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1296. But the Inspector in Auckland is a capable man, is he not ?—Yes ; he appears to be very officious, watching every dip, and anxious to have everything up to the mark. But still we do not get rid of scab. We have a feeling in Mangare that the district should have been clean before now. When sheep come from the south they get a clean bill. When landing they are passed by the local Inspector. They are then dipped so as to be allowed to get into the yard. They get fearfully knocked about. They are often killed immediately afterwards. It makes a difference to the butchers and sellers, and the sheep are depreciated in value. Those sheep that are to be killed should, I think, escape this dipping. They think that to cure scab they must dip everything, even where there is no scab. The West Coast is an infected district, but the East Coast is clean. They treat the East Coast exactly in the same way as the West—all the sheep are run through this dip to the immense loss of those concerned, and to the great pain and injury to the sheep. 1297. Mr. Lance.] What is the dip, lime and sulphur?— Yes. 1298. Is it a hot dip?— Yes. But it depreciates the whole sheep; the wool is depreciated. They will not allow one to come through without it from the Bay of Plenty or Napier, which are clean districts. There is no exception made, every sheep must be dipped. But I should say that if the yards are supposed to be dirty some steps ought to be taken to clean the yards. 1299. Hon. the Chairman.) You would suggest that, if it is considered necessary, they should be dipped after leaving the yard if going up country? —Yes; but if not going up country they ought to be killed without this dipping. 1300. Mr. J. C. Buckland.) In winter, if the sheep are landed without going into the yards, would there then be a necessity to dip? —You are not allowed to take them into the country. Directly you land them you must put them into secure paddocks, and you must not drive them more than three miles. I think that where they come from a clean district they should be accepted, but from a scabby district they ought to be dipped. But in the case of fat sheep there should be no necessity for putting them through this ordeal, specially if they come from clean districts. Hon. the Chairman : But it has been suggested that the ship in which they come may not be clean. Mr. Buchanan : That is exactly the answer to the suggestion of Mr. Buckland; the district may be clean, but we do not know- whether the ship is. 1301. Hon. the Chairman.) It has been suggested that certificates should be given to vessels for carrying sheep ?—I dare say that would do, but I have an opinion that the slushing, washing, and cleaning that is constantly going on aboard ship is a protection. Everything is slushed with salt water, and salt water must have a depressing influence on scab. 1302. Mr. J. G. Buckland.) Is it not surprising that it should have lasted so long in Auckland : can you give any reason why it has lasted so long ?—I think it has lasted so long, for one reason, through the partial action that has been taken in dealing with some cases, and in not trying to stamp it out with sufficient energy when it has been known to exist. There are some men who have had it off and on for fourteen or fifteen years. 1303. Is there more than one case?— There has lately been one, which, I think, came under Mr. Lewis's notice. But one man has had it many years, "while all hislieighbours try to get cured. There is one man who, if he killed all his sheep, would do very much to get rid of it in his district. He, some time ago, bought a lot of scabby sheep in a bad stage of the disease. I think he paid about Is. 6d. a piece for them. 1304. Mr. Buchanan.] Do you say that these were bought in a public yard ?—They were bought on the farm and they were dipped on the farm. 1305. Mr. J. C. Buckland.) How long ago since that happened. About seven years ago. Mr. Buchanan : That is an important point to know. 1306. Hon. the Chairman.) Then you blame your Inspector for not allowing one man to shift his sheep, which he had reason to believe were infected, to a clean portion of his ground at the same time that a case of this kind could occur ? —Yes, that came under him. 1307. Are you aware that on large runs, in some cases, scab has been completely cured with one dipping, without shifting sheep from the infected ground ? —lt must have been a very peculiar dip, or the infection must have been very slight. What w-e-especially wish to get rid of is all this useless dipping : they insist on dipping the East Coast sheep, which are clean, just the same as the West Coast sheep, which are scabby. That is the point that I particularly wish to bring before the Committtee.

Monday, 22nd September, 1884. Mr. P. B. Boulton, examined. 1308. Hon. the Chairman.) You are Chief Inspector under the Sheep Act in the Canterbury District ?—Yes. 1309. What are your boundaries?—My boundary is from Waiau in the north to Waitaki in the south. 1310. You reside at Christchurch ? —Yes ; chiefly at Christchurch. 1311. Will you state to the Committee whether you consider the Sheep Act works satisfactorily in your district ?—lt is worked satisfactorily in the Canterbury District. 1312. Can you speak of any other districts : you appear to speak guardedly in referring to " Canterbury " ?■—No;" hut in some infected districts I think it has been carried out in a manner somewhat lax. -—*•**"», -. 1313. What is the reason ? —I do not think all the clauses have been strictly enforced. 1314. Will you be good enough to explain more particularly ?—Under the Act certain infected districts were allowed two years : afterwards another year for cleaning. I do not think that pressure w-as brought to bear to make people clean sheep during the time that the clauses were suspended. Ido not say that in all cases. 11—I. 5.