15

H.—29

numbers of pedigree and grade dairy stock finding purchasers at prices satisfactory to the breeders. A large number of the latter were purchased for shipment to Java. Destruction of the Kea. The subsidy payable by the Government for the destruction of the kea was increased during the year from Is. to 55., and at once an increase in the number of kea-bcaks presented to the Department's officers was noticeable. For tho period prior to the increase—practically six months —927 beaks were paid for, while for the remaining six months 1,388 were brought forward and certified to. Inspection of Dairies supplying Milk to Towns. The inspection and registration of all dairies and herds supplying milk for town consumption has been continued during the year, and on the whole the premises have been maintained in a satisfactory condition. The dairies supplying milk to' the cities and larger towns are necessarily given more frequent visits of inspection, and it is satisfactory to note that licensees as a whole show an endeavour to carry out any instructions issued with a view to ensuring that the utmost cleanliness obtains and the conditions such that all reasonable requirements be met. The Veterinary Laboratory. The work of the Department's laboratory at Wallaceville has consisted chiefly of the carryingout of routine duties in the way of examinations of specimens forwarded, and some special investigations into certain diseases, notably contagious mammitis and contagious abortion. As regards contagious mammitis several different methods of curative treatment have been tried, but the results obtained did not give very much encouragement in the belief that a cure for the disease might be looked for in any of the methods under trial. The work is, however, being continued. In the case of contagious abortion preparations for the manufacture of a vaccine wore put in hand, but owing to the conflicting opinions entertained respecting its efficacy, and the practical difficulties of carrying out the method on the majority of farms in New Zealand, vaccination has not yet been officially advocated for this country. An interesting disease affecting the skin of cattle, and giving rise to serious symptoms attended by mortality, was investigated, and proved to arise from infection by a mould related to, though not identical with, certain forms of ringworm. An interesting investigation into mortality among cattle in Hawke's Bay was undertaken. Observations showed that a small parasite of the fluke species was responsible in determining the acute enteritis which is the dominant symptom of this complaint. Specimens of tho parasite have been forwarded for identification to Dr. Sweet, Parasitologist, of Melbourne University, but up to the present no information as to the result of these observations has been received. This is the first time, I believe, that the three foregoing diseases have been recorded as occurring in this country. An. outbreak of blood-poisoning affecting sheep after shearing was investigated, and the cause of the trouble proved to be due to infection by the organism of malignant oedema present in contaminated soil. Cases of poisoning of sheep, proved by subsequent analysis to be due to absorption of carbonate of soda, came under observation. There has been a notable increase in the requests for investigation and advice upon diseases of poultry. Cases of the disease known as " blackhead " of turkeys, and of cocoidiosis of chickens, have been investigated and their nature definitely determined. Milk samples to the number of 739 were received for examination. Of these 169 proved to be from cases of streptococcic mammitis, and 143 from other forms of mammitis. Fifty-eight samples of milk from Dunedin, Christchurcli, Wellington, and Wanganui districts were submitted for biological tests for the presence of tubercle bacilli. It is satisfactory to record that no reactions were observed in the test subjects. A further 153 pathological and other specimens were examined for various conditions ; these included samples of paspalum-seed, which were examined for the possible presence of ticks. The preparation of blackleg vaccine was again carried out at the laboratory, and 130,000 doses were distributed to officers engaged in the vaccination of calves against this disease. The farm operations have been carried out by the Farm Overseer, who has devoted his whole energies to the maintenance and improvement of the farm property. Tho experiments in muttonraising upon plots dressed with various artificial manures have been continued under the direction of Mr. B. C. Aston, Chemist, this entailing considerable labour in the fortnightly weighings, &c, of the sheep depastured on the plots. Tho results of these experiments have been recorded in the Journal by Mr. Aston. Importation of Animal-manures. As recorded last year, the want of shipping for the carriage of manures from Australia still results in considerable quantities of manures, prepared, according to the requirements of the New Zealand regulations and intended for export to New Zealand, ultimately going elsewhere. This is much to be regretted, as very little animal-manure is now coming into New Zealand from Calcutta, our only other outside source of supply, and this makes it all the more necessary that the available supply in Australia be secured to New Zealand. I append hereunder the report of the Inspector of Manure-sterilizing, Sydney, who has, as usual, carried out his duties with thoroughness and due regard to Now Zealand's interests : — The supervision of the sterilization of animal-manure at the nine mills licensed under the New Zealand Stock Act, 1908, regulations, has fully occupied my time, together with that of my assistant. Seven of these mills are located in the Botany district, one at Riverstone (thirty miles distant), and one at Footscray, Victoria. The system of inspection carried out was in all details the same as that followed during the past sixteen years. The, limited amount of shipping-space available for manure during several months of the year, together with the stoppage of