Zealand, isolated as it is from • personal touch witih high scientific J authorities of the old world, and i:i J view of the fact that local investiga- . lion has necessarily to be carried out on lines necessitated by the local environment—climatic .conditions, characteristics of country, and conditions under which stock are kept—differing as it markedly does from that of Europe or America. We have every faith in Mr. Reakes' professional capacity and in his organising ability. He should control with conspicuous success the large staff of the division, both in the matter of work in the field and in connection with the inspection of meat. The Government is to Ire heartily congratulated on the appointment.