SOUTH AUCKLAND CATTLE BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1227, 11 May 1880, Page 2

SOUTH AUCKLAND CATTLE BOARD.

The usual weekly meeting of the Board was held on Saturday, at the Farmers' Club, Cambridge, when the following members were present : — Messrs Every Maclean (chairman), A. A. Fantham, Storey, Buttle, and B. H. D. Forgueson. Mr Naclen, M.RO.V.S.L, Inspector Runciman, and Deputy Inspector Gerse, were in attendance. Mr J. S. Buckland waited on the Board to say that Mr J. McNicol had come over from Ohaupo with a view to answer any questions that the Board might put to him. Mr Buttle wished to know whether the public were to be admitted to the meetings of the Board or not. Ho was of opinion that they should conduct the business in private. The Chairman said he was quite of Mr Buttles opinion, especially after seeing the ill - natured remarks which appeared in Friday's Auckland Herald with regard to the Board's actions concerning Mr McNicol's cattle. The Board had been condemned without hearing the statement of their veterinary surgeon, and their actions had been criticised a Aveek before they could really take action. It appeared to him that the report in the Herald which ho referred to had been obtained from some gentleman who had probably left the meeting when it was only half over, and who thus concluded that what he heard discussed had in reality been resolved. They had opened their meetings to the public at first because everybody was then in a state of alarm, and they wished to possess all the information possible. People so invited had not, however, come forward, but had contented themselves with writing letters to the papers, to which the Board could not reply. Mr Fantham said he had considerably changed his views since he advocated making the meetings public ; and this was in a great measure owing to the conduct of "the Auckland Herald. MrFergusson thought the public should be admitted, but should not be allowed to take part in the discussion. Mr J. S. Buckland said he would like to see some of the roads opened. The Chairman said the Board intended that day to consider the whole question of granting better facilities for driving cattle all over the district. Mr Buckland then withdrew. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, several letters and telegrams relating to routine matters were read. Messrs Hunter and Nolan wrote stating that they intended to advertise a cattle sale at Ohaupo for the 20th hist., and asking if this would meet with the concurrence of the Board. Mr J. B. Whytc, M.H.E., wrote expressing a hope that, as the disease appeared to be dying out, the Board Avould see fit to remove some of the more oppressive restrictions as regai'ded confining cattle within fences. Many cases of extreme hardship had been brought under his notice. The Chairman said the Board had got a letter from residents on the West side of the river at Cambridge, praying that the cattle be kept off the run, while that morning a deputation of Cambridge residents had waited on the members of the Board to ask them to remove the embargo on cattle being at large within the township. These gentlemen he had requested to put their petition in writing and they had agreed to do so. Mr Naden said he intended to prosecute in all cases where cattle had been wilfully allowed to run. Mr Fergusson thought it quite right to do so, as it would be a great mistake to allow the cattle to run about the roads. The Chairman said the Board were in receipt of petitions from Ngaruawahia and Hamilton praying for the removal of the restrictions placed on those districts. Mr Fergusson said he could see no objection to allowing cattle to be at large in clean districts, but certainly not m Cambridge. Mr Fantham said he did not think it safe to remove the restriction from East Hamilton. He hoped the cattle in all districts would not be allowed to run about as formerly, to the ruin of everybody's fences and gardens. Mr Fergusson thought it would be very desirable to take the opinion of the different Highway Boards on the question before deciding-. The Chairman said this was a very good suggestion ; cattle on the runs were a very great nuibance. Mr Fantham said it AVould be a perfect absurdity to alloAV cattle to be at large in Cambridge, where only a month ago they had killed diseased bea&ts. The following 1 reports Averc read : —

To Awamutu, sth May, I^o. Gentlemen, — I ha\c the honor to report to 3011 that I went on Saturday afternoon, as uvjuested, to Pukerimu, and looked cner htt) lie. id ot i.ittle belonging to Mr limke ; it was my fiist \Wit to these animals ; tlic-y seemed to me to be .ill in good health, all but one black bullock whkh was not tinning m> well, and one little red cow which seemed wither dull. On Monday I wont towards Alc\andia and ga\c ceitjticates tor three small lots of bullocks to be sent to Auckland. Yesterday 1 went early to Mr liurke's here, and walked through his paddocks. The rattle seemed pictty well, as in my foinicr report — the cahes looking remarkably well. I then went, as requested, to Mr MtXicol's, at Ohaupo, and saw there two heifers killed. I baw them opened and I examined the lungs, which I felt all o\cr; they seemed to me to be healthy. I looked further into the dead animals and lound the pleura in both smooth and clean. — I ha\c the honor to be, gentlemen, your \eiy obedient s.civant, J. Gi Rsr, Dcputj Cattle Inspector. To the Chairman and Members of the South Auckland Cattle Board, Cambiidge.

Cambridge, Bth May, 1880. Gentlemen, — I lmvc the honor to leport to jou that I visited )csterda\ the farm of Mr Jluike, .it To Aw.mUitu, I found the rattle as in my foimci report, e\cept the bull, which looked somewh.it dull and empty ; I will visit this animal d.iily. I then went through the paddock of Mr Westncv ; the ten bullocks here seem to be in good health. I also saw the cattle in Mr Ta} lor's paddock. I could not see anything the matter with the animals heie. This day I v bitcd the tattle of Mr Burke, at Pukerimu; I cannot sec anything the matter here also, but will continue my visits ficquently in all three places. — I have the honoi to be gentlemen, jour veiv obedient servant, J. Gi Rsr, Inspector of Cattle. To the Chairman and Members of the South Auckland Cattle Board, Cambridge.

Cambridge, May 6th, 1880. Sir, — I have the honor to report that on Tuesday last. May 4th, two heifers were killed at Mr MoNicol's Faim, near Ohaupo, which had some time recently been purchased from the AVaikato Land- Association's herd, they were killed to ascertain whether they were affected with plcuro-pneumonia or not. I believe both of them had plcuro-pneumonia in a mild form, and I think it probable that a change of temperature with rain would bring it on in a ripe active form. Several of the cattle on this farm do not look so well as when I saw seem on the 14th April last, particularly a bullock which I then noticed. These cattle do not appear to have been kept isolated as promised, other cattle were in a paddock adjoining: them, sepcrated only by a wire fence. The bull lookb very poor, and he was in contact with tattle suspected of being diseased. — I ha\c the honor to be your obedient sen ant,

G. Nunv, M.R.C.V.SL The Chairman of the South Auckland dittlo Board.

Cambridge, Bth May, 1880. To the Chaitman of the South Auckland Cattle ISuaul. Sir,— l ha\c tbc honor to repmt, sinco the meeting of yout Roard, hold on the ist May, in companj w Ith Veterinary Surgeon Xaden and Inspector Gerse, and two members of the Cattle Hoard, I went to llurke's km, at Pukerimu. I saw no change in his cattle fiom my la t \isit to that plate. On the 4th I met Veteiin.u \ Surgeon Xaden and Inspet toi (lei so at Mr Mi Xirol's fiii m. Two hoifcis, two \ears old, were killed, one showed 1 tinning at the nose, and toughed several times while we weie waiting piep.u.ilions being made for killing, to be evuninnl postmortem, by tljo Miturimiry surgeon. On tl^o lun^

Mr. Gerse had left out of his report all reference to the inflamed lung, while now he admitted the fact. Mr. Fergusson said with regard to the opinions of the doctors, he did not think they should be taken any notice of. The Chairman said they could not take them into consideration as they were not before the Board, Mr. Gerse continued, in reply to the Board : He had seen one of the beasts killed at Woodlands opened, and it had been suffering from pleurisy. There was adhesion of the lungs, but the animal had not been effected with Pleuro-pneumonia. They never killed amimals in Belgium unless they were very badly effected. Mr. Fantham said there was not sufficient ground to justify the Board in supposing, prior to the 4th instant, that the cattle of Mr. McNicol's were not diseased. Mr, Storey : Not after the cattle had been three months on the farm without spreading bhe infection ? Mr. Fantham said not. The animal which first introduced the disease into Australia, was five months on the voyage, and showed no symptions of disease on landing. The inspectors having withdrawn, The Chairman said he had understood that Mr Gerse was a veterinary surgeon, but it now appeared that he was not. He therefore could not place any special value on his opinions, and were it not for the assistance he might render in issuing passes, &c, for removing cattle, he would recommend the Government to dispense '■ with his services. If they had retained the services of Mr Michie they would have done some good. Mr Storey asked if there were no means of ascertaining finally whether the disease did or did not exist on the farm. It was very uniust to Mr McNicol to leave the matter undecided. The bottlers present at the examination had all agreed that the cattle were clean. Mr Fergusson said he would take the opinion of Mr Naden as being worth more than that of all the settlers in the district. Mr Fantham said he remembered when one veterinary surgeon in Canterbury opposed his opinion to that of 5000 settlers, and in the end he was proved to be right. After some further discussion, The Chairman said they should purchase the suspected animals and have them slaughtered. He did not like the idea of killing other people's cattle. It was agreed to adopt the suggestion, and to communicate with Mr McNicol. The resolution moved by Mr Buttle was theu put and carried. It was suggested that two additional surgeons be procured to accompany Mr Naden and make an inspection of -the suspected herd, the removal or continuance of the restriction to rest on their report. Mr Fergusson said the Board could not be too careful. It was better to err on the safe side. As regarded public opinion he did not value it very highly in cases of this kind. Mr Storey said Mr Runciman had reported that there were certain suspicious appearance? on the lungs. He might say that he had asked Mr Runciraan to point out anything wrong and he could not do so. Mr John McNicol was then introduced, and The Chairman, addressing him said they would have been very glad to have removed the restriction from his father's farm, but in the face of Mr Naden's report they could not do so. They wero bound to do what they considered right for the district. He wished to know if Mr McNicol would sell the suspected beasts. Mr McNicol said his father was quite willing- to stand the loss. The Chairman said some of members of the Board dii not concur in Mr Naden's report, and they therefore did not like to put McNicol to any fuithcr loss. Did they object to the cattle being inspected ? Mr McNicol said they did not, although they were afraid that if some people were allowed to go on the farm they might do their best to give the disease to the cattle. They wished to have the animals under their own observation. The Chairman taid the Board had no indention of removing the cattle if purchased, but would slaughter them on the farm. Mr McNicol said they were quite prepared to bear the lo*s themselves. If the cattle were inspected they would have &ome one there to look after their own interests. In reply to MrForgusson, McNicol .said they would purchase cattle if the restrictions were removed, but it was no use to buy cittlo and put them on a place said to be infected. He further said the inspectors had offered to take bets that the disease would yet be found on the farm. Mr Runciman denied having done so. Ultimately it was agreed to inspect the cattle in about a fortnight, Mr Xadui to beaccompanied by other professional men ? A petition signed by 18 residents of ( 'ambridgc was then presented, and ran as follows :—": — " Gentlemen, — "We, the undersigned residents of Cambridge, being owners of cattle, bog to call your attention to the loss and expense we have .sustained by stiietly carrying out the l.iw ; and respectfully ask the embargo placed upon our cattle being at large may be forthwith removed, after a careful inspection having been made by the gentlemen appointed for that purpose." Messrs Bell, Dillon, and other.-? who attended spoke insuppoitof the petition, which the Board promised to consider. Mr H. Reynolds waited on the Board to obtain a permit to drive a cow from Ohaupo to Eureka, which' was granted. In answer to the Chairmau, Mr Reynolds said the cattle on the Company's property were improving in appearance, and there were no fresh cases ot disease. It was resolved to forward a copy of the resolution, affecting the Waipa County, to Messrs Hunter and Nolan ; also to those who signed the petitions from Hamilton and Ngaruawahia, with a request to the two latter that they will endeavor to do their utmost to prevent any cattle crossing the Waikato River. It was resolved to inform the Cambridge memorialists that their request cannot for the present be granted. It was resolved to acknowledge the receipt of the letter from Mr. J. B. Whytc, forwarding him a copy of the resolution arrived at. This was all the business.