SOUTH AUCKLAND CATTLE BOARD. (FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.) [A telegraphic resume of the following appeared on Thursday.]

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1214, 10 April 1880, Page 2

SOUTH AUCKLAND CATTLE BOARD. (FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.) [A telegraphic resume of the following appeared on Thursday.]

A meeting of the Board was held at the Farmers' Club, Cambridge, on Wednesday, when the following 1 members were present: Messrs. E. Maclean (in the chair) Jb'antham, Buttle, and Capt. Steele. The Hon. James "Williamson, and Messrs. Bailey, Kalander, were also present, and Mr Inspector Riiaciman and Mr Naden were in attendance. At the request of the chairman the clerk (Mr Scott) J read the whole of the correspondence relating to the subject of Pleuro, which had passed between the Board and different persons since the formation of the former. Telegrims were read from the Government in answer to the Chairman's messages, agreeing with him that it was inadvisable to inoculate, bub pointing out that there was no law for its prevention The Colonial Secretary wrote to the Board praying that, as the expenses would fall chiofly upon owners of cattle, they might be kept within the lowest possible limits. Mr J. C. Firth wrote in reply to the Chairman, assuring him that he had no intention of inoculating his cattle at Matamata, and had communicated his wishes to the manager. The Hon. the Premier telegraphed as follows :—: — Southbridge, April 7. E. Maclean, Esq., Chairman. Through some misunderstanding your telegrams have been sent to me here, which has caused delay. I have sent them at once to Wellington to be replied to fully, as I am unable in the absence of documents and legal advice to do so. Any reasonable expenses incurred by the Board in employing men to watch the cattle and district, and otherwise in enforcing the provisions of the law will be sanctioned by the Government, which will also be glad to afford all the assistance in their power. With regard to the destruction of cattle, you will be communicated with from Wellington, I hope in time f«r the meeting of your Board to-day. I shall be in Wellington on Friday morning. John Hall. A telegram was read from the Government in answer to one from the chairman, asking the Government to take the responsibility of slaughtering the large number of cattle which the Board feared would be necessary. The Government intimated that ample powei's had been conferred on the Board, which would have to carry out the work itself. Mr Inspector Bunciraan reported that he had inspected the herds of Messrs McNicol and Bonrke on Tuesday, and found them suffering from the disease. He instructed the former to keep the infected beasts isolated, aud not to remove any of them. He served a notice on Mr Burke under clause 19 of the Diseased Cattle Act, constituting the farm an infected place. Mr Naden reported as follows under date, Cambridge, Ap il 7th. I have the honor to report for the information of the chairman, that on Tuesday last I \isited the farm occupied and owned by Mr Duncan McNicol at Ohaupo, and I saw se\eral beasts, which I suspect ha\e epizootic pleuro-pneumonia. I have, therefore, to request that I may be allowed to examine these cattle again, and that the Board will grant me power to kill one of the herd for examination should I think it necessary to do so. I have further to state that the cattle which I suspect are in a paddock some distance away from other cattle. The herd— numbering 29 — Mr McNicol has promised to keep separate until I make a further examination. He also promised not to ha\ c any cattle removed from his premises. 1 also \ isited on Tuesday last Mr Burkes farm at Paterangi, and I examined in one herd 22 cows, one bull, and two cahes, several of which were infected with epizootic pleuro-pneumonia. — I am, &c, G. N\m \\ M.R.C.V.S.L. The Chairman wished Mr Runuiinan to give them some information in addition to the reports. Mr Runciman said that when they went to Mr McNicol's, that gentleman wished them to examine some cattle which had been purchased from, the Swamp Company. He took them down to the side of the lake, and there they saw 27 head of cattle in one paddock, 18 of which were calves, five imported by the Swamp Company, and three or four others that had been on the place for some time. In driving th°m out of the jswampy ground one of the beasts showed symptoms of the disease by coughing, and another coughed in a similar manner when they were driving them up the hill. Mr McNicol said he had had uo reason to suppose that the disease existed on his farm. None of the other cattle had been with these, and he would see that they were isolated. They were not near the main road. He was very much surprised when they went to Mr Burkes, Mr Burke was away ; but Mrs Burke kindly sent one of the men to show them the cattle. They first looked at five imported beasts, and found either two or three bad. They then went to see the dairy cows, aud of these he considered several were suffering. There were several other cattle, which had been inoculated, in an adjoining 1 paddock, but he did not notice whether they were diseased. Mr Buttle, one of the members of the Board, had accompanied them. Mr Buttle said he would like to say a word with regard to Mr Burkes cattle. At the first meet'ng 1 of the Board he had promised to isolate the remainder — seven — of the imported cattle. They asked to be shown these cattle, and had five pointed out to them, the lad telling them that the other two had got in amongst the cows. How long they had been there he did not know. He might also say that subsequent to their visit to Mr McNicol's he met Mr John McNicol, who asked him if Mr Naden had pronounced their herd infected. He said ha had done so, but purposed making a further examination. Mr McNicol then said they would willingly give a beast to be slaughtered for their own satisfaction. Captain Steele asked if the cattle of Mr Burkes, other than the imported ones, had got the disease frcm inoculation or from contact with the others. Mr Naden said he thought it was from contact ; as in most oases, to the best of his belief, the inoculation had not taken effect. He thought there was very little doubt that some of Mr McNicol's cattle were in the early stages of the disease. Some of Mr Burkes cattle ware as bad as the Swamp Company's. The Chairman : The question is, gentlemen, what is to be done ? Whpt would you advise, Mr Naden ? Mr Naden thought that those cattle in tho advanced stages of the disease, being useless to their owners, should be destroyed. As to what should be done with the whole of the infected herd in ea;h efifle that lie would leave to t'jo Board. Mr Buttle was sorry that Mr Storey

was not present. In reference to Burkes cattle, Mr Storey Lad promised to inspect them from time to time. He believed he was there last Saturday. Now, either Mr Storey's judgment was sadly at fault, or there existed something which required bringing to light. If the cattle were so badly diseased as Mr Naden had reported, he could not help thinking that Mr Storey must have known of it and had neglected to say so. Mr Fantham could not blame Mr Storey, because he believed it to be quite possible for a beast to have the disease for forty-one days without exhibing it outwardly, and to show it plainly on the next day. He considered that it had now been proved that inoculation was of little good in many cases, seeing that these imported beasts which had been inoculated in Australia hod become infected. Mr Buttle asked if it waa possible for Mr. Storey to make a mistake on Saturday when Mr Naden discovered the disease in such an advanced stage on Tuesday. Mr Fantham Baid possibly Mr. Ptorey might have put down any symptoms of disease to the effects of inoculation. Captain Steele said he had that day sent a special messenger to Eureka, who had only just returned before he left home with the intelligence that there were no further cases of disease and no deaths. The Manager said the infection was confined to the shipment of cattle from Sydney. • Mr Fantha/n said the chairman would remember that several of the imported cattle were said to be on a portion of the Swamp six or twelve miles away. Mr Buttle said that on Monday he noticed one of the imported lot running among the company's pure -bred shorthorns. Captain Steele said he was not aware of that. The Chairman said it would be desirable that Messrs Runciman and Naden should visit Messrs McNicol and Burkes the following day. The Hon. Mr Williamson said it would bo well to find out when the Swamp Company had sold cattle, and to whom. Mr Runciman said he had inquired of Mr Buckland, who hai informed him that a number of the company's cattle, including five imported beasts, were sold at the Cambridge yards on the 20th of January last. Some of these had, he believed, gone to Waitoa. The Chairman said that in that event it would be necessary to make a visit of inspection to "Waitoa. Perhaps Captain Steele would tell them whether the company had sold any cattle privately. Captain Steele said no cattle had been cold privately. About 60 or 70 head were sold at Cambridge, He did not know how many of the imported animals had been sold, but if, as Mr Runciraan said, there were only five, then they must have gone to Mr McNicol. If any moro had been disposed of the manager would, no doubt, inform them of the fact. He might say that the company wore very much disappointed with the cattle from Australia. Their buyers in Australia had sold them, and he was convinced that they could have got much superior stock for the same price in New Zealand. Of course they imported with a view to improving the breed of their cattle, but the affair hail turned out to be at any rate a financial mistake. The manager was so disgusted with some of the animals imported that he picked them out and sold them, some of them were little better than scrubbers. Mr Buttle was glad that Captain Steele had made that explanation, because it could not be disguised that a feeling had got abroad that these five beasts had been disposed of for other purposes. The Hon. Mr "Williamson said the public had no right to blame the Company for buying in the cheapest market but if they had known that disease existed and had neglected to give notice, then the public might justly complain. He was quite sure that the Company had no idea, at the time, that they were introducing diseased Cattle into the district. Mr Fantham moved — That the Manager of the "Waikato Land Association's propeity (Mr Reynolds), Captain Steele, Mr Clark, and the butcher employed on the station be summoned to gi\e evidence before the Board, in accordance with the pro^ ibions of the Act. "What he wished to say was this : if the Company did not know of the existence of the disease bofore they reported then they deserved sympathy ; if otherwise, they deserved censure. In any case the public would not rest satisfied until the matter had been cleared up. In answer to the Chairman, Captain Steele said the Company were quite willing to abide by the law, and would allow the Board to kill all cattle infected, provided each beast was inspected by Mr Naden. The Chairman was of opinion that a large number of the Eureka cattle should be destroyed, and Messrs Fanthara and Runciman quite concurred in this opinion. Mr Buttle drew the attention of the Chairman to the fact that the meeting was irregular, no notice having been served on Mr Storey. He made this objection now in order that no resolution might bo passed. The Chairman admitted the force of Mr Buttles objection, alleging 1 that through a mistake Mr Storey had not been summoned. The meeting was then adjourned till 10 a.m. this day, the Inspector and Mr Naden to bring up their reports at that i meeting. Before separating the Chairman drew the attention of the Goard to the need which existed for two boards and two j inspectors for the district. He thought they should take steps to briug the matter before the Government. The proceedings then terminated.