The Daily News. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11.1903. SERIOUS OUTBREAK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue XXXXV, 11 December 1903, Page 2

The Daily News. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11.1903. SERIOUS OUTBREAK.

The news cabled 'from Capetown concerning the outbreak of coast tv\er in South Africa and the opinion of l»r. Koch "that the disease is likclv to kill 1)0 pel- cent, of the cattle j.s 'a serious matter for all engaged j„ agriculture in South Africa, Manv New Zeulunders have already .settled in the Transvaal and the Orange Kiver Colony, and June, particularly 'in the Pretoria district, made considerable headway w]ith their f [u miiig and Stock-raising. It will i; v a deplorable calamity, savs the New Zealand Har„kd, if thus early in what till now promised to be successful careers, they stiller the he;,vv losses ol stock foretold by the eminetit (lernmn scientist. There are good reasons for believing that many young New Zealanders entered ail too lightly up 0n the hazardous experiment of South African farming While New Zealand is happily conspicuous among British colonies because of its freedom from stock, diseases, South Africa possesses an evil reputation, from the stationholder s point of view, owing to the .prevalence., over its entire extent oi the many, it might bu .said the innumerable, fatal and undiagnosed disorders .which affect its flocks and herds. In Cape Colony., in. Natal and in Rhodesia, the Oovernmcnts for years, through their Agricultural Departments, have -been engaged in investigating those diseases with the object of discovering Hm-ir origin and nature, so as to provide a cure or a preventive The officials of the two Doer Republics were likewise alive to the importance of the subject, and annual conferences were held, attended by the veterinary chiefs and experts of the various States and colonies. South Africa presents a full niieasure of difficulties to the man who would seek to live upon (he proceeds of the land. Sheep, cattle, and horses arje .each liable to indigenous diseases, sporadic, but virulent in nature, whose appearance means certain loss, it may be ruin. In add'ittion, amongst ' the stock of the natives and the Dutch farmers, diseases less violent in form, yet inskliouK and -baffling, seem to lie almost always present.' The, native-owned sheejf and the na-

tive-owned cattl», as well as those of the less intelligent Boer, are a continual source of trouble and danger to their more progressive neighbours. The authorities, too, liird the native and the Doer not amenable to necessary orders and regulations, and the difficulties of dealing with and stamping out diseases are thereby greatly enhanced. A correspondent writes from liuluwayo that Dr. Koch hopes to be able ultimately to rid the country of the worst of those plagues ; an'd the results, in the direction of extended knowledge and the actual provision of remedies already obtained tend towards the.belief that he will succeed. The mystery of the dreaded tsetse-fly scourge for instance bus been laid bure, and quite recently the Cupc bactei'ioloList, Dr. folding ton; was able to announce the results of his experiments in horse-sickness, which went to sho\v that lie was in the way of discovering a remedy for one of the greatest of South Africa's scourges. Dr. Koch's own work in rendering cattle immune from rinderpest I'.viil! also be remembered. Were South Africa cleared of the many diseases which its slock seems heir to. the prospects for settlement :n.-:l success would 'be more assuring thai, they are at present. Theie is lend,. however, to be done before this desirable result it- achieved.