Thursday, May 17.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 396, 19 May 1849, Page 2

Thursday, May 17.

All the members presert with the exception of Messrs. F. D. Bell and W. M. Bannatyne. The minutes of last meeting having been read, the Colonial Treasurer moved that the Council do go into committee on the Census Bill. The report on the bill was brought up and the amended schedule adopted. The Colonial Treasurer then gave notice that he should move the third reading on Monday next. Dr. Monro rose pursuant to notice to move the second reading of the bill to prevent the extension of the scab and catarrh in sheep. He said he believed there was not an individual in the Council who did not agree with him as to the necessity of the bill, therefore his remarks on it would be brief. There was no subject of legislative enactment more called for by the colonists ; at present there was no power to prevent any one irom driving infected sheep through land occupied by stock holders, and thereby inflicting great injury upon them. The great production of

weol, and the rapid increase of flocks, rendered this subject one of the highest importance. He would refer to the accounts winch had been received from the explorers of ihe country iv the neighbourhood of Banks' Peninsula, from which it appeared that there was a tract of country in that locality containing upwards of three millions of acres available ior sheep grazing. He would also refer to the statistics which had been laid on the table, shewing the rapid increase of flocks iv the Province. In 1843 there were 6,500 sh-ep, iv 1844 there were 13,859, in 1845 the number was 21,598, in 1846 it had increased to 33,592, in 1847 to 48,755, and in 1848 to no less than 85,915. There was therelore, during the last year an increase of 37,000 sheep in the Province of New Minister, and the number was increasing in a rapid ratio. It was hardly necessaiy for him to explain the nature of one of the* diseases on which they were about to legislate. With regard to catarrh, he had no practical knowledge of it, as it had not yet come into New Zealand, but in the neighbouring colonies .it bad swept off large numbers of sheep at a time, and some flockmasters had been ruined by it It might be questioned whether it was necesssary to provide a remedy for an evil which had not appeared, but he was of opinion that ie was best to guard, if possible, against its introduction. The scab was (he said) a cutaneous disease, which led to the falling off of the wool, and sometimes even to the death of the animal, and like other diseases caused Dy an insect, it exhibited no tendency to spontaneous cure. Pie would, however, say, from pretty considerable experience, that it might be cured, and that within a fortnight the worst flocks might be free from it. It would appear that it was the interest of the flockmasters (and it undoubtedly was) to take means to cure their sheep, but in practice individual efforts were cot to be depended upon. Some were too indolent to give the necessary attention, and in other cases whe c there were several flocks adjacent ,to each o her, a spontaneous effort was required to effect any good, for otherwise one man might cure his sheep, but if his neighbour failed to do so, the sheep would be sure to get diseased again. There was another motive, and it was Dy no means a laudable one ; persons having diseased sheep will sometimes keep possession of a district, bullying as it were those who have sound sheep in the vicinity. He looked upon the question as one of the -greatest importance in a public point of view. They should use every endeavour at the commencement of the colony to prevent the spread of the disease, and, if possible, to eradicate it altogether, and he believed that such a desirable object, both iv a colonial and private point of view, might be attained. At the same time he would ■wish to avoid all unconstitutional interference with private property, but would go as far to check the evil as was consistent with private rights. He thought the bill which was laid on the table, was, on the whole, well calculated to attain the object in view, but T/ould require some slight modifications. - Mr. Ludlam believed the catarrh had already been introduced into New Zealand. There had been a case at the Hutt, which was said by Mr. Bidwell to be catarrh, and he had ordered the animal to be destroyed. He was therefore of opinion that the clause relating to catarrh was necessary. He had known in the Wairarapa a flock perfectly cured of the scab, but which had soon become infected again from other diseased sheep in the neighbourhood. He thought the law should not be too strict lest it should have the effect of preventing importation. He begged to second the motion. The bill was then read, and on the motion of Dr. Monro the Council resolved itself into committee on it. On the first clause Dr. Monro moved an amendment imposing a penalty of two shillings a head on all sheep running at large, and otherwise amending the clause. In reference to this amendment the bon. member said that it would be equivalent to a customs duty of two shillings on infected sheep. The powers of the Council would prevent them from levying a direct customs duty. The plan proposed would prevent importers from shipping diseased sheep. His hon. friend had suggested that the disease might have broken out on board ship, but he would venture to assert that such was never the case. He thought a clause such as that proposed was very much required, and if a simultaneous effort was made to etadicate the disease now existing, they might be able to prevent its re-introduction. M r. Ludlam thoughtii would not do to restrict flock-owners to drive infected sheep only in the month of February. He considered that the object might be met by obliging them to give a week's previous notice at each station which they required to pass. His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor observed,, that the scab was a disease of an rritable oat u re, and that the iufected sheep

were in the habit of rubbing against trees which might be sufficient to communicate the disease to sound sheep passing along the same route, unless rain had fallen in the interim. Mr. Ludlam thought that would be the lesser evil of the two, as he did not see how people were to drive infected sheep into the country at all if they were restricted to one month in the year. Dr. Monro said there was one way in which the difficulty might be easily obviated, as he believed that by dipping them into a decoction of tobacco and some other drug* the sheep might be perfectly cured. Some person mujht be appointed as an inspector to see that the sheep were clean, and then they might be driven into the country. Dr. Greenwood said, that if the clause was introduced it would be difficult to land the hheep at all under a penalty of two shillings a head. It might so happen that the sheep were put on board the ship apparently sound, in such case it would entail a liaids! Ip on the shipper. Dr. Monro said that was a question whether the Australian shipper of sheep should be protected against accidental hardship, or whether the whole colony should be exposed to the evil of so destiuctive a disease. His Excellency said, tl.at in a colony where scab sheep were so much cheaper than sound ones, they were likely to be sent in preference, and he thought it was fair they should be subject to a fine of two shillings each. Mr. Ludlam said he agreed with the hon. gentleman on his left (Dr. Monro), and thought it would be desirable to tax such sheep, but the question was what to do with them when they were landed. The Colonial Secretary thought the operation of the clause was very partial, it was for the protection of those persons having sheep already in the country. He thought it would be better to fix a smaller tax, and provide some means of disposing of the sheep after their landing. AH the land adjacent to the landing places being occupied it would be impossible to provide a quarantine ground, but a certain distance round those places where sheep were likely to be landed might be declare 3 exempt, and the sheep would be able to linger about within this boundary until they became clean. Mr. Seymour said it appeared to him the tax ought to fall on the importer. No person would buy sheep unless they had some run on which to receive them, and the penalty of two shillings being paid by the importer the sheep could then be driven to their runs under a warrant from the Magistrates. The Colonial Treasurer thought the sheep should be examined by an inspector before they were allowed to land. His Excellency thought it would be impossible to provide for an inspector on shipboard as the vessels frequently arrive short of water or provisions, and in the dark hold of a vessel they could not be properly examined. 1 After some further discussion the amendment, which was seconded by Mr. Seymour, was carried. In the third clause Mr. Hickson sail he considered the penalty of £20 too high ; he proposed an amendment, to the effect that it should not be less than two pounds, nor more than ten pounds, at the discretion of the Magistrates. The amendment also rendered the wording of the clause more definite. On the fourth clause a discussion took place as to the amount of penalty which should be imposed for wilfully abandoning sheep. Dr. Greenwood asked the Attorney General to define the word " wilfully," as he found, hy comparing the fourth and the first clause, that in the case of a single sheep, if it was wilfully suffered to be at large, its owner was liable to a penalty of £20, but if negligently, he was only liable to a penalty of two shillings. Tbe Attorney General said the terra wilfully was intended to imply maliciously. He was in the Colonial Secretary's office on one occasion, when a person came and complained of a man who, in driving sheep up the coast, had wilfully driven an infected sheep into his flock, lie (the Attorney General) thought in such a case a penalty of £20 was not too high. Dr. Greenwood proposed an amendment, to the effect that the penalty should not be less than £5, nor more than £20, at the discretion of the Justices : the amendment was carried. On the sixth clause Mr. Ludlam proposed as an addition, " that the owner of any sheep infected with catarrh shall be obliged to kill the same within twelve hours." Dr. Monro thought that would be an improper interference with private rights. Dr. Greenwood said, that as a member of the medical profession, he would suggest that, though incurable now, there was no reason it should always remain so ; but if the owners were bound to kill the sheep, there would be no chance ol finding a remedy. Some other clauses having been amended, and the 10th clause having been passed, the Committee adjourned.

The Colonial Secretary then brought up the report of the Committee upon the Medical Bill, nod gave notice that he should move the third reading" to- morrow (Friday). On the motion of Mr. Hickson, the Bill for levying Road Rates was read a first time. Mr. Hickson gave notice that he should move the second reading on Tuesday. Mr. Ludlam gave notice that to-morrow he should move 'hat the Committee do resume the consideration of the Entire Horses Bill. The Council then adjourned till Fiiday.