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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4933, 13 January 1877, Page 2

The annual reports of the Sheep Inspectors of the province show that there is still a good deal to be dane before the work of the eradi-. cation of scab can be said to have been com-. ; pleted/ Mr. Telford, the Wairarapa Inspector, says ; —“ I very much regret having to report that there are still some infected flocka in the district.’’. . However, he believes the majority of: the infected flocks will prove clean when inspected/ Owing to the exertions of ;the neighboring settlers last year, and their continued supervision, the native flocks at Longbush and Mungahuia remain Clean mp to date. He then says—“ lam perfectly satisfied that there is-’ no •, insurmountable obstacle in the way of scab being cleared out of this district; but I think before', that can .be done greater power will' require to be given inspectors. The expiCnse/tha-t imany, sheepowners are put' to, whose flocks may unfortunately have be- ! come diseased,-is/.often of no avail through the neglect ormfsmanagement of their neighbors.” This’is of■ coursp .one’ of the principal difficulties in the working of the Scab Act; but it is doubtful whether it would not be falling from ScyHa Into--Charyhdis to throw . so much.;p6wer into, the.-hands of a- single individual, as Mr. Telford , seems to think, ‘ necessary to enable' inspectors to cope with the-‘disease. / Only a year ’or so ago in Tasmania an inspector, ordered the destruction of a flock of 200 sheep belonging to a com-’ paratively poor man, and .it was found upon enquiry that there had been a gross error of • .judgment or something worse. The sufferer had • no. remedy} in-daw,- and the Parliament very unfairly declined to’ show him any consideration.' The report continues Should the flocks about Wainuioru andiHautotara become diseased, the whole of the-Wai-rarapa will suffer. It.wbixld be sure to spread on to the,Goast, when'it would most certainly j take years to get clear/of it,'and cost the settlers many thousands of pounds. I most respectfully urge that Government should give this -matter ’ their serious consideration. A consultation with the most experienced settlers will show that I have not over-estimated thedanger.” The Kangitikei inspector, Mr. Simpson,- reports- an increase of 18,647 upon last, -year’s ; ,returns, making , a difference in the amount, of assessment of £3B 17s. lljd. in favor of the present returns, and continues—“ It will be seen at the. same time that scab has not been entirely eradicated from the district 5 I am glad, however, to say there is only one flock actually scabby, as compared with three, in my, last report for 1875. I drew attention in rny last report to the rapid increase the sheepdouse was .making throughout the district. lam of opinion that the only remedy for this would be to have all- flocks dipped once every year. I feel sure that every flockowner. who has done this will bear me out that their flocks have benefited to more than the cost of dipping by so doing. There is a marked improvement in the breeding clearly noticed throughout.; the clip.of wool has been unusually good this season, and in most cases the percentage-of lambs has far exceeded that of former years.” It was to he expected that at first the county, machinery would work stiffly, and that nurae-' rous mistakes would occur; but surely moije care ought to have been taken that the Coun-. oils should, be called together ,with, due formality, and arrangements made'for giving sufficient notice of the first meeting; That sufficient care was not taken the complaints from various places testify. The notices for the'elections appear to have been very-scant in- some places; and hence we-hear that in Nelson province the’election for one riding has been declared null and void on this account. To cotae nearer home, a correspondent writes, from Tenui, Wairarapa East county, as follows ; —“ I think the editor of the Tibies might’take notice of the manner in which the county election affairs have been managed, especially in the East Wairarapa. The notice given was very short, and feyv people wero aware when .the election was to ‘ take place. There is only one Justice of the Peace in the, Castlepoint district, and his is the Only copy of the Gazette which finds its way into the district. If the employes in the public offices were better acquanted with the geography of--outlying districts these difficulties would not occur.”