SOUTH AUCKLAND CATTLE BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1224, 4 May 1880, Page 2

SOUTH AUCKLAND CATTLE BOARD.

The usual weekly meeting of the Board was held at the Fanners' Club, Cambridge, on Saturday, when the following members were present: — Meesrs E. Maclean, (chairman), A. A. Fantham, C. J. Storey, and H. Buttle. Mr. Naden, M.R.C.V.S.L., and Inspectors Runciman and Gerse were in attendance. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman intimated that the Governor had been pleased to accept the resignation of Captain Steele, and had appointed Mr It. H. D. Fergusson to nil the vacancy. Mr Fergusson had written to him expressing his regret that he could not be present at that meeting. The Secretary then read the following letter from the Chairman of the Auckland Cattle Board, together with the attached answer :—: — Auckland, April 12th, 1880.

Sib, — Not having had any case of pleuro-pnoumonia before tliis Board for the last four weeks, we consider that there is no danger of pleuro being taken to your district from this. We would recommend that for a time all fat cattle be slaughtered in your district and sent to this market in that form. This would prevent the possibility of disease being 1 imported from your district into this. — I am, &c, Joseph May, Chairman North Auckland Cattle Board. Every Maclean, Esq., Chairmau South Auckland Cattle Board. Cambridge, April 27th, 1880. Joseph May, Esq., North Auckland Cattle Board.

Sik, — I beg, on behalf of the South Auckland Cattle Board, to thank you for your letter of the 12th inst., notifying that no case of pleuro- pneumonia has occurred in your district during the last four weeks, and we concur in your views that there is now little risk of the disease being 1 takon into this district : nevertheless, we think that any cattle that may be forwarded from your district to this should bo inspected and provided with a certificate before being forwarded, and that it should rest with the inspector of this district to countersign the pass given by your inspector, or to grant a fresh pass for the movement of any such cattle over the rail or roads in this district. As regards your recommendation that all fat cattle from thw district for the Auckland market should be sent in the form of dead meat, we regret that we are unable to concur in your suggestion ; and we tl ink it better that fat cattle should be allowed to bo sent to the Auckland market by rail, after having first been properly inspected by a veterinary surgeon and provided with a pass duly sijrned by a cattle inspector. This Board is of opinion that these precautions would fully meet the case and 01-viate what would be felt as a great hardship to the owners of f.it cattle in this district. The Board think that, from prejudice or otherwise, dead meal, if sent would not realise reasonable prices. — I am, &c,

Every Maclean, Chairman South Auckland Cattle Board. The following letter was also read :—: — Eureka, Hamilton, 30 April, ISSO. E. Maclean, Chairman, South Auckland Cattle Board. Dear Sir, — I beg to report that the cattle at Hokoimi are improving fast, only one death having occurred since the visit of the Veterinary Surgeon, and that through swellings caused by inoculation ; also that four of the weakest and most suspicious looking of Lx&t shipment have been killed, and nothing whatever found wroirjwith them, the lungs being perfectly clean and healthy. Mr Naden will be able to inform the Board how the cattle are looking on this place. — I am, dear Sir, youn obediently,

Heniiy Reyxold.s. The following reports were then read : — To the chairman of the South Auckland Cattle Board. — (Sir, I have tho honour to report since last meeting of the Board on my return from Cambridge on Sunday 25th I again visited the native cattle, at Tamahiri there is no apparent change in them, I then went to Hamilton Junction station and examined a cow that had been detained there four days, I granted permit to remove to paddock. On Monday I started on a tour of inspection through Piako and Waitoa districts : went through the following herds, Morrin, Studholm, Murray, Larkworthy, Smith, Moon, Chudley, Campbell, Par, Edwards, Gould, Taylor, Gubbins, and Chapmill. Found all the cattle on the above runs lookiig healthy and well. I returned to Cambridge last night. I especially examined Mr. Edwards young bull that was imported with Burks cows, but saw no sign of disease. — I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servent,

John Ruxciman, Inspector of cattle. Cambridge, May Ist, ISBO. Sir, — I have the honor to report for the information of the South Auckland Cattle Board, that on Monday, April 26th, I inspected Mr Booth's cow, which had been reported as ha\ Ing been unwell on the Saturday previous, the cow had quite recovered, and 1 noticed nothing the matter with her. I also visited Messrs Maclean and Co.'s cattle at Pah Faua, they were much better, and with the exception of the one cow alluded to in my former report which is debilitated they show no symptoms of disease. April 27, examined the cattle at Mr Snowdens, also at Pah Farm. April 28, Isited Eureka station, and examained a number of cattle, the mob from which

six were killed some weeks ago look better. Mr Reynolds has destroyed the worst of thorn, and continues to pick them out, many of them were suffering 1 from the effects of inoculation. Mr Reynolds gave me every information ; the cattle were rounded up ready for my inspection, and preparations made if I wished to have any slaughtered. Mr Reynolds assures me that all cattle which have died or have been destroyed have been properly buried. A narrow strip of land adjoining the Scotchman's Valloy has beon fenced across at the suggestion of Chairman of the South Auckland Cattle Board. I have made arrangements Avith Mr Reynolds to visit the H ureka station again at the beginning 1 of next week. April 29, examined cattle at Pah Farm, and they continue to improve. April 30, visited Mr Burkes farm at Pukerimu,, there are fifty head of cattle here, and they have plenty of feed. Several of them are looking very bad, this may be to some extent owing to inoculation, but I do not think it can be altogether owing to this caxise Having been blamed by Mr. McNicol and some of his friends at a public meeting, as I consider without any cause, and by the rules of the public service, not being allowed to write to a newspaper, I trust the South Auckland Cattle Board will allow me to make a short statement, and that they will express an opinion as to whether I am to blame or not :— "I first visited Mr McNi col's farm with Mr Buttle and Inspector Runciman. I was told that Mr McNicol had purchased five head of cattle from an infected herd. I examined these cattle, and also those in the same paddock with them. From symptoms present, coupled with the fact that they came from a diseased herd, I told Mr McNicol to keep them isolated, which lie agreed to do. I saw them again some few days afterwards and they were much in the same state, not only the five purchased from an infected herd, but the others that were with them showed suspicious symptoms. Mr McNicol agreed to have one of the beast 3 killed, and I told him that I would give him notice before I went there again to examine the animal post-mortem. Being very much engaged at the time I was nnable to give Mr McNicol this notice, and went then without doing so, and as Mr McNicol wished to collect his friends and neighbors I could not stay, and I left Mr Dimsdalc there, telling him that ' if the animal about to be destroyed had pleuro-pneumonici it would be better to destroy the other four as they were not valuable, having been puchased at auction for 25s each. Mr Dimsdale, and others present, state that the animal was not diseased, but this does not prove that none of them are diseased, and had these animals, or any others they had been in contact with, been allowed to have been sold or otherwise disposed of, I should have been blamed, and very ju&tly so, by the Cattle Board and the public. I therefore think that I was justified in declaring Mr McNicol's farm an infected place, and I fail to see where I am to blame in the matter, as it is my duty to prevent the spread of disease. I have endeavored to carry out my duties, which are often most unpleasant, without giving offence to any one, and, as a rule, I believe I have succeeded in doing so. I think the Board will agi'ee with me that it is cowardly to attack a man in my position when there is no just cause for doing so, and if there was any complaint it should have been made to the Cattle Board. Mr McNicol's is merely an imaginary grievance which, I think, I have plainly shown. In conclusion, I beg most respectfully to state that I merely ask for ' fair play, ' which, I feel confident, I shall get from the South Auckland Cattle Board and the settlers generally in this district." — I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, G. Nadkx, M.R.C.VS.L. The Chairman of the South Auckland Cattle Board. Mr H. Turner, of Pukerimu, attended and reported to the Board that he had heard several rumor.} of some local cattle which had been ailing for some time, it was supposed with the pleuro. The matter ought to be enquired into, or serious consequences might ensue. The Chairman said what surprised him was that no reports had been made to the Board. Mr Turner said it had been stated that Burkes cattle which were killed had been ailing since November last, while the cow of Mr R-iley's was said to have been suffering since last winter. It might have been pleuro or it might have been .something else, and perhaps if the mabter were cleared up they might be in a position to remove the stigma which the district was at present laboring under. The Chairman said the Board met every week for the receipt of information, and owners of cattle were invited to those meetings. He might tell Mr Turner, however, that with regard to the cattle destroyed in Cambridge some time ago that he had never seen a worse case of disease in his life. It wari quite possible that low condition or some separate complaint had aggravated the plouro. With regard to Mr McNicol's case he thought that gentleman ought to have come before the Board with his complaint. Mr Buttle agreed with the Chairman, and mentioned the fact that a public meeting had been held at Ohaupo on the preceding Tuesday, at which a resolution affecting the Board had been carried. He asked the Chairman if such resolution had been received. The Chairman said it had not, and of course they could not until they were in receipt of it take any notice of the matter. Mr James, a settler from Ngaruawahia, attended and presented a petition from the settlers and others in his neighborhood, praying the restrictions imposed by the Cattle Board affecting cattle on the waste lands of the district should be relaxed in the case of Ngaruawahia. The petition was signed by a large number of persons to whom the matter was one of the utmost consequence. He pointed out that the disease was at present very remote from his district, and that, therefore, no possible harm could be done by granting the prayer of the petition. The Secretary also read a letter from the Mayor of Hamilton, enclosing a resolution passed at a meeting at that place on Friday, and embodying a request similar to that contained in the petition from the Lower "Waipa.

The following report was read :—: — Te Awamutu, April 30, 1880. Gentlemen, — I have the honour to report to you that I have this week visited the following farms and paddocks. Tho farm of Mr Burke, Te Awamutu, where I was shown :—l.: — 1. Three cows, ami pne calf, in a paddock by themselves. These beasts are from a lot imported from Australia. I was told that these animals were greatly improved lately, I looked over them for some time ; had them moved about quickly ; they did not show any sign of distress. 2. Fifteen indigenous milch cows and one calf from Australia, in another paddock. These animals seemed to me to be all in good health. 3. Fifteen New Zealand bred calves, I believe free from disease, except one, which has the left rump and top of tail very much swollen and inflamed. 4. five calves near the house, in good condition and good health. 5. One red cow in a paddock by herself. This com' did not please me at first, coming slowly, and with difficulty like, out of the scrub. Being alone, she became rather excited, and ran about quickly; she did not seem to be oppressed in any way. Mr Burke told me one of his cows died last Sunday from inflammation after some operations in the tail. I was in their paddocks for some time and could not hear a single cough. I went in a paddock of Mr Westney's, adjoining Mr Bnrke'sfarm, where I found ten bullocks, seven of which in very good condition and healthy, the other three not seeming to thrive so well. I also went in a paddock of Mr Taylors, where I found twenty bullocks all in good health. After this I drove to Ohaupo, to the farm of Mr McNicol, where I was shown four small red cattle, imported from Australia, two of them were rather in a poorer state, and after a little while one was coughing. I made them run about, when the one which was coughing showed some distress ; these beasts were again moved about more quickly, after which they seemed to have recovered a good deal ; the other cattle feeding with them — four in tho paddock — seemed to be iv excellent health. T saw also on tho same farm ti lot of thriving young cattle, which after galloping about a good deal, did not hhow any sign of distress. I went to-day again to tee the cattle of Mr Burke, Mr Westney and Mr Taylor. I walked quietly through the different paddocks, the cows were feeding and laying about as if in g-ood health. — I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, your obedient servant,

J GrER.SE, Deputy Inspector of Cattle. To the Chairman and Members of the South Auckland Cattle Board, Cambridge. The Chairman said he was Loth surprised and pleased to hear such a favorable report. He supposed, however, Mr Gerse would continue to make periodical inspections of the cattle. Mr Gcrsc said he would see them twice a week. The Chairman s>aid, after hearing Inspector Itunoiman's report, they could not recommend the Governin cut to proclaim the whole of the South Auckland Cattle district infected. Mr Buttle said they ought rather to consider whether some of the restrictions already imposed might not be removed. It was accordingly agreed to recommend the Government not to proclaim the whole district infected. Regarding Mr Naden's report, Mr Storey said he had fallen into an error in saying that Mr Burkes Pukerimu cattle had been inoculated. The Chairman said Mr Naden did not make a positive statement to that effect. He only surmised as much. In the case of Mr McMcol's cattle he held the veterinary surgeon blameless, although he regretted that he was unable to remain for the post mortem examination. On the motion of Mr Buttle it was resolved — That thia Board exonerates Mr Nadcn from all blame in reference to his action at Mr McNicol's farm, but regrets that he was unable to be present at the porf mart i in examination recently held. Mr Storey said he had recommended Mr McNicol to kill the remaining four beasts, and he believed this would be done in the course of a fortnight. He would like to see the restrictions as regarded the district at large removed, leaving only certain farms as infected places. Mr J. S. Bucklend attended for the purpose of enquiring what steps had been taken by the Board with regard to sending cattle to Auckland. He had been told that the Auckland Board had prohibited the importation of cattle from Waikato, and he accordingly telegraphed to his father asking if such was the case. He had that morning received an answer to the effect that no such restrictions existed. Mr Buttle said it appeared to him from the advertisement in the | Waikato Times that all that was required by the Auckland Board, was a certificate to the effect that cattle sent to Auckland, came from a clean herd. Mr Fantham said he was glad to sec Mr Buckland's telegram, otherwise he was about to move that if the Auckland Board persisted in their determination, the Government should be communicated with. The Auckland people who had allowed the disease to come into the district should be the last to complain. After some discussion it was resolved to reconsider the petition from Ngaruawahia on Saturday next. A similar resolution was arrived at regarding the letter from the Mayor of Hamilton. Mr Fantham drew attention to a letter in that morning's Waikato Times signed by the Secretary of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, which was an attempt to force inoculation down their throats notwithstanding all they knew on the contrary. The Chairman said he observed by the papers that they were about to take measures to stamp out the disease in South Australia and other Australasian colonies. The Board should still carry on its policy of isolating all suspected animals and destroying those which were diseased. He had spoken to Mr Mitchie M.R.O.V.S.L. on the subject

of inoculation, and that gentleman told him that he had seen inoculated cattle killed for beef in Australia, the flesh of which contained large patches of matter. Such animals would be very unsuitable for breeding purposes. He also told him that numbers of the Swamp Company's cattle were good for nothing. Mr Michie had the utmost confidence in the skill and judgment of their veterinary surgeon, Mr Naden. He was glad to say that the reports which had appeared in the Waikato Times were most satisfactory, a compliment he could not pay to the Auckland papers. Some other routine business having been transacted, the Board adjourned till Saturday.