ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 49, 29 February 1864, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

WE DO NOT nOLD OURSELVES RESPONSIBLE TOR THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED Bi* OT7R CORRESPONDENTS. (To the Editor of the Invercargill Times.) Sir, — In the present excited and feverish state of Otago and this Province, regarding pleui'O-pneumonia, I am rather astonished that some decided sfepiTliave' not been taken by Government in a matter of such vital importance to the Province at large. It 13 all very well' to destroy a few bullocks that are said to be infected, but how are individuals to act should the disease break out amongst their stock ? and I am sorry to say it is but too likely to be the case. W T hat I wish to know is, are the cattle to be destroyed? If so, is it wholly to be at the loss of the unfortunate owner of such cattle, or is he to receive compensation? Such has been the case in the Australian colonies. It is well known that it was for the benefit of the community at large thut the- ports were thrown open. Many of the squatters and settlers opposed it to the last, and a few of them signed the petition , with the clear understanding that every precaution should be adopted by the G-overn-ment to prevent the introduction of the disease. Has the Government done so ? I have do hesitation in saying it has not. It allowed an ingress of cattle from too many of the Australian-ports, and the inspection of the stock was not sufficiently stringent. And, on the other hand, importers were too rash and liasty ; they imported merely for the sake of gain', and not to alleviate the high/price of meat which they pretended was their chief object. Such was the language used in the petition to His Honor the Superintendent. ; My motives for bririgin. this before the public, are, to showthat all parties were concerned in importing cattle, all parties derived : a benefit ifrom the importation, therefore all parties: : ought to suffer if disease should really break out among the imported cattle, The Government, ought at least to take it tinder theirserious and immediate consideration. It certainly looks very like a mistake to proclaim a , Quarantine Ground at the populous district of 1 Wallacetown. Surely it would not be difficult to find a' more retired situation for such an object than in the middle of the greatest thoroughfare in the province. I am, &c, PiEimo.