SPREAD of SCAB at MOTUEKA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 178, 10 August 1874, Page 2

SPREAD of SCAB at MOTUEKA.

The following is the report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the spread of Scab at Motueka and Moutere :— To his Honor the Superintendent of the Province of Nelson. Snt, — Your Commissioners report: That as the Scab Act appears to require from the Inspector of sheep, (anl indeed it seems to your Commissioners mo^t uoadvisable that a e'ean certiflcae should be given without such an inspection immediately before the issuing therot) blame is to be attached to the Inspector, who, it appears had Dot seen the sheep of Luxtoa's flock, from which the disease had spread, for at least a month before the issue of the certificate to him on the 24th ot March, 1874.

The clean certificate waa therefo e given to Mr Luxtou without any actual knowledge as to the then condition of his flock, the sheep of which, there is every reason to believe Ironu the eyidence of Richard Hvland and others, were, on the 24th March, the day of the auction sale, undoubtedly scabby.

Clearly there was a mistake on ihe part of the Inspector. True he had promised Mr Luxton a certificate provided he did certain things, but your Commissioners are of opinion, that either he should at once have given the certificate, or if it was in his opinion necessary to dip the sheep again before a certificate should issue, then he should have again inspected the eheep after the dipping, to see if it had had the desired effect, and removed all symptoms or disease.

The practise of actual personal inspection appears to have been neglected by the Inspector as wili be seen by reference to the evidence o f E. Holdaway, H. Holdaway, J. Drummond, and R. W. Luxton, anl your U>mimsßioners therefore recommend that strict injunctions be given to the luspector to inspect all sheep before the issue of a certificate.

The evidence disposes that Mr Luxton sold these sheep before obtaining a clean certificate, but after rec3iving the promise of the inspector that he would give him one.

T. B. Fhapter, War. Bout. Menibers of Cuiunmsioa, Nelson, July Ist, 1874.

*• B.— Preaentati n of this report has beea delayed from a deeire expressed by the late ChieJ Inspector to comment on the evidence annexed, but as he has now left the eervice without sending into the Governmeut any such comment, jour Commissioners beg tt submit their report and the evidence taken by them in the enquiry.