The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1972, 7 January 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 1907.

On one or two occasions previously the abominable mess into which the affairs anti management of the Agricultural Department has been allowed to drift through incompetence or something worse, constrained us to freely criticise the whole nasty business in the hope that those who are responsible for the awful muddle might bo induced to do something to iprprove it. There was reasonable ground for hope, too, that with a. change in the Ministerial head of the Department impending at that time the exposures which we made would be taken into account by the new Ministry, and at least some attempt made to return to the country a quid pro quo for the £133,319 voted by Parliament last session (of which nr. less a sum than £60,801 is absorbed in salaries alone), for the up, keep of that worse than useless, because woefully mismanaged, Department. Those hopes were enhanced when the new Minister stated that after assuming office ho intended to go round the colony and make himself acquainted with what ho termed the “enormous ramifications of the Department,” and by the further fact that the Hon. Robert McNab, ih.-ug a lawyer, desires himself to to kcoi as a farmer, and wishes it to be u derstood that his sympathies a

wholly with the farmers—at any rate until the Laud Bill campaign is over. All these things gave some ground for hope that when the promised reforms in the Department were matured there would at least he some improvement noticed in comparison with the inert and meaningless nonsense that cha > aoterised his predecessor’s control J3ut alas! vnip was the hope, and we now find that the last state of that Department is worse than the first, Mr. McNab had scarcely taken the reins of office when he admitted from his place in the House that reforms in the Department were urgently necessary; ho had been told by other members what a shocking condition things were in, and, politician like, lie was ready to make promises. Possibly he then intended to fulfil some or them, too, when he told a deputation in October last, which urged the establishment of a Veterinary College, that lie was arranging for the systematic .education of stock inspectors' then in the employ of the Department, by Mr. Gilruth,- Chief Veterinary ; but up to the present moment no semblance of a move has been made jn that direction; but on the contrary, fresh appointments of Inspectors of Stock, who have failed to pass the examinations prescribed By ,

law for inspectors under the Slaughtering and Inspection Act 1000., In

other words, men who have proved

themselves incupablo of examining carcases for disease are given the legal power to declare live stock diseased or otherwise as . seemctli to them meet (spell the last word with an “a” if you like; they’ll not know the di(foronce). But what about the farmer who may have to suffer loss I lor their ignorant whims? He has no redress. Now, lot us seo how the

natter works out, and how the suplosed re-organisation is to benefit the

farmer who has to pay the enormous sum above mentioned to maintain the Department. Over a year ago mat- j tors came to a crisis when Mr. Gilmtli, disgusted with the futility of the Department’s work, submitted liis resignation to the Government. A. and P. Associations, who knew the value of Mr. Gilrutli’s work and tlio

value ho and his assistants were to the colony, most strongly protested that he should not bo allowed to depart, and they were later assured that all the difficulties which led to

his resignation had been overcome, and that the Department had been ro-organisod. It has, but only to placo it in a worse plight than before,

for this is what has been done. Mr MoNab has appointed at £SOO a year a Chief Inspector of Stock (Mr. Gilruth’s salary is £425), who is to control all matters concerning the administration of the Stock and Dairy Acts, by means of inspectors who are to bo supervised by ’ ‘lnspectors-in-Cliargo,” while the experts in animal diseases are placed in a merely advisory position without any authority. Now the Chief Inspector is a layman, a farmer, who krows just about as much abont diseases and no more than any other intelligent farmer, and the Inspectors and Inspectors and Inspoctors-in-Charge most probably do not know as much. At anyrate, some of them who failed to pass the legal examinations do not, yet they are invested with the authority of law to destroy a man’s cattle if they think fit, not knowing for certain whether there is disease among them or not, while the qualified veterinarians may or may not be appealed to to settle the question if the Chief Inspector thinks fit. Imagine, therefore, a supposed case at Wliatatutu, and what happens? The farmer reports it to the Insi)ector, who visits the place and doesn’t know whether there is disease or not; but he reports it to the Inspector-in-Cliarge at Napier or Auckland, and he pays a visit, only to express the same doubt. Then he in turn reports to the Chief Inspector, who also visits Wliatatutu as soon as he can leisurely return from similar important investigations at Hokitika or Southland, and when at last his eye glass is elevated on the beast, he comes to the conclusion that a qualified Inspector should advise him, or perhaps that the animal should he destroyed, to save further trouble, and in any case, before the vet,- is called in many weeks must elapse and either the animal is dead, and the ■ whole herd infected, or there is nothing at all the matter with it and ten times its value has been wasted in travelling expenses. To put it plainly, the man who knows how to act is the man whom the Department, under the re-organised muddle, will not permit to net; but we must continue the story another time, when we - have more startling revelations to make in regard to this awful, blundering to which farmers and taxpayers would do well to pay close attention.

An earthquake was foil in Gisborne tii Ifiv minutes to 12 oil Saturday light, and another about two hours

A monster sunfish, measuring 9ft. across from liu to lin, and weighing from loewt. to a ton, was caught at Broad Bay, in Otago Harbor, last week'. As soon as it was seen, launches, yachts, and dingheys went in pursuit with harpoons, boathooks, rides, etc., and, after an exciting chase, lasting nearly two hours, the fish was roped and towed ashore.

The Gisborne cadets returned homo on Saturday, after having had a most

enjoyable time at the Exhibition. Through a misunderstanding as to the time they did not compete in the tournament. One of the cadets had a startling experience in the “helterskelter.” He was given too much speed, with the result that he shot over the groove. He was rendered unconscious by the fall, but soon re. covered.

At the meeting of the Kia Ora Co-operative Company on Saturday, Mr W. C. Walsh suggested that when the To Arai estate was cut up, they should combine and endeavor to secure a section that could be used for winter paddocking. The idea was generally approved of, and deemed [ worthy of further consideration in the future, Mr Caesar saying that he thought .the technical difficulties as to the ownership of the property for I tlie Company could be got over.

Flags wore (lying at half-mast ii isborne oil Saturday on receipt o

the sad'news of the death of Mr. J. ri. Johnston, Gisborne, manager for Messrs. Mucky, Bogan, Steen and Co. Mr. Johnston was well known throughout this district, and especially along the Coast. He was popular wherever he went. About three

months ago lie got six months’ leave of absence, owing to failing health, and went to Taupo, where he died at half-past three on Saturday morning. Much sympathy is felt for the widow and relatives.

According to a Nottingham paper, there is a groat deal of talk in Roman Catholic circles in the Midlands over the successful appeal to Rome against a decision of Bishop Biiidle. - Father Hayes, Rector of Market Basen, went to New Zealand on leave of absence- While there ho was taken ill, and applied to the Bishop for an extension of leave. No reply was received, and when he returned to England ho found another clergyman in possession of the rectory, Father Hayes appealed direct to Rome, and ha,s been reinstated at the rectory

As the steamer Tuatea was leaving the wharf at 10 on Saturday morning, a rope attached to the Harbor Board’s boat, from which blasting of rock is being done, got foul of the steamer’s propeller, and nearly lialf-an-liour’s delay ensued while the line was being got clear. Fortunately the Tuatea was in a position that a. line could be cast on to one of the. boats at tlie wharf, while one of the men was in the water distentangling the rope. As the Waikare was also delayed for a like period by the demy of the passenger tender, the matter is sufficiently serious for the Harbor Board to enquire where the blame lies, for having ropes left in such a way as to foul the propeller of a valuable vessel like the Tuatea.

Things have been quiet in tlie police line in Gisborne lately, hut curiosity was aroused on Saturday by a viligant officer paying a visit to that portion of Clifford street near the Whataupoko Tennis Grounds. This is a very quiet locality, and it is rare that a vehicle is seen there except when tennis is being played. A point had been raised as to whether the footpath had been obstructed, but there being no formed footpath .there the police are simply warning people of the complaint made. It certainly would he most unfair to proceed without previous warning against people making use of such a quiet locality for tying.up horses while the riders visit the tennis ground.

There are a good many problems that confront the breeder of dairy cattle. He may be as wise as human knowledge can make him, and yet ho can not bo wise enough not to make mistakes. For instance, breeders of dairy cattle have a varying judgment. Not a man among them but will look at a group of young heifers and say, to himself, at least, which one will make the best cow ; and their opinions do not agree very well. As a rule the finelyproportioned heifer, the handsomest one, will be selected. Beauty of the female form has always been a moving consideration among men, and to a certain extent there'is wisdom in the idea. But we must look farther. Amplitude and fitness of form, wherever it applies to the functions of motherhood, must be our guide when wo would forecast the future cow. Do the handsomest heifers moke the best cows? is the question. Should a man, when ho goes out to buy heifers, be guided by his ideas of beauty ? Do not the rather angular built heifers turn put to be the best cows, provided always they are equally as well bred ? What was the form and build >vhen they were heifers of spine pf the hjpst fainops cows in the four dairy breeds ? Were they of smooth, plump, handsome outline, or were they pf ft more bony, angular build? No one seems to have made any careful note of build ? No one seems to have made any earpful note of his experiences and judgments as ho wont along on this important problem of the betokening form of the young heifer. Yet it is highly important that we should all be good judges of the young things. Wo would very much like to hear from some of the older breeders on this question. Tell us whether, as a rule, the socalled handsome heifers have proved the best cows ? —Dairyman- '