SOUTH AUCKLAND CATTLE BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume 1230, Issue XIV, 18 May 1880, Page 2

SOUTH AUCKLAND CATTLE BOARD.

The usual weekly meeting of the Board was held at the Farmers' Club-hosue, Cambridge, on Saturday, there being present, Messrs. Every Maclean (chairman), A. A. Fauthnm, Henry Buttle, & J. Storey, and R. H. D. Fergusson, Mr John Runciman, Cattle Inspector, was iv attendance, and Messrs. Bailey and Swarbrick were present. The Chairman said before the minutes were read the Board would be happy to receive any deputations or hear any body who had any information to afford to the Board. Mr A. Swarbrick said he had been requested by the settlers of the Kirikiriroa Highway District to present the following petition to the Board :—: — To the South Auckland Cattle Board. Gentlemen, — We, the undersigned cattleowners in the Kirikiriroa Highway Distiict, beg to dr.iw tho attention of your Board to the great loss and inconvenience caused to c.ittleowners by tho picscnt restrictions on the movements ot c.ittle. These restrictions were, no doubt, most necessary in the fiist instance, when the extent and probability of the disease spreading were a matter of entire uncettainty; but your memorialists arc of opinion that tho time has now come that these restrictions may with safety be modified. We therefore tiust that your Boaul will think pioper to remove all restrictions on the movements of cattle in and to and from this district, except in respect of premises in which pleuiopneumonia is known to exist. [Here follows the names of 75 settlers in the Kirikiriroa District.] He wished to point nut that those who Avere instrumental in promoting this memorial were not in any connected with those who were endeavoring to create a reaction. The restrictions imposed by the Board while they were at the time rendered necessary were nowpressing very heavily upon the many owners of cattle, whose stock were in many instances literally starving. While these restrictions were necessary the settlers cheerfully put up with tin's inconvenience, but they now thought that the Board might with safety merely confine their operations ; > places where the disease did exist. Pleuio had not shown itself anywhere in the Kirikiriroa District outside the company's property, and if the Board could sec fit to comply with the wish of the memorialists they would bo conferring a great benefit on them. It reply to Mr Fergnsson, Mr Swarbrick said the company's property was divided from the rest of the district almost completely by a creek just inside tho company's fence, and the cattle could therefore very easily be kept back from the road. He believed the company were doing their utmost to keep the cattle back at present. Mr Fautham asked if the district included Hamilton East. Mr Swarbrick. Yes. The Chairman said they would duly consider the matter in its order. Mr John McNiool waited on tho Board and presented the certificate signed by Dm. Hale and Blundon, which has already been published in these columns. He also laid before the Board a letter signed by a number of prominent settlers who were present at Mr McKicol's farm on the 14th inst., certifying that the beasts killed on that day by order of the Board, Avere in their opinion perfectly free from disease, and presented every appearance of perfect health. Mr McXicol said he had been asked by his father to request the Board not to allow either Mr Naden or Mr Runciman to inspect his cattle again. He had no objection to Mr Allom or Mr Gerse, or anybody else except the two mentioned. At the suggestion of the Chairman, it Avas resolved that the papers lie on the table. Mr G. E. Clark made an application for leave to remove some of his cattle from one paddock to another on his farm. The distance awis only some 18 chains, and the cattle had been on his property for some considerable time. Mr Fautham asked if the Inspector had any obiection ? Mr Runciman said he would not grant a certificate Avithout first examining the cattle. The Chairman said the cattle would be duly inspected and the certificate would be granted. He quite approved of Mr Runciman's resolution to see that all cattle Avere duly inspected before permission to remove them Avas granted. Mr Fantham complained of a paragraph which had appeared in the Star, charging him Avith attempting to keep the reporters out of their meetings. He was sure that they would agree with him Avhen he said that he had always been in favor of allowing the press to be represented at the Board, the proceedings of Avhich should, he thought, receive the fullest publicity. Mr Ferguson said he Avas informed that the Star had corrected the statement in a subsequent issue. The chairman said it Avas of little use correcting false reports of this kind Avhen once currency was given. While on the subject he had to complain of the conduct of the Herald in reporting the North Aucland Cattle Board. They had published an important letter addressed to that body without giving the previous correspondence to which it related, thus giving rise to much misapprehension. He thought such a course very unfair. The matter then dropped. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The followiug reports Avere read :— Cambridge, May 14th, 1880. Sir,— l have the honor to report that on Tuesday last I examined several mobs of cattle, the property of the Waikato Land Association, with Inspector Runciman. I noticed 12 heifers in one paddock looking well ; Ido not think these were imported cattle. We then examined several other mobs, many of which were not looking well, and had pleuro-pncumonia in different stages. The cattle alluded to were all near the Scotchman's Valley. Looked at three shorthorn bulls near the Eureka Station : I did not like the appearance of two of them. Nineteen Hereford heifers and one Hereford bull were then c\- j amined : se\eral of these heifers wcie not looking well ; 15 Hereford bulls, several of them not looking well. A mob of about 50 shorthorn cows and heifers look better than an)' I have seen on the station. A mob of imported cattle, from which sc\cr.il wore slaughtered some weeks ago, were looked at ; but thry were st attored, and we did not see many of thorn: I therefoie cannot state whether the} ha\e improved since ni) last visit. May 12th, viiited Hukonui : I fiist saw a mob of jo near the house, thee 1 think had impiovi'd ; 36 in another mob were also looking better; 31 in another mob were not improved since my last visit, or it then* is any impiovement it is only slight ; 77 bullocksj mostly throe*} cat -old bu-asts,

and two cahea in a paddock betoie reaching the house at Woodlands, were looked at and appeared to ba doinjj well. We «prp unable to examine them closely as it w,is raining heavily. — I have, &c, G. Naui v, M.R.C.V.S.L. The Chairman South Auckland Cattle Uoaid.

To the Chairman of the South Auckland Cattle Hoard. Sir, — I have the honor to report since the List meeting of your Hoard that 1, in company with Mr Nadcn, V.8., visited the AV.uk.ito Land Association's tattle .it W.iitakaruru, s.iw a numbei of imported rattle; also at Euieka some of the cattle look a little better than they did when I last saw them, but many are still bad. I also saw the shorthorn cattle, they aie still suffering from the effects of inoculation ; als>o the bulls and Hereford herd are bad from the same cause. I found four graves within i so yards from the two farthest ; they were buried from one foot to si\ inches. I also visited Hukonui, saw 107 imported cattle, but s.iw little alteration since last visit ; also 70 fat cattle, some of them suffering from inoculation. From letter and information received, I visited Rukuhia, but am glad to say I did not sec any symptoms of pleuro. — I have, &c,

John Runcim.w, Cattle Inspector. Mr. Geoffrey Collins Ayrote asking for £8 compensation for a heifer destroyed by order of the Board on account of its having been in the pound with some affected cattle, and found to be perfectly clean. A- letter was read from the Chief Cattle Inspector (Mr. Lewis) saying that Mr. Naden was ui'gently required in Auckland. The chairman reported tbat in accordance with this communication Mr. Naden had proceeded to town. A telegram from the Government was read in reference to the mistake which had occurred in the printing of Mr Fergusson's name in the Gazette, stating that in an erratum attached to the next Gazette the error had been rectified. Mr Fergusson wished to know whether the business done at the last meeting would require to be confirmed, as he was not then gazetted properly. The Chairman said he did not think &o as they were in possession of a telegram from the Government at that time saying Mr Fergusson had been appointed to the Board. He did not think their action would be upset by a mere printer's error. The Colonial Secretary telegraphad in answer to a communication from the Board requesting the Government should grant adequate compensation for the whole of the infected cattle in the Waipa County, stating that the matter would be duly laid before the Cabinet. The following letter signed by fourteen residents and cattle owners of- Cambridge was read :: — •

I Cambridge, 14th May, 1880. To the Chairman of the South Auckland Cattle Board. E. M vci.l vn, Esq., Sir, — In answer to > ours of the Bth instant we beg respectfully to inform you that it is our intention to release our 1 attic on Saturday nc\t, unless a icpoit Jroin the Inspectors, based on an examination, is against us. We have rights as well as duties, and, ha\inir fulfilled the latter, it is oui intention to contend for thu ioinier.

The following report was read : — To Awamutu, 14th May, 18S0. Gentlemen, — I have the honoi to icpoit to you that on Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 1 \ Kited the farm of Mr JUtrke here. The bull which I reported List as rather dull is ret overed ; the rest of the tattle, except the calf with the bad t.iil and rump look as if in good health. The said sick calf was killed in my presence on Wednesday and opened; the lungs and chest were free of disease. I received the annexed letter on Wednesday evening, and started yesterday morning tor the station ot the Hon. James Williamson, where I only .11 rii cd at 2 o'clock p.m. I waited till Mr Buttle (the m.magei), came home, who told me Mr Runrim.in had been in the afternoon «yid seen the sick beast. I also \ isited the animal this morning, and found it looking healthy and well. Atterivaids I looked o\er some 200 beasts on the same station ; .ill were seemingly in good health. 1 ha\e not isited this week the farm ot Mr McNicol at Ohaupo, nor the p.tddock ot Mr P.utke at Pukerimu : I was told last .Saturday that I would receive a telegram when to visit these in company with the other inspectors. — I have, &c, J. Gi rsi , Deputy C ittlf Inspector. To the Chairman and Members ot the South Auckland Cattle Ho.iul. The Clerk said this was all the correspondence. Mr Fantham said with reference to Mr Collins application that the beosfc had been killed by a butcher at the 0 wner's request because she had been in company with diseased catt'e. Mr. Fergusson said in that case they had nothing to do with it. The Chairman said they should have to send all claims of this kind to the Government. Mr. Ferguson said according to the Act all claims for compensation, must be brought before the Resident Magistrate. The Boai'd had no power to grant it. It was agreed to write to Mr. Collins referring him to the 35th section of " The Cattle Act, 1871." Mr. Fergusson said he supposed they would do nothing in the matter of Mr. McNicol's cattle, as it had been arranged that the question was to stand over for a fortnight from the last meeting. Mr. Storey explained that the papers had been forwarded by Mr McNicol in accordance with the wish of the chairman expressed at the previous Saturday's meeting. Mr. Buttle had been under the impression that during the fortnight the farm of Mr McNicol was to have been inspected. He saw no reference to it in the reports. The Chairman said Messrs. Naden and Kunciman had been busily employed elsewhere during the week in another direction. It was arranged however that they Avere to go to Mr. McNicol's twics during the coming week. He had heard that another Veterinary Surgeon had arrived in Auckland, to act for the North Aucbind Cattle Board and they had no professional assistance at present. Mr. Buttle wished to know what should be done regarding Mr. McNicol's request not to allow Mr. Naden or Mr. Runciman to again visit his farm. Mr. Fergussion said those gentlemen were duly appointed officers of the Government, and could under the Act demand the cattle. He did not think the Board had power to stop them, if so inclined. Mr Fantham thought the request was a most unreasonable one At this point a telegram was received from the Colonial Secretary's Office, intimating that the Government had no funds to devote to compensating cattle owners in the Waipa. They would recommend compensation at the rate of 30s. a head for all slaughtered animals, but anything beyond this should be raised in the district. Mr Fergusson thought there could be no objection to allowing people to run their cattle on the town belt, but certainly they should be prohibited from straying on public roads. The Chairman said the letter would be considered in its proper place. Mr Fantham said it was perfectly absurd to allow cattle to run about the township. A letter appeared in the Auckland Herald of the previous day, in ! which the writer stated that the disease of jrieuro-pueumonia had been known to break out six months after the introduction of infected cattle. He entirely endorsed the letter. He wished them thoroughly to understand that as long as he was a member of that Board he would object to the cattle on the Swamp Company's property or Mr Burkes farm being removed for at least 12 months after they were declared clean by the inspectoi*. No stronger proof of the wisdom, nay the necessity of such a course could be found than the case of Messrs. Ireland Bros. They would all remember that some of the imported cattle belonging to those gentlemen had been found to be diseased, and killed ; lately Mr Ireland made an application to the North Auckland Board to have the restrictions plaoed on his

farm removed. Fortunately the Board refused the application for it had since been reported that the disease had again broken out on the farm. No doubt the Messrs Ireland thought they were being hardly used, but if the reports were true what a difference the granting of their request would have made to the district. He thought it Avas high time they thought about doing something. They all believed that the disease existed in the district, and yet they had done little or nothing to stamp it out. A short time ago they had seen cattle, from a paddock of Mr Burkes, which were diseased and so far as he was concerned the remaining cattle would have to remain on the farm for at least twelve months. He was pretty well aware this was ruinous. There were some cattle of McNicol'a which the inspector and the veterinary surgeon had pronounced to be suffering from something 1 . There could be no doubt that the veterinary surgeon and the Chief Inspector knowing that these cattle came from a diseased place were ritfht to be on the safe side. They might only have had it in a mild form, owing to the climate, or perhaps it was owing to inoculation. As the cattle were no doubt bred from cows which had been inoculated, inoculation of course meant giving the disease in a mild shape, and it was but natu.al that the calf should inherit some of the symptoms of the disease. Looking at the case from all points he had arrived at the conclusion, after thinking over it a good deal, that the only effectual means for getting rid of the disease in Waipa lay in purchasing all the suspected cattle in the county, giving for them something approaching their value— the funds for the purpose to be made up by subscription —He believed £500 would cover the whole cost of the cattle, to be divided as follows :— For 50 head of cattle at Mr "Buvke's, Pulcerimu, at £6 10s a-head. £325 ; 20 calv.es, at Mr Burkes, Pateran ga Farm, at £2 a-head, i'4o : 14 cows at s i me place, at £o each, C7O; making a total of £135. The balance — £6o — could be applied to purchasing any doubtful looking cattle on Mr McNicol's farm, Of this sum of £50) the Government would only contribute £133 19s. Presuming' that only about 20 per cent of the cattle were found to be bad, the beef from the remaining animals could, after being thoroughly inspected and declared clean, be sold' to the butchers and would, he felt sure, hi refused by no one. The 40 cattle at Pukerimu would fetch, beef, hides, &c, say £5 per head, or £200; the 20 calves 1 0s a-head, £10, and the cows, some or which would be in pretty fair condition, about £2 a-head, or £28. From Mr McNicol's beasts he would reckon on obtaining half value, say £35. These sums together with the Government grant would make a total of £496 10s, leaving a very small Mini to be collected by the public. By carrying out his scheme they would clear the whole county west of the river, as far as Taupo, of the disease. There were only four bridges over the river, and cattle could veiy easily be prevented from crossing them. He thought that the importance of the result, the givino: a clean bill of health to ho large a district should urge them to making a great effoit; and he hoped the Chairman would use his influence to get the subscription raised without loss of time. The Chairman asked what provision had been made in this scheme for getting fat cattle across the liver to the railway station ? Mr Fantham said those people who had cattle to send to Auckland from districts east of the river, should send their cattle to Taupiri. With regard to the Swamp Company's cattle, which would be the only remaining infected place, they could arrange with the company to keep their cattle a distance from the roads, or elso thoy could otter to recommend the Government to grant compensation at the rate of 30s per head. The Chairman doubted whether by these means the disease would be stamped out, because it was simply impossible to say where the seeds of the disease had spread. Mr Fantham thought with care the plan would be successful. It was absurd to allow diseased cattle to remain in the district when they could be got rid of with so little expense. Messrs Fergusson and Storey thought Mr Fantham had under-estimatad the amount required to be expended, and had allowed too much for the beef, which would be very hard sell. Mr Fantham thought if the meat was properly inspected it would sell easily enough. Mr Fergusson suggested the raising of the £300 before they considered the matter, although he very much doubted whether they could get it. Mr Storey did not think that Mr Burke would agree to the terms offered ; besides which -the cattle "were vastly improved lately, and were, he thought, quite clean. After some discussion on the question as to whether the owners of cattle would allow them to be killed. Mr Fantham said the Board had the power to do so ; but he did not like to see a man's cattle killed without allowing him something in the way of fair compensation. They must remember thai/ to keep these suspected herds was to heriously inconvenience the neighbouring cattle owners. He thought the necessary money could be raised by way of a tax, which would not press heavily on any one. Mr Storey hoped there was no necessity for doing- anything of the sort. Mr Fantham said it appeared to him that they were just nursing tin disease and in three mouths they would perhaps find it breaking out all over the district in-.-Icad of its being 1 confined as at preseut to one or two places. Mr Fergusson said they should let the subject drop for the present. Mr Fantham said he wibhcd them to understand that he would oppose any suspected beasts being removed for twelve months. Mr Storey said Mr Burkes oO head of cattle were nearly beef and could be sold as such. The Chairman said in regard to removing- f, it ea ttle that he thought they had made a g-reat mistake in allo-vviug- Mr Taylor to remove his .stock. He did not know at the time that they were so neac infected cattle. He hoped to be more careful m future. He would bo very srlad to subscribe to the fund proposed by Mr Fantham. j Mr Fantham said they were continually getting reports that cattle were getting better and better but they were not there for the purpose of watching the cattle but to stamp out the disease. Messrs Buttle and Fergusson expressed themselves to the effect that the Inspectors ought to be more explicit in their reports regarding suspected cattle. It was agreed to postpone the further discussion for a week. Some discu&sion then ensued with regard to the petition from Kirikiriroa, when it was stated that cattle were known to run about Cambridge after nightfall, and that Mr Naden intended to prosecute. It was also stated that one cattleowner in Cambridge had repeatedly driven his cows through the streets on the strength of a certificate given him to remove them from one paddock to another. It was suggested that he should be prosecuted. Ultimately the Board resol\ ed to m rite to the Swamp Company, .stating that a petition had been received irom the settlers in the Kirikiriroa district, reqiiesting that the restrictions «-» to « s itth>

owners depastu/ing their cattle on the run be removed, and that the Board were prepared to grant the concession provided the company would guarantee to keep their cattle a distance of at least 500 yards from the public roads. They would also ask how it was proposed, if agreed to, to keep the cattle back. The Chairman, however, expressed the opinion that it must of necessity be a long time before they could open the Piako-road, which Van right through the company's property, and was divided merely by a wire fence. It was decided to remove the restrictions, as affecting the eastern portion of the Borough of Hamilton. No action was taken with regard to the petition frjom Cambridge. Inspector Runciman reported that several of the cattle belonging to the company had been buried at Waitakaruru, with only about a foot or six inches of earth over them. This was, of course, not in accordance with the Act. It was agreed to write to the manager, drawing his attention to the matter. Some discussion took place regai-ding Mr Gerse, and it was agreed to intimate to the Government that the Board had no further need for his services. Inspector Runciman said he wished the Board thoroughly to understand that if they granted permits to removesuspected cattle within six months he would feel called upon to resign. He also desired it* to be understood that he was not going to be ordered about hither and thither by the Board. He had certain duties to do under the Act and lie was going to confine himself to them. He did not say he would refuse a request of the Board, but it must come in that form. The inspector having retired, the Chairsaid there was no doubt that Mr Runciman was greatly overworked and he would suggest that at the next meeting they should pass a resolution recommending the Government to increase his salary. It was arranged to meet again on Saturday next, Mr Naden in the meantime to be telegraphed for to inspect MrMcNicol's cattle. The Board then rose.