SCAB IN SHEEP.

Dunstan Times, Issue 603, 7 November 1873, Page 3

SCAB IN SHEEP.

We have much pleasure in publishing the following correspondence, which has been handed to us by Mr. Henry Campbell of the Wan ik i Station, and who deserves the best thanks, not only of his Brother Rnnholders but, of the public generally for thsa stion hi has take r in connection with the subject to which it refers. It will he gratifying to MI interested (and who are not intereste I in the conservation of woo! and. meat) to know that the present Government are taking such steps to prevent the introduction of disease amongst sheep that it will be almost impossible henceforth our flicks shoukl bsco ns infected. Wide spread dise Isa amongst the flocks in Otago would bs an enarm ms calamity, and the Government a-aon’y doing a sensible thing in taking steps at las' to secure immunity from it. In this cmieolion we are glad to see that Mr. Pierce Power has been appointe 1 as an ad iition il Inspector, s i that the Staff is now nearly on the same footing as j(. was, when Mr. Donald Rsid with great rashness, an I in a penny-wise an I piunl foods'.! spirit of economy, discharged all the Sheep Inspectors, save Mr Logie the chief Inspector, and the Inspector for Oamaru. “ Prevention is better than cure,” and whore the risk is so enor.n ms, and the revenue derived from sheep so large, thepublie do not grudge thi paltry sum re quire I to cover the expenditure in thii Department. Tue sheep Assessment, unlike the Customs and other Revenues, costs nothing in its collection, and the whole expense of the Sheep Inspector’s Departmint 'iocs not amount to an ordinary com uissiou of 24 per Cent., which any Agent wool I charge for me -ely passing the fi or TU.ooof. a year through his hands, in early days in Victoria, scab was neglected, audit now costs that Coiouy a direct sum of Id,i)JJ I. a year lor the Inspectors’ Department, mid the indirect loss occ sioae.l by it mast be ten times ciiat amount. Tue m reduction of superior sheep from Eoglau I an I ihe Colonies must go on here tor years t >co.ne. We Hover kn >w wiia.i or wuere ocab may break out —each district must t a net ore have an Inspector, So that Wc saai.be ready to meet the euciny at all poi ds. And above alt we are glad to see turn, .upping at Hie Bens is to be heucetor.U a sine qua nun.

The following is the correspondence refeared to Provincial Secretary’s Office, Dunedin, Uclouea 10, 1873. Gendcmen : lam directed by His Honor the Superintendent to acknowledge tire accept of your letter of date the Ist instant, with reference to the recent outiiec.k of iSeab among the sheep in th“ OaamiiU alas trice, mad, ua reply, to forward the enclosed copy of a report from jthe Chief Inspector of Sue, p, bom which it will be seen that, eveiy precaution has laeeu taken an the matter to which you lefer lam to state further that a contract has been entered into for the erection of a dip at i’ort (Jhalineis, and that similar arrangements aie being made with respect to Uamaru and Invercargill. lhave the honor, ate., ALEX. WILLIS, Under Secretary. To Henry Campbell, Esq., Me sis. Campbell, and Low, Messrs. Fraser and Fiaser, and theother Gentlemen signing the letter. Sheep Inspector’s Department, Dunedin, Oct. 7, 187.3. Sir : 1 have the honor to report hj aving reamed from inspecting the diseased admen n -ar Cave Valley, about eight miles from 0 im aru. Before my arrival, Mr. Inspector Baylcy had examined the sheep belonging to Me. ■l. Lees of Triston, and Mr. J. Reid of Llderslee, and found them diseased, and ha 1 dsn looked through the sheep depasturin' contiguous to them. On my arrival, in company with him, we made another exam mation of all the sheep in the neighborhood, and found 1,500 belonging to Mr Lees, and 2,5 0 of Mr. Beil’s, inflicted with scab. With the exception of 2)1 of Mr I ee’s sheep which a>e badly diseased, the remainder are very slightly in octal—not more than a dozen having any spot m disease on them. The disease lias been introduce 1 by two imported Bams brought by Mr. Lees fro.. England, Wo Melbourne, about die ui ! ■ January last. Two months after ar, iva. they were placed among 200 of his ewes , they contracted the disease from them, mi l spread it to the remainder of his flock, and Mr. Reid's sheep, which were running i the adjoining paddock. All the diseased sliocep were put into three paddocks fenced as securely as possible, with two men of Mr. Boi l’s keeping , sharp look out oa his sheep, and one mat from Air. Lee's in his paddock, to proven' any chance of straying. As there is very little knowledge of the disease in that locality, and fearing i might spread thtough the country, I deem ed it advisable to instruct Mr. Bayley t remain on the spot, anil see tint the. dressing was properly carried out, and n to leave till everything has been satisfactorily finished. Apparently there is ro oceasion f alarm. The sheep, with the exception o the 200 previously m ntioned ha. rig her; so sightly infected. I hope within ; fortnight, or three weeks, all danger win bo past. I have, &c., WM. LOGIE, Chief Inspector. . Provincial Treasury, Duuodia,