MEETING AT LOWER MOUTERE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 170, 16 August 1878, Page 2

MEETING AT LOWER MOUTERE

A numerously attended meeting was held at the Lower Moutere Schoolroom on Monday evening, the 12th inst., for the purpose of taking into consideration tlio best means to be adopted for preventing the spread of scab in sheep in the district.

Mr 11. A. Tarrnnt \vns yo^il to the chair.

who stated that he was very glad to see the Chief Inspector of Sheep (Mr Canning), present. Great dis3iitiaf action had been freely expressed in consequence of Mr Sitnpsou whose sheep were infected with scab, having obtained a clean certificate, and shortly after, One of his Hock had been found to be badly infected. Mr Canning would no doubt be nhle to" £iVe the meeting a satisfactory explanation of iiow this had 6ccufrso ( . Mr Canning said, by permission of the Chairhian. tie should like to niijfce \\ few fe"riiarks ne e&pressGil HtHJSWi W H bl/ hu\\&naut that a charge df favouritisril'in tHe execution of liis duty liad been prefef're'd against Him. THe ; fact of the!, mattef *ds: He haii taken tlie j/o'tyHft *•*& Mfe'tt inspecting Mr Simpson's flock oh.triree different,occasions, and if (as lie. had no reason to dotibt); thep was now ql bijMly in'fet^d sbet'p in the nock, l!,e c^iild .only ssiy that liS Was quite certain liiai piirlicuiar" s'lie'eji iVitsi not amongst the number he inspected. The meeting would see by looking at the Scab Act that any favouritism on his part, if proved against hinn would render him liable i to three, months imprisonmefifc. Mr \\ r . Edwards addressed the meeting, StaLinS tl'ftt Mffe'itt tiefefligefice itppeared to have existed somewhere, as rlearly" &U ilifi ilocks iv the ueighbot<fhood were now irtfectcd itnd % it had certainly been considered iibrtfc Mr Bimpson had "ken dealt with leh.ientty. Mr Calming said that Mr Edwards had impute,d favouritisii) to' him, which He most fetiipUalieiuiy dentefl: Tlie c'rtuSe of sol many of the Ilocks being infected was ntii itki iti seek, as there was scarcely one sheep proof feuce throughout the length and breadth of the district; and such being the case there should lte iio wohdfer that the disease had spread very rapidly. Mr Edwards explained that he had" iidi charged the Chief Inspector with showing favouritism, but said that without an explauation it looked something like if. After a few remarks from several others. Mr 1\ Herrick proposed and Mr \V. Edwards seconded " That iv the opinion of this meeting it is necessary that an Inspector of sheep should be appointed^ who shall reside in the district Comprising the 1 water sbed of Motueka river below the junction of the Wangapeka river, and the Upper aud Loner Moutere, and that the Chairman be requested to communicate with the Commissioner of Crpwil Lauds to that effect." Gamed ununiiilotisly'. Mr E. Herrick proposed and Mr W. (jiiy secouded"That the Government be requested to erect a dipping apparatus for public use to le placed under the control of the district Inspector, aud subject to the usual charges." Carried unanimously after considerable dis- ■ cussiuii. The following resolution was silbriiitted to the meeting but after being thoroughly discussed failed, ou being put, to iiud a single supporter. " That it is cousidcred necessary under existing circumstances that all sheep within certain limits in the district, which shall be determined by the Inspector, shall be dipped within one week after sheariug, aud thac the Inspector be instructed to carry out this resolution." Mr W. Edwards proposed and Mr J". C". Willson seconded. "That this meeting desires to < bank Mr Canning for his attendance here this evening, and for the information he has kindly given to the meetiug, and after his explanation with regard to Mr Simpson's sheep, is of opinion that the sheep afterwards found to be infected was not amongst those mustered for his inspection, when he gave Mr Simpson a clean certificate." Can ied unanimously with acclamation Mr Canning said he begged to thank the meeting for the manner iv which the last resolution was carried, lie, at any rate, had obtained a clean certificate, and would do his best to get rid of the scab that was now so prevalent in the district, and he felt sure that every ilock-owner would be entitled also to a clean certificate if they would only unite with him in his endeavours to staui[> out the disease. After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting separated, apparently with, the conviction that an outspoken discussion was more likely to do good than private growling.