DEPUTATION.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2177, 29 April 1870, Page 2

DEPUTATION.

This morning a deputation of runholders and gentlemen interested in pastoral pursuits, had an interview with his Honor the Superintendent. There were present Messrs France, M.P.C. ; F. D. Rich, Campbell, and Moodie.

Mr Aschcroft, M.P.C., introduced the deputation, and explained that its object was to ask his Honor to get the Executive to have the restriction upon sheep crossing the Waitaki removed ; they desired that the Executive should bring in an Ordinance with that object; Canterbury had, he believed, removed the restriction on their side. Last session of the Provincial Council an Ordinance was introduced to remove the restriction, but there were objections to its passing, and the Government did not see its way to taking it up. Since then, additionally strong reasons had arisen why it should be removed. Mr Moodie, as representative of a large English company, had established boiling down works at Kakanui, which were now at a perfect standstill, from the want of a proper class of sheep. There were settlers whose sheep were running on the other side of the Waitaki, and they were as much entitled to the consideration of the Otago Government as Otago settlers. As representative of the Oamaru district, he could say the feeling there was that the restriction should be removed; he did not think there was a single dissentient. At present there was no fear of scab, and should it afterwards arise, ppwer might be given to the Executive to at once impose restrictions of the most stringent character. His Honor said that Mr Ashcroft be aware what his opinions on the subject were. He had endeavored to the utmost to get the restrictions repealed during the last two sessions. Last session, Mr Maclean was the greatest objector, but now he was away it might be more successful. He hoped there would be no question about it now. There would be a meeting of the Executive to-day, and be would bring the matter before them, and endeavor to get an Ordinance introduced this session.

Mr Campbell suggested that in the new Ordinance it should be left to the discretion of the Executive to impose stringent regulations should scab again break out. While the present restrictions remained, the sheep went to Timaru and the trade was diverted from Oamaru to that place. Ho knew there was no scab for 200 or 300 miles around, and there was a number of settlers on the north side who would bring their sheep into Kakanui, if the restriction were removed.

Mr Ashcroft remarked that Southland had removed the restriction on crossing the Mataura.

Mr Moodie observed that sheep would soon be too fat to travel, and if anything was to be done to be of benefit this season, it should be done at once. The Company’s works at Timaru had as much work as it could do for two months, while those at Kakanui were at a stand-still. Those who were desirous of doing good to this Fiovince by sending sheep to Kakanui could not do so. Mr France said he was one of the opponents of the Ordinance introduced last session, and was the means of its being thrown out. He was requested to oppose it by bis constituents, bub now the feeling was that the restrictions should be abolished. They were then of the opinion that there was in the province sufficient sheep for its supply, but they had now requested him to try and get the restrictions taken off. After some further conversation his Honor agreed to present an Ordinance to the Council this session, to have the restriction removed. The deputation then withdrew.