CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2433, 23 October 1886, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

[To the Editor.] Sir,—l noticed in a late issue of tho Daily that Government might endeavor to purchase Mr Overtoil's sheep and destroy them in order to stamp out " scab" iu that part of the country. That would only be a waste of money, for the real danger would still exist in the bush where it has been .for years, Moreover, I believe Mr Livorton's sheep act as a 'sort of "safety trap".for wild sheep 'run out of tho bußh by: or by other means; separated from thoir follows. •, In 18791 reported to Government the great danger that existed of an outbreak of scab ill that part of the country. Sir John Hall refused to act on the suggestions 1 made, and within six months after my roport was sent in scab broke out in all the .'places I t had indicated except Tiraumefc When Sir John Hall found : that he. ; had made,.a mistake unfairly tried to make it appear that there must have boon arrant of energy or judgment on my part. In the course" of an interview I had with him ho said that scab, would now be stamped out in that part of the country in six months. I replied that I did not think it would be in six years, tho result has shown which of us was right, notwith-

standing tho utmost efforts of two Bucb energetic men as Mr'Liverton and;ln J spector Drummond; Mr Liverton is well knowu to be a steady industrious; man, with a perfect knowledge of. his .work, arid is also one of the'best'bus'hniari in the country., AH the-property he is. possessed of is invested in his- sheep r ßnd station and he and his partner are left: to continue the fight single handed, against, the result of Sir John Hall's mistake, These facts should show .sheep ownow the gravity of the situation, and the necessity for combined action to secure the taking of such steps as would prevent the outbreak in the future of thin long standing evil. So far as 1 cau judge there are only two ways of dealing, successfully with the ovil now. Ist. That a competont man bo appointed with oxperioncod assistants to search the busk for six months. 2nd. That Government call for tenders to clour 8,000 or 10,000 acres of bush and scrub, and sow the cleaved land with English grasses. Tho first might be successful, and it might result in another outbreak like the present a year or two henco. Tho second would make it a certainty, and Government would, 1 believe, make a profit on tlioir outlay by cutting up tho cleared land in small sheep runs. Sheep owners should take tho earliest opportunity to moot and decide what stepß had better be taken to eradicate the pest, and also takeadvantago of the next six months, tho best time of the year for such work, lam, etc,, ' Thos. W. Telforp.