NORTHERN TWAIROA CATTLE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3337, 15 November 1919, Page 6

NORTHERN TWAIROA CATTLE.

NO MYSTERIOUS DISEASE‘

AAN UNCONFIRMED RE'l’Oß'l‘.

The mystery suirounding the recent report of a mysterious disease among cattle in the Northern Wairoa district seems to be fifore in the "origin -of the report~ than in anything else. Mr A, E." Harding, a prominent resident "of Mangawhare, anda large stock-owner, stated to a Star representative that all ef'r‘orts to trace any case of any disease of the nature rep-orted had prove'd .un—availing, and he Was quite satisfied that the Whole thing was a false alarm. He mentioned that I'c-presentatives of the Agricultural Department. had made inquiries round the district, andhad ijmrn unable to locate any such disease. This was verified to-day by statenien-ts by Messrs Lyons and .\lunro,- of: the veterinary branch of the Agricultural Department. They stated. ‘that "they had been advised ‘Tiy"the local‘ agent -of the Stock Department at Dargaville of a certain anfount of. Im)rtglli‘ty among stock in the‘ district as. a resuit of a drought in the district, and immediately the newspaper report of .3, 2L _ _ I ’ .

I strange disease appeared they visited the district. Persoiially, and by telephone, they got into touch with various se'ttlers and stock-owners, but were unable to locate, in any part ofthe district, any disease of the nature indicated, and the Depal'tnleut’s local lagent inquired indepndcntly with the {same result. Mr Lyons said he tried’ 3the news agencies, and met with a refusal to have the source -of information disclosed, ‘and after further inquiries he came to the conclusion that if any such disease "existed at all, which he doubted, it was restricted, to an isolated case. Since further in-; quiries have been made, but ownersl and dealers who have been interrogated declare that they have heard‘ nothing -of any such disease. In short, I the’Department is satisfied that there “ainft no such thing” as; this alleged mysterious disease in the northern districts.