SOUTH AUCKLAND CATTLE BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1325, 25 December 1880, Page 2

SOUTH AUCKLAND CATTLE BOARD.

A meeting of the South Auckland Cattle Board was held in the Farmers' Club, Cambridge, on Thursday forenoon. The members present were, Messrs. E. McLean (chairman), R. H. D. Fergusson, A. A. Fantham, J. A.

Douglas, and W. L. Martyn. A communication was read from the Cattle Inspector stating that pursuant to instructions from the Premier, he had I in conjunction with Mr Sharp, M.R.C.V.S. made a thorough Inspection of all the cattle belonging to the Waikato Land Association, and found the cattle totally free from pleuro pneumonia. Means had been taken for securing a complete muster, and he (Mr Lewis) had no reason to doubt but that all the cattle belonging to the Company were actually produced and inspected with the exception of three, the absence of which was satisfactonly accounted for. The inspection took place at the following places :— Eureka, Hokonui, and Woodlands, and in order to make it more certain that the muster was complete, they had traversed the lands, including Mangawharo, on which the cattle had been grazing. In the report of the previous inspection, dated Ist November, the number of cattle was stated to have been 2,359, exclusive of sucking calves. The communication covered the following documents :—1:: — 1 : Report by Mr Sharp, dated 16th instant, in which he submitted the following as the result of an examination made by him in company with Mr Lewis : — At Eureka on the 9th and 10th instant, inspected 2099 h«ad. Seventeen of the number were yarded for close examination, and, one cow. killed for post mortem examination. On the 13th and 14th instant visited the Woodlands and Maungawharo, and examined 812 head ; one bull having been killed for post mortem examination. The number of animals altogether examined was 2941. Since his examination in October last one animal had died from eating tupaki, and two had been destroyed in the drains. All the cattle examined were found free from pleuro pneumonia, and he was satisfied the disease did not exist at the present. On the loih instant he visited Mr Burkes farm, at Te Awamutu, and fourd that also free from pleuro pneumonia. 2: Declaration made by the manager of the Association, in which he states, (I) that he had charge of all cattle running on the property of the Association ; (2) that all the horned cattle upon the property had been mustered for inspection ; (3) that no cattle had been distrojed on said property during the time that had elapsed since the inspection made in October, except a bull destroyed for yoU mortem purposes ; (4), that two head had been drowned, and one died from poison as stated above ; (5), that the only cattle slaughtered since the inspection in October were three bullocks and two cows for food purposes ; and (6), that no oattlehad been driven or removed from the property since the date of last inspection ; 3 : declaraby the sub-manager in corroboration of the foregoing. Mr Lewis, who was also in attendance, repeated, in answer to questions put, that he had examined the beasts oaref ully, and he felt quite certain that, at the present time, they were free from pleuropneumonia. The examination had been very carefully conducted. Not contented with inspectincr the animals mustered, they had traversed the whole estate to ascertain for themselves that a complete muster had been made. Mr Fantham. : You did all that in four days. Mr Sharp : No, it occupied five days. The Chairman : I think the Board is to be congratulated on the fact that there is no longer any disease in the place. In that case there is nothing more for us to do but to take the necensary steps for the removal of the restrictions. Mr Douglas concurred in that opinion, adding that the district being free from the disease, and steps taken to have the district declared free, their functions as a Board, he apprehended, ceased. Mr Fantham adopted a different view. He was not by any means satisfied with the inspection, or chat all the cattle on the property had been foitbcoming at the inspection. He pointed cut that, at the inspection which took place on the sth October, the manager (Mr Reynolds) had been asked to state the number of cattle on the run at that time. The reply was *jhere were 2500 head. At the late inspection only 2359 had been mustered, which left a deficiency of 91 uuaccounted for. The instructions given to Mr Lewis by the Board were that ho should examine every beast en the place, and yet, according to that showing, he had failed to comply with these instructions. Then again, Mr Lewis had taken upon himself to say that no pleuro pneumonia had existed on the property for a period of at least six months. He failed to see how he could possibly be aware that such was the case, seeing his personal knowledge of the property was limited to his recent inspection. He must have made that statement at random or on mere hearsay evidence, and that was to his (Mr Fanthams) mind a very unsatisfactory mode of procedure. The President said the position was a very simple one. The Board had decided that an investigation should be made by the inspectors, and that if their report was favorable the restrictions should be removed. The report showed that a rigid investigation of the cattle had been made, and that the inspectors were satisfied from that investigation that the disease no longer existed. Such being the case, they had no alternative but to remove the restrictions. To his mind that was eimply the position of affairs. Mr. FergusHon: Exactly so. We have pledged ourselves to do a certain thing, if the report was favourable. The report is favourable, and there is no other course open for us,but to remove the restrictions. Mr. Douglas said the inspectors had been appointed by Government, and they were Dound to assume that they were competent for the work. In that case, they could do nothing but adopt their report, and give effect to it, as originally proposed. After the point had been further discussed, Mr. Fergusson moved that the reports as submitted be adopted, and that the Government be recommended to remove the restrictions at once. The motion was seconded and adopted ; Mr. Fantham alone dissenting. The Chairman pointed out that, from a herd of cattle recently imported into Auckland from an infected district in Australia, Mr. Fantham had purchased a cow, and brought it up to the Waikato district. Mr, Fcntham admitted having done so, but explained that he had isolated the animal, so as to prevent the bare possibility of contageon, and as a further precaution, he exacted a promise from the inspector that he would inspect the animal before it was liberated. This concluding the business, the meet* ing separated.

Milligan one of the porters at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, drew Grand Flaneur in one of Miller's sweeps. On thinking the matter over before the race, he concluded that a pound was to much to risk on one race. He therefore sold out eightteen shillings' worth, in parcels of two shillings each Milligan therefore recieves just £90. The Times states that the British Go vernnaent hay resolved not to re- establish the Indian navy.