The Waikato Times. THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1878.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 935, 20 June 1878, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1878.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatever state or persuasion, religious or Tjolitical. * *- * * * . * Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain.

The joint commission 1 uppainted by the Cambridge Farmcm' Club and Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association visited Mr Jolly's faim at Hamilton, on Tuesday, and, as evervone will expect to luarn, there was not a trace of scab to be found on the sheep The commission consisted of, Messrs. B. B. Walker, Jas. Brown, R. J3. D. Patrick Leslie, McNicol, and Samuel Steele. They were also accompanied by Mr John jßtmciman, the local Sheep Inspector. A very careful and detailed examination was made, the sheep, indeed, only numbering some 202, so that it was impossible, had scab existed at all that it could have eluded the notice of so many experienced persons anxious to satisfy themtelves on so important a matter, for it will be readily seen that if scab did exist it was to the interest of those forming" the commission to have pointed it out with the object of stamping out the disease at any price and at any cost on its first appearance in the district. But not only was it proved scab did notthen exist,but therewere absent all indications of the existence of scab in the sheep at any previous date. One thing the sheep did show, the marks of wounds received from dogs, and there is not the slightest doubt but such an injury it was that attrac'9.l Mr Lewis' attention- at Newmarket, and led him into the very grave error of hastily jumping to the conclusion that the sheep was affected with scab, and to afterwards obstinately pursue a course which has necessi. tatetl the action now taken by the local settlers.

The Cambridge Farmers' Club has now grouuda of its own proving on which to act, and when the Club meets to receive the report of the joint commission a very decided course of action will no dyubt be token, the matter is far too serious a one to be allowed to drop with the simple adoption of the report and a resolution affirming the cleanness of Mr Jolly's Hock, and condemning the

decision of the Auckland- Bench, and the judgment cf (he Auckland S.eoegj.vlusjjes'or. , The former, the ;ouvb*m;ty leave, to the higher court, for an appeal has been raised against therdecjjsion of the Auckland Police Court-Sunless, indeed,. it may b e oon:idered de.sirable to raiso » special fund for the cost of the apposil, and should the. verdict bo quashed, for the recovery of special damages sustained by a Waikato sheepownor. Their im mediate business, howover, is with the Auckland Sheep Inspector. It, is iulolerabe that thousands of pounds worth of property should be open to depreciation at the dictum of a man who is ohargabloNwith a very .grave error of judgment in tho discharge of so important and responsible a position as that which he holds, and in the interests of the public it is necessary that the attention ot tho. Government be drawn to the whole facts of the matter and the case fully and clearly kid before them with a respectful domand for their impartial and immediate consideration of the case, and consequent action thereon. Mr Lewis by the course he has pursued has not entitled himself to auy large shave of sympathy. He was warned at the time he ordered the sheep to bested that it was not scab but a wound received from the bite of a dog that

had attrnctoJ his attention ; bat he peremptorily told the man who spoke, au experienced sheep fanner, to mind his own business. He had ample time for reflection before instituting proceedings against the owner of the sheep, but he seemed determined to have a case of scab. Subsequently he has had the opportunity afforded him of v'.siting the. nook to prove, as he stated he could prove, the presence of scab in it, but though publicly challenged to make bis promise good he has never done so. Nevertheless, in a spirit of .fair play, we would suggest that Mr Lewis be invited to attend the forthcoming

meeting 0 f the Cambridge Farmers' Club, wheu the report of Tuesday's examination will be brought forward and discussed. It is but right that b-8 shall have an opportunity of hearing the charge made against him, and, if he can, of defeodin'g'hiraself; or of candidly admitting that lie has been acting under a wrong impression from the first and making such public reparation as he is able for the slur which lias been thus thrown by him upon the district and for the injury he has iutlicted on an individual settler.