PREVENTION OF SCAB.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 144, 8 October 1853, Page 10

PREVENTION OF SCAB.

Public Meeting at Chbistchobch,

On Wednesday evening, a numerously attended meeting was held on this subject, at the Golden Fleece Hotel. Besides the speakers, we observed Sir Thomas Tancred, Bart., the Rev. J. Raven, Messrs. Cookson, Cass, Moorhouse, Hanmer, Woollcombe, E. J. Lee, G. L. Lee, Torlesse, Hodgkinson, Barker, Perceval, (3) &c, &c. Mr. W. G. Bbittan was called to the chair, at 7 o'clock. He opened the proceedings by reading the advertisement calling the meeting. Although not one of the conveners, he was fully sensible of the great interest and importance of this subject to all classes, whether stockowners or not, and glad to promote the object now contemplated. That object, as he understood it, was to devise measures for averting a great evil, the spread of scab in sheep ; an evil, the existence or absence of which makes all the difference between profit and loss to flockowners ; and therefore of course affects the wealth and prosperity of tins settlement in its principal means of export, wool—(hear, hear.) The attendance of many persons here to-night, who were not themselves stockowners, shewed that this was a general feeling. He alluded to the acknowledged inefficiency of the existing Scab Ordinance, and to the facility afforded by the power of local self-government, as possessed by the colonists through their representatives in the Provincial Council, for amending the law according to their wishes: and pointed out the gratifying fact that several members of the Council were present ; ready, no doubt* to listen |to any suggestions on the subject, and to pass laws in accordance with whatever might prove to be a general expression of opinion— (hear.)

Capt. Simeon said that, though it might have been expected that a stockowner would have proposed the first resolution, it would, after all, come better from one not of that class, as shewing how very material the. welfare of the pastoral interest was to the prosperity of every settler in the Province, (hear). In anew country flocks and herds were the most important property, because they furnished an export for it in its earliest stage. When the colonists first : came here, scab in sheep was hardly known:' now, unfortunately, it was known to exist in some flocks, and to threaten others with the danger of contagion. The old Ordinance was manifestly powerless to prevent this evil ; and unless stringent measures were adopted great loss of capital would ensue : the stock-, owners would be in a measure ruined. The rapid advancement of the Province depended on the degree of prosperity attained in the first few years; and if the 'pastoral interest was ruined, he believed the ruin of the whole settlement must inevitably follow, (hear). The remedy of this evil rests in a great measure with the stockowners themselves ; more perhaps with the Provincial Council. Let the meeting devise and suggest the best means of doing away with the evil, so that legislators might become thoroughly acquainted with the opinions of practical men on this subject. There were many in the room who knew more of it, especially in its details, than himself. He would not therefore, enter upon those now. He would content himself with pointing out that there are now 100,000 sheep in this settlement ; and he asked when that much-desired event, the loading of the first ship for England direct with wool from the port of Lyttelton, would occur, if this evil were not at once counteracted? (hear, hear). Captain Simeon then moved the followinga-eso-lution :—

" That owing to the inefficiency of the present Scab Ordinance, the pastoral interest in this Province is threatened with the serious evils which must ensue from' the spread of this disease among the sheep in this'settlement, and that such an event would he attended with most calamitous results to .the welfare of the Province at large." Seconded by Mr. Bubke, and carried unanimously. Mr. R. H. Rhodes, in moving the second resolution, agreed with former speakers in the importance of this subject to the general prosperity of the Province, and in the utter inefficiency of the old Ordinance. In a country like this, where there are but few natural boundaries, sheep-farmers should be compelled to keep diseased sheep enclosed at night, and herded by day: for otherwise a flock of 500 sheep could easily stray, and infect the flocks over the

whole country, in one night. A mere penalty for straying would not prevent or cure the evil Many gentlemen from Australia now present well knew the great loss incurred by means of this disease." In fact, it is a mere existence to farm diseased sheep, while healthy sheep in a new. conrilry like this, with1 abundant natural pasturage, afford one of the most profitable investments for capital. Such investments would be money thrown away, if diseased sheep were allowed to come into the country, from either Wairan or Otago. Heavy penalties: should be laid on the importation of scabby sheep-in to the Province, ■whether'by land or by sea. (Hear heir.) A leading clause in any enactment on this subject ought to be a fine of ss. at least on every scabby sheep imported. After alluding to the manner in which the penalty under the old law was evaded, by landing sheep on a Keserve set apart close to the harbour, Mr. R. moved the following resolution:

"That it is of the greatest importance that effectual measures for checking the spread of this disease be adopted in the present Session of the Provincial Council."

Mr. Tajjcbed, in seconding this motion, urged the importance-of availing ourselves of the present Session of the Provincial Council to procure a suitable enactment. A Bill on the ■ subject was now laid before them ; and:any suggestions from this meeting would be received by the Council as a great assistance. There had been a meeting ef Stockowners about a year ago, and a Committee appointed then made a report on this subject; but no one attended to it; and it fell a dead letteiybecause there was then no Government competent and willing to deal with the matter. Now there is a Government; and it became the duty of the stockowners to avail themselves of it to procure good laws, by urging upon it |tbeir claims lo protection for their property. (Hear.) Mr. Hall explained how the matter stood with regard to the bill just mentioned. The Government of this Province was extremely • anxiousto get enacted an efficient law on the subject; and owing to the press of work on their hands, though His Honor the Superinten- • dent had been mainly instrumental in: framing1; the measure, he (Mr. Hall) had undertaken the charge of the bill in its progress through the Council. The measure did not profess to^eradicate the disease, because that would required ' paid machinery for enforcing dressing, &'e;,alid : there were no funds to pay for such air establishment. Only the prevention of further spread, then,.was aimed at by the Bill. If, however, any alterations or additions could be suggested, with a view either to more effectual prevention, or to eradication without involving - a necessity for public expenditure, he should be too happy to receive them. He then read over ' the principal working clauses. The 2nd clause appoints a penalty of from £10 to i)IO0 for driving, or causing to be driven, scabby sheep . on land not owned or rented by the driver. If over 100 sheep, an additional penalty of from Is, to £1 per head for every one over. Mr. Rhodes said the number was of no consequence. A small number would do as much harm as a large one. (Hear.). Mr. Hall continued. The 3rd clause subjects any one convicted, on the evidence of. two credible witnesses, of wilfully committing the same offence, to imprisonment for not exceeding three months.

Mr. Pkabson suggested the possibility of bribing a shepherd to commit the offence auu take the consequences.

.HivHam, explained that, if, such, a transaction were traced, it would subject the master to fine and-imprisonment—(hear.) The 4th clause empowers two Justices, on information being laid before them, to order the yarding by n'gut > arid herding- by day, of any diseased flock, under penalty of £10 for every part of a day or night in which the order is not complied with. A conversation here took place between the Chairman, Mr. Bray, and Me. Hail, as to themeaus of proving infection and enforcing this clause. It was suggested that an inspector might be paid either out of the rental of the runs when the administration of that tuna should belong to that office,—out of a general tax, —or out of a tax upon stock. Mr. Higgins thought an inspector was unnecessary, and in many cases ineffective. If sheep were dressed thoroughly, and driven immediacy after, an inspector could not declare scab to exist. If only in an incipient state of the disease, no opinion could.be formed; ana ye h contagion was as likely to take place then as

in a more advanced stage...-He would rather trust to the good faith of the owner, than to the ; u d<nnent of an inspector in such cases. The owner's • declaration would be sufficient, if it were left to him: but if it depended on the inspector, a seitler might drive his sheep with impunity if he could only blindfold the inspector. He could not agree to compulsory yarding1 and herding; he thought that an arbitrary interference with the internal arrangement of a station I—(hear, hear). - In, Sou- westers, when sheep I were likely to stray, it was the interest of the [owner more than any one else to'be up seeing [that his shepherds did their duty early in the iiaorning—(hear, hear.) '. Mr. Tancbbd remarked that the Committee ilast year had expressed an opinion that newlyi dressed sheep were not infectious. He should Ibe glad 1° hear opinions on the subject. ! Mr. Higgins. After a thorough good dressing even, and with the greatest care, scab, will shew again in three weeks or a month; and that even where there has been no chance of contact with fresh disease.

Mr. Rhodes. After dressing, scab will sometimes develope itself in a fortnight, and even shew a few spots in ten days. It is easily kept down \i the sheep are dressed again directly. If left for three months, as is frequently done, [they are often as bad as ever again. They should be dressed again within a fortnight, and each time put into clean hurdles, and on to a clean inn. As to yarding and herding, it is no justice to neighbours to allow scabby sheep to run at large. In the small runs of this country, 8 miles by 4, they had often only 2 miles to run on to a neighbour's land ; and this they would often do, even with the best superintendence, if not yarded by night or herded by day. Mr. Caverhit.l said it was impossible to hurdle sheep in the hilly part of the country, though you might do so with advantage on the plains. He had seen plenty of sheep thoroughly Iclenned by one dressing. He had cleaned many, land never found it necessary to dress twice. I Mb. Sanderson was opposed to compulsory warding. Sheep yarded closely were much more Hikely to infect each other. A heavy penalty rfor straying was a sufficient precaution. | Mr. Ehodes reminded gentlemen from Australia that it was the common practice there to yard sheep every night. The option of running [them at large.would be, of course, better for the jjowner of scabby sheep : and, if tliey strayed,he plight pay the penalty: but what would repay .the owners of sheep infected by that act of ■straying, and the community at large, for the [infection of 10,000 sheep or more which might |easily originate from that single act? There gwere said to be many scabby sheep straying labout now in the plains ; and who could tell piow many of these small runs they might inifect in a few weeks, or even day ? (hear, hear). I Ma. Sanderson expressed himself favorably |to the yarding of sheep at night (hear, hear.) | Mr. Hall proceeded with the remaining They are to the effect of authorising jJustices to cause examination of sheep alleged ;to be scabby, the examiners to be paid by the iowner if they prove so, and by the informer if jnot :-r-imposing a penalty of £100 on any ownjer resisting the Justices' order for examination: I providing that separate informations may be I laid by every separate owner or occupier of land |driveu over :—and declaring that the remedy lat common law for damage incurred is in no i way diminished by the enforcement of the OrHinance.

| Mr. Hall confessed that this measure would I only act as a present check to the evil. There ;was no provision against the importation of I scabby sheep .- he should desire to see stringent measures adopted to prevent it, for one ship- ; load might ruin the whole country, when more ! jully stocked. Indeed, he did not see why such ; importation should not be entirely prohibited. : (Hear, hear). ! Mb. Rhodes instanced the infection of Mr. "molars valuable clean flock by 200 or 300 • J»»by sheep landed, and placed on Mount ■ *Jf as ant two or three years ago. Thence had I pning most of the infection now in the coun■'a ' a"c lf" tlie owners of sheep here had then bribed to buy that scabby flock, and had ; "« their throats before they could land, he was ; J^ v"lced they would have been gainers, (hear,.

suve^T?ll^ Was not satisfiecl with tllis niea" wlicv f' y Providetl penalties for trespassing, tlie i r rclaiises were »eetlecl t0 destroy snnCi ,the Pestile»ce, without which its i'^l could never be prevented. Dipping

should be enforced, under authorized inspection, (hear, hear). Mn. Lake thought notice ought to be given to owners of diseased sheep, to have them cured within a given time, allowing for the difficulties of each respective locality,such as distance from fuel, &c. The owners would be thankful for some such provision. With every care, as he had himself proved, it was almost impossible to prevent sheep from straying on the open plains, (hear).

A conversation took place between the Chairman and Messrs. Hall and Rhodes as to the possibility of enforcing dressing.

Mb. Bray suggested that it should be compulsory to dress scabby sheep within three months, under a penalty ; and that if not done then, it should be done under the direction of a Government Inspector, at the expense of the owner. Surely the Bill might contain a provision for such an appointment, even though it were not actually made until Sir George Grey should authorize the use of the rent of pasturage by the Province, thus providing funds for the needful salary ?

Mr. C. Hunter Bkown drew attention to two practical points requiring immediate attention. First, a large invasion of scabby sheep from Nelson was generally known to be contemplated ; and there were also some actually on the plains between the two rivers. Secondly, if no fresh law were made to prevent it before January, those scabby sheep might, under the present law, travel over the whole country during that month, and there would be no remedy. (Hear, hear.)

The resolution was put, and carried unauimously.

Mr. Wakefield briefly moved the third resolution, explaining that he did so to give strength to the assertion that the question was one of the greatest interest, not to stockowners alone, but to every one interested in the welfare of the Province. The conflicting opinions put forth to-night on points of detail proved that many of them could only be discussed with a satisfactory result in a Committee. Should a Committee be appointed in accordance with this resolution, he trusted colonists of all classes would be named as members of it, —stockowners as well as others, —and men of all shades of opinion on the subjects discussed to-night,—in order that a fair and well-considered judgment might be arrived at. He moved " That a Committee be appointed to consider what steps are best calculated to avert the evils above alluded to, and to memorialize the Provincial Council." Seconded by Mr. Sanderson, and carried unananiniously. Mr. J. Bealey moved, and Cap. Westenra seconded, the fourth resolution, as follows:— That the Committee do consist of Messrs. Tancred, Higgins, Sanderson, Hunter Brown, J. Hall, Wakefield, Ehodes, Caverhill, Burke, and Pearson. A vote of thanks to the Chairman, "briefly acknowledged by him, closed the proceedings. The Committee arranged to meet on Thursday evening, at the Royal Hotel.