H.—32.

Memoeandum from F. C. Lewis, Sheep and Cattle Inspector, and Eegistrar of Brands, Auckland. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. 21st March, 1882. The statements made by Messrs. Gunson and McDonald in their letter of the 2nd February, addressed to the Hon. the Premier, are correct. Messrs. Eoose, Gunson, and McDonald, all of whom occupy adjoining farms, had dressed their sheep for the destruction of lice, and were not aware of the existence of scab, and did not suspect it until it was pointed out to them by me. They were quite unable to account for the presence of the disease in their flocks. At the hearing in the Police Court I thought it advisable to press, in each case, for a conviction and consequent fine ; but, if the minimum fine had been £5 instead of £10, I would have considered that the lower sum would have satisfied the ends of justice. F. C. Lewis.

Memoeandum from F. C. Lewis, Chief Sheep and Cattle Inspector, Eegistrar of Brands, Auckland. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. 22nd April, 1882. I beg to submit an additional statement of facts in the matter of the petition from Messrs. Gunson and McDonald. Sheep belonging to each of those persons were inspected by me on the 14th December last. Sheep belonging to Mr. Elijah Eoose, who occupies a farm adjoining Messrs. Gunson and McDonald's farms, and whose name is mentioned in the petition, were also inspected by me on the 14th December. On Mr. Boose's farm I examined on that day about two hundred sheep, all of which, he said, had been dipped some months previously. On a few of the sheep (about seven) I found dead scab ; and on one of the animals there was a small patch of fresh scab, in which I found acari. Mr. McDonald informed me that his sheep had been dipped about four weeks previously; and on several 1 found patches of dead scab. Mr. Gunson also informed me that his sheep had been dipped. I found fresh scab on one animal, and I did not see any old scab. Each of these three sheepowners assured me that the dipping had been resorted to solely for the purpose of destroying lice. The charge laid under the Sheep Act, and upon which each of the three defendants was convicted, was that he, " being the owner of certain sheep which he had reasonable grounds to suspect had become infected within the meaning of the said Act, did not, within forty-eight hours thereafter, give notice thereof to the Inspector appointed under the authority of the said Act." The Magistrate before whom the cases were heard is Mr. Macdonald, E.M. The charge against Mr. Eoose was heard on the 24th January last, and those against the other two on the 27th. Each of the defendants declared to the Bench that he had not (in each case I proved that the sheep were so infected) suspected the existence of scab. In each case the minimum fine of £10 was inflicted. On the same 27th of January, before the hearing of the cases against Messrs. Gunson and McDonald, I also laid an information against Mr. Gunson for having, on the 12th of December ultimo, driven infected sheep on the highway ; and against Mr. McDonald for having, on the sth December ultimo, negligently suffered infected sheep belonging to him to stray upon land not in his possession. With the concurrence of the Crown Prosecutor, these charges, as had been intended, were withdrawn when the before-mentioned convictions were obtained. All of these three persons are of high reputation, and I fully believe the statement made by them, that they did not know or suspect the existence of the scab. Having made inquiry of several of their neighbours, I have not found any person who had suspected the infection. Attached is a copy of the informations above referred to. F. C. Lewis, Chief Inspector.

Telegeam to Eesident Magisteate, Auckland. Does he advise that fines inflicted on Gunson, McDonald, and Eoose be remitted or deducted. Have the fines been paid ? No. 578.—3rd August, 1882.

C. J. A. Haselden, Esq, Wellington. Auckland, 4th September, 1882. Theee were two charges against each party except as to Eoose, but only one case proceeded with, and then the minimum penalty only imposed (the fines have been paid). Cannot point to any ground for remission except that the penalties in the Sheep Act are severe, but perhaps necessarily so. J. E. Macdonald, E.M.

Be Baekee, Doull, Seymoue, and Loisel and Cooke, Farmers, Gisborne. Memoeandum from Bdwaed Oebell, Inspector of Sheep, Gisborne. 2nd October, 1880. The Under-Secretary, Colonial Secretary's Department, Wellington. Be prosecution cases under the 23rd section Sheep Act: Mr. Barker, fined £82 10s.; Mr. Doull, £156 ss. ; Mr. Seymour, £100; and Messrs. Boisel and Cook, £43 155.; Mr. Chamber, under the 26th section, £10. Messrs. Barker and Doull's flocks have been infected with scab for some years, and from these infected flocks the scab has spread in Poverty Bay Subdivision. Since my appointment of Inspector of Sheep they have carried out my instructions, and very little scab is now visible in these flocks. I may say they have used their best endeavours to clean their sheep; the adverse weather during the dippings made it difficult to cure the scab, and the scrubby nature of their runs prevented them making clean musters. Messrs. Loisel and. Cook and Seymour's flocks were infected from Doull's

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