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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 63, 21 June 1873, Page 2

In his address to the Provincial Council of Hawke’s Bay, the other day, his Honor the Superintendent said: —“lt is my pleasant duty on this occasion to refer to the extremc'y prosperous condition of the province and the very satisfactory progress which has been made during the past year. Our population has considerably increased; a large amount of fresh capital has sought and found investment here, and the natural capabilities of the district have at the same time astonishingly improved. Satisfactory as this is I believe we may look forward in future years to still greater advancement. As one evidence of our well-doing, you will be gratified to hear that there is S* credit balance in the Bank of £43,000, and that nearly that sum will be available to supplement the revenue of the coming year. The demand for timber in all parts of the colony is very great, and at the present time the requirements of Napier and surrounding districts are chiefly supplied from other provinces at a cost of from £40,000 to £50,000 a year. In common with the other provinces we have felt the want of labor, and found the number of immigrants that have arrived, far short of our requirements. I have not failed to urge our necessities in this respect upon the Government, and have received an assurance that we may expect 750 immigrants between now and the end of the year. The subject of perhaps the greatest importance to Hawke’s Bay, and which I invite you to consider, is the proposed construction of a breakwater, to form a harbor for Napier. Information on this subject will be laid before you, the purport of which is, that a breakwater at the Bluff, of 2,000 feet in length, would enclose ample space for our probable requirements, and give a depth of from five to six fathoms for vessels to lie in. The cost would be about £lOO,OOO, the interest on which sum would not be too heavy a charge for the trade of the province to boar, besides the Colonial Government may reasonably be expected to contribute to the woft, as the forming a harbor of refuge on the East Coast would be a matter of colonial interest. You will have gathered from the reports of the proceeding of the recent Conference of Delegates from the Australian colonies that a proposal has been made to prohibit the importation of stock from Europe so as to prevent, if possible, the introduction of the diseases so dangerous to stock in the old country. My own opinion is against prohibiting, and in favor of the establishment of strict

quarantine regulations.” With reference to the recent Commission, we may take the Superintendent’s utterances possibly as an index to the mind of the Ministry in not supporting the appointment of a like Commission for Poverty Bay. He thus continues:—“An agitation is now being carried on by the natives for the appointment of another Commission with extended powers, and it is the knowledge of

this circumstance, which has chiefly led me to consider it my duty to refer to this subject. Judging from the effects of the enquiry already granted, I am of opinion that such a course would be injurious to the welfare, both of the province and the colony, and it rests with you to consider whether in the interest of the province, it is desirable you should record your opinion upon it. I cannot leave this subject without expressing my regret at the course the natives have taken, which has naturally checked the exceptionally kindly relations that have heretofore existed between us and them. In the Sheep Act it is proposed to omit the clauses relating to foot-rrft. The experience of the past year shows that it is impossible to check the spreading of that disease which appears to become more general as the country improves and English grasses increase.” The Annual Report of the Inspe<?tor of Sheep to the Superintendent of Hawke’s Bay, contains the following interesting items :—“ Sir, —I have the honor to forward iny annual report for the current year, and enclose for publication Statement of Sheep Returns of Ist May, 1872, which exceed those of the former year by 72,788, and comprise 507,472 ewes, 362,032 wethers, and 10,518 rams, or a total of 880,022 sheep over six months old, in May, 1872, as against 472,134 ewes, 327,519 wethers, and 7,581 rams, in May, 1871. While the increase just recorded falls short of my expectations, it is satisfactory to report a very marked improvement in the bleed and general character of the Sheep now in the .province, as compared with those of two or three years ago. The imports at the Port of Napier during the same period have been: 263 merino rams, 12 merino ewes, 255 longwoolled rams, and 5 long-woolled ewes, or a total of 535 Sheep, most of which were of a ■very high order, and likely to prove as valuable to the province as to their enterprising importers. The provisions relating to foot-rot •have proved ineffective in repressing the spread -of this insidious disease, which, notwithstanding ihe most zealous efforts of Inspectors, consistent with the provisions of the Sheep Act, Jias now got quite beyond our control. Whilst the majority of the stations were free from this disease, Inspectors received a more extended support in their efforts to retard its dissemination, but since it has extended its ravages, and clean stations become a minority, The Sheep Act has become more unpopular, and latterly the almost universal request is, to expunge foot-rot from the Act ; and, in the face of existing circumstances, I cannot recommend its retention. I am led to reflect on what our position would have been if it had been scab we were -contending with instead of foot-rot. This province is as yet free from scab ; we have not got to grapple with an existing disease; -all conceivable precautions within our means have been devised and carried out to prevent ■its introduction by sea or land, and yet if it once appeared in the province-, even in the most remote station, we are powerless to effect •its immediate suppression; Where prompt repressive measures is essentially necessary for the safety of adjoining flocks, we are powerless to enforce such measures. Scab, since the (late of my last report, has advanced across the Akitio river, and is consequently creeping nearer our Southern frontier, and although I do not apprehend any immediate danger to the flocks of this province, yet if any additional precaution can be taken m the way of a double line of fencing, I would -advise it being done. I think that any expense, if within our means, should be incurred to guard against the •introduction of this disease to the flocks of this .province.”