The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 351, 6 September 1849, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

Be just and fear not: Let all the ends tliou aiins't at, be thy Country's, Thy God's, and Truth's.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1849

It has been a matter of dissatisfaction to many that the Cattle Slaughtering Ordinance, passed in 1847, has for fully two years remained a dead letter, as regards some of its most important provisions. If there were sufficient fea- | sons for enacting that law at all — (and we be1 lieve theie were abundant reasons arising out of considerations connected with the public health and the protection of property) — surely those reasons should have induced the Government to bring it into operation at the earliest practicable date after its enactment. One step in this direction was taken, indeed, in September 1848, by a Proclamation under the Ordi T nance, declaring that it was " expedient, to prevent the slaughtering of cattle within certain parts of the town of Auckland," and defining boundaries within which,- after the Ist of November in that year, no slaughter house should be kept and no cattle slaughtered. But there the matter has been permitted to rest. There has been no exercise of two of the most valuable powers vested in the Governor by the Act, — namely, the appointing of a Public Slaughter House, and the appointing of an Inspector, whose duty, as specified in the Ordinance should be " to examine the cattle slaughtered or intended to be slaughtered in his district, and to take a particular description thereof, with the colour, mark or marks, brand or brands, sex, and apparent age, together with the time and place of slaughter, which particulars he shall enter in a book to be kept by him for the purpose." Persons intending to slaughter cattle (except for their own consumption) to give notice to such Inspector, under a penalty of £5. It is easy to see how efficiently the due enforcement of these regulations would be likely to operate as a check to cattle stealing,' —a point of view in which we are induced to notice the subject, especially just now, by the trials and convictions for this crime of which a report will be found in our other columns. The . facilities that would thus be afforded for the identification of stolen beasts and the detection of the thieves, and the consequent protection that would be given to the property of stock-holders are so obvious that we need not stop to point them out. The subject, it will be remembered, was brought before the Legislative Council at its late sittings, first by a petition, and afterwards during the consideration ' of the Estimates. The Governor then stated, (in referring to observations made by Major Matson and Mr. Merriman, on the suggestion that an " Inspector of Brands" should be appointed) that he would comply with what appeared to be the wish of the Council by ap- . pointing such an inspecting officer as was contemplated in the Slaughter House Ordi- ' nance. The Grand Jury at the Criminal Session of the Supreme Court just closed have added their influence by a presentment against private slaughter houses, — the Foreman stating that they had been convinced by the evidence which they had heard of the necessity for such regulations as they recommended. This the Chief Justice undertook to forward to the Government (as the matter, being of so general a nature, did not properly come within the cognizance of the Court) adding his own opinion ' that the subject was one which eminently called for consideration. When an evil so undeniably exists, and when a remedy for it is already provided and needs only be applied, we trust there will be no further delay on the part of those who have authority to act with regard to it, . r