F.—No. 1

REPORT OP COMMITTEE

16

173. Would not the class of students likely to avail themselves of the technical lectures be a different class to that ordinarily resorting to the Universities ? —Yes; it has been found so in all countries. 174. Mr. Macffarlane.] On the supposition that there were to be a course of lectures at Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington, and Dunedin during the year on this branch of science, what additional assistance would you require to enable you to carry that out ?—Of course one man could give a course of lectures extending over two and a half months in each place, but the expense of establishing a laboratory and class-room at each place could not be materially diminished by the moving of the apparatus from one place to another. The first expense of the establishment of a laboratory would, of course, be greater than in the case of Wellington, where only additions are required. I would wish to be clearly understood, that such a practical course as I have described is in no sense to replace the teaching of a general acquaintance with science at the leading public schools, and still less with that at any university colleges that may be established in various parts of the Colony. The two things are entirely distinct. Probably the greater number of those who availed themselves of the practical course would turn the knowledge they acquired to account as teachers, and so be the means of introducing scientific instruction into the various schools of the Colony. This is the idea expressed in Mr. Vogel's minute of reference. Witness was thanked and withdrew. The Hon. Mr. Holmes in attendance, and examined. 175. The Chairman.] You are extensively connected with the pastoral interests? —Yes. 176. In your opinion, are there any impediments standing in the way of the full development of that branch of industry ?—One of the first necessities is legislation with regard to the extirpation of disease, such as scab in sheep, pleuro-pneumonia in cattle, and foot-rot. 177. Are the Provincial enactments upon this subject not adequate ? The Provincial laws are good, so far as they go, but they work injuriously in consequence of the subdivision of the Islands into Provinces, causing great loss and inconvenience in stopping sheep on boundaries for the want of Inspectors. In travelling stock, very frequently the Inspector cannot be obtained when he is required, and the result is, that sheep are detained, to my personal knowledge, at the boundary of a Province for a fortnight or three weeks, to the great loss of the owners. 178. You are of opinion that legislation on this subject should be general and not local? —Yes; my opinion is, that one law should have force throughout the Island, and that one inspection should be sufficient to enable sheep to travel from one end of the Island to the other, subject to local inspection from time to time, provided they do not pass through scabby country. The present law has in some cases acted injuriously, in consequence of unnecessary prohibition between Provinces. For example, between Canterbury and Otago, sheep, no matter how many Inspectors had examined them and declared them to be clean, were permitted to enter Canterbury unless they were dipped. That was a virtual prohibition, because the expense of dipping was sufficient to deter the free interchange between one Province and another. The same may be said as regards pleuro-pneumonia. Although no disease has existed in Otago for eighteen months or two years, Canterbury is closed against cattle from Otago. 179. Do those regulations not often stand in the way of importing a superior stock for the improvement of the breed of cattle ?—Certainly; I have known several instances in which it has acted prejudicially. For example, the Bey. Dr. Lillie imported some pure short-horns ; they were not permitted to land, and had to be taken to Otago. The Bey. Mr. Bluett had a cow presented to him, before leaving home, by his parishioners, and although she had been landed for, I believe, three months, the police took possession of, and killed her, to prevent pleuro-pneumonia. Of course, if the animal had the disease she must haye communicated it long before that period. The question of foot-rot should, I think, engage the attention of this Committee, in order to obtain information as to the best means of eradicating it. I believe it is largely on the increase. Some imagine it does not originate spontaneously, but that is not my opinion. I believe that on strong adhesive soil, or in damp situations, the disease will be produced without contagion. I also believe that it is contagious. 180. Are you of opinion that the regulations as regards the declaration of infected districts should be placed in the hands of the General Government ? —I am distinctly of opinion that it should be placed in the Governor, and on no account whatever delegated to Superintendents. 181. Do you know what is the practice in England ? —I think the Brivy Council or the Home Secretary alone exercises that power. 182. Are there not some Provinces in the Middle Island where no efficient Scab Act is in force ?— Yes ; I believe in Nelson and Marlborough no Act has been put in force to compel the people to clean their sheep. 183. Do you think it is possible to stamp out the scab ?—Yes, certainly. It requires fencing, a clean muster, and careful dressing. 184. Will there not always be danger so long as a scabby district remains in the Island?— Certainly there will; because, granting that every effort is made to clean particular Provinces or localities, scabby sheep may be taken on board a ship for the use of the crew, and afterwards clean sheep carried as freight in the same vessel, thereby infecting them, and causing the spread of the disease. That has been the cause of the spread of the disease in many districts hitherto. 185. You are of opinion that no sheep should be allowed to travel in any vessel, without being dipped upon arrival at port ? —So long as scab exists in any of the colonies, all sea-borne sheep should, in addition to a close inspection, be compelled to be dipped properly before being permitted to travel through the country. I may state, in illustration, of the necessity of having only one law in reference to infectious cattle, that although the different Provinces prevented cattle from crossing their boundaries, that prohibition was virtually inoperative, in consequence of the boundary lines, in some cases, being merely imaginary, without any natural boundary to prevent their crossing from one into the other. For example, between Southland and Otago the line is a mere imaginary one at some points. The same applies to Canterbury and Otago. A great grievance is, that in tho