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Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 803, 9 August 1877, Page 2

The Sheep and Cattle^ Bill now before the Assembly sobs out with the unler standing that it does not affect the DU. eased Cattle Act, but repeals tbe Diseased Sheep* Fines Appropriation Act, 1867, and the Diseased Sheep Act, 1876, of the G-eneral Assembly, together with some forty Provincial Actß, amongst which are the following • Auckland Acts : — Cattle Branding Repeal Act, 1862 ; Cattle Landing Act, 1865 ; Registration of Brands Act, 1871, and Amendment Act, 1871 j East Caast District Sheep Act, 1874 ; Sheep Act, 1875. It provides that the Gtoverno r shall proclaim districts as divisions under the Act, and gives power to levy a contribution, lobe paid annually, in^March, to a Sheep and Cattle FuDd for the purposes of the Act, on every sheep m the possession of owners on the let oi January previous. Returns of sheep will be got m" by Inspectors, on the Ist of January m each year, • and any owner noc sending m such return when noticed to do so, will render himself liable to a penalty not exceeding £20, and a further penalty of £10 for every week he shall continue such neglect. Part 2refer§to the branding oE stock, and provides for ihe appointment of Registrars and the keeping. of general and district registers, every registir being open to inspection on payment of a fee of half-a-crown. Stock-owners are required to register their brands, for which a fee of 5i will b« paid, under a penalty not exceeding £5, aud a penalty of £5 for every addi. lional week of Bach, neglect after conviction. Brands bo similar to those of other 'persons as to be possibly mistaken for thjin are not- to be received by the Registrar, who will gire the right t-J register such brand to the oae by whom ie was first registered, and any person using a brand so similar to a/registered urund as that it may be mistaken fjt it, shi.ll be liable to v penalty not exceeding £50. Th« penalty tor defacing brands or unlawfully branding stucJc, i 8 limited to £100 ; ears of cattle aud sheep are not to be maimed, and the brand on caLde will oe taken as prima facie evidence ot ownership. All cattle above the age of cix months and depasturing on. Crown or co.uraon lauds, and ad sheep aoove thua^e oi six mouths, must be- branded with the registered brand of the owner, under a penalty not exceeding £10*. Pan. 3 refers to the dv its of Inspectors and their powers giving tueui tvee access to premises, and the right to order a special return of stock to be furnished. Notices of inspection must be advertised, while, every owner of stocfe inakiig a general muster of cattle or muster of sheep for tho purpose of shearing or for weaning or docking lumbs", shall give not I less tiian three days' ." notice to the Inspactor, aud one day's' notico' to any adjoining stock-owners whose stock he oelievea ruu with or ime^mix with his own. The next division of the Bill is that which rentes to diseased cattle and sheep, aud commences with tho provis.on that, any fche ( jherd or stockman wilfully coucealiug from his master or employer the fact of such stock having become diseasou, shtJl up n -cjnvi. tiou forieit all wages due to him and be liable to a fine nut exceeding £20. Auy Inspector having reasonable cause to do ao, may at any time report to tho Cluet Inspector, and the latter to fie Governor, the fact of d'sease existing m a district., and the provisions of the Diseased Cattle Act, 1871, will be brought into force m tnat district. Sheflp-owners are required to give notice of injection m their flocks ; and must at all times provide and maintain a sufficient dipping apparatus on their land, to the satisfaction "of the Inspectjr, for properly dipping so mmy shoe;., as they possess. Districts will be Uuulared "Clean Sheep Districts" and "Quarantine Sheep Distriots,'! as the case may be, and no one* uticUr a penalty, miy remove sheep from t v he latter, and the Chief Inspector will issue licenses to cloanae infected aheep, and m oases where the sheep are not cleansed before the expiration of the li ense, a fine of uot less than Is. or more than ss. will be inflicted on- the owner. Cemficu'taa of cleanness will be issued on application two month:) after the lait appearance ot disease. All owners ot sheep depastured ia any part of New Zealand not being within a " Clean aheep District," sha.l dip the said sheep at least twice iin.nediateiy alter shearing— (thas ia)— immediately from the eiieariug board, and must give to the Inspector seven duys' notice oi intention to do bo. Returns of such dipping must be made by Inspectors to tho Uiiief inspector. All store sheep before being placed m a public yard for aale, not oeiug within a " Clean dheep District," must be fiwb dipped. Than follow penalties for. suffering infected sheep 10 stro}, aud removing infected alieep without Che autuonty of an Inspector, for concealing infected suejp to evade inspection or reiuovi.ig the dkius ot intecbed. sueep. TUo latter part of the bill relates to the traveliiug ot stock and miscellaneous matter providing penalties for not, destroying tbe carcases of diseased stock, or ior tuiwiug tlid same into i\\\y stream or poud or ocoer water.