STOCK MALADY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20983, 11 March 1938, Page 8

STOCK MALADY

MYSTERY SOLVED By Telegraph —Press Association ROTORUA. March 10. As a result of a recent visit paid to the Reporoa district. 25 miles south of Rotorua, by an official from the Wa’laceville laboratory, it is understood that a most startling discovery has been made in regard to the properties of certain portions of the soil comprising part of the Reporoa settlement. Over a long period of years, dating back to the foundation of the settlement after the Great War, stock on certain farms in this area has been subject to a mysterious malady which, it is estimated, over a period of year*:, has been responsible for the death of more than 700 head of cattle. Although the trouble was variously ascribed to bush sickness and other causes, it is now disclosed that analyses taken by the official in question reveal that certain portions of the soil in the district are impregnated with arsenic. This, taken in by the cattle through their drinking water, has been responsible for heavy stock mortality, whicn has proved such a problem to Reporc.a farmers. Considerable dissatisfaction is felt in the district with regard to the position for, in the case of one farm at least, three occupiers have been forced to walk off owing to continual loss of cattle. A large number of other farmers have also been heavy losers.