SOUTH AUCKLAND CATTLE BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1309, 18 November 1880, Page 2

SOUTH AUCKLAND CATTLE BOARD.

A Meeting of the Board was hel<l at the Cambridge Farmers' Club on Monday afternoon, to receive and consider the report of the Commission appointed by the Government to inspect the cattle of the Waikato Land Association and Mr Burke. There were present, Messrs E. Maclean, (chairman), R. H. T). Fergusson, A. A. Fauth.un, and W. L. Martyn. Inspector Sunciinau was in attendance. The minutea of the previous meeting were read anil confirmed.

Mr J. A. Douglas wrote accepting the position of a member of the Board, and a telegram was received from the Government notifying that Mr Douglas's appointment had been gazetted. A letter was read from Mr Oldham, deputy inspector of cattle in the Raglan district, stating that a cow on Mr Haraant's farm, was in bad health but he was unable to state the nature of the disease. The letter was referred to Inspector Runciman.

Mr H. Reynolds, manager for the Waikato Land Association forwarded a statement of the number of cattle on the property at the time of the inspection by Mr Naden. The number was 2,300 ; of which 20 had been shot by Naden, 15 shot by Mr Reynolds, and 15 had died. He attributed their bad health to overcrowding on the voyage from Australia, but admitted that there had been one authenticated case of pleuro before March, but not since.

Mr Fantham asked what the information was, which Inspector Jttunciman in hw report to last meeting, had referred to as warranting him in declining to recommend the removal of the restnetiocts.

Mr Fergusson thought the Board should be supplied with the information. Inspector Runoiinan stated that he did not believe the return of the number of cattle on t-he estate furnished by MiReynolds to be correct. When first he went to Eureka, Mr Reynolds told him the number was 2560. Again he was not aware that Mr Naden had destroyed more than H head of cattle. The Secretary here stated that Mr Naden had visited the Eureka SUtion on one occasion alone, but ho was not aware that any beasts were destroyed at that time.

Inspector Ruacimau, in answer to Mr Fergusson, said, the Commission had not counted the cattle on the Eureka portion of the estate ; at Woodlands they had oounted 600. It was almost impossible to have mustered the whole of the cattle during the time they were on the property.

Mr Ferguson considered that the inspection had been most unsatisfactory. If the cattle had not been counted, the report should not have statsd the number. At tho request of tho Chairman, the Secretary read the folio whig 1 reports : — Auckland, November i, ibBo. Sir, — I have the honour to icport that in obedience to in-,truction received, I proceeded to Waikato on the 2?rd ult., accompanied by Mr Sharp. M.R.C.V.S.L. On Monday, 25th, he and I, ai rompnnied by Inspei tor Kunrimau, proceeded to the property of the Waikato Land Association. On that and succeeding 1 days till noon ot Friday we were engaged in inspecting cattle on various parts of their property, and I ;im happy to say that in no portion did the V.S. discov er any sj uiptom ot plcuro, a conclusion in whit h I fully com uned. T. he londition <jt the cattle was excellent, except a few hundred kept for breaking in now land. On Saturdaj we inspected the In in oi Mr iiurkc, near le Awamutu, which also we found to be free from disease, and on the evening ot the same day retui ned to Auckland. Herewith are toivs aided Mr Sharp's report, a declaration in legal form made by Mr Reynolds, Manager of the Association in which he declares that all c.vttle belonging to the Assoti ition were inspected, with the exception of about thiee, which escaped into the bush. The total number of tattle inspected was about 2,3^9. Mr Burke informed me, and was ready to make legal declaration that no beast had died upon, or had been removed from his farm during the past six months, and th.it all the cattle on his tarm had been inspected, bring in ninnboi Oj. I beg respectfully to express my opinion that permission should be forthwith given (under Clause 27 cf the Act), for the removal of cattle trom one portion to another ot the Waikato Land Association property, such cattle having been inspected immediately before removal. lam also of opinion that all restrictions might nttingh be taken away from the same property at the end of the current month, it theie be in the meantime no appearance of disease, as a period of oix months will then have elapsed since the disappearance ot the disease on th.it propertj . I am further of opinion that Mr Hurke's property may be at onto released trom being considered under any rcstiiction. I wish to be allowed to express mv appie- < iation of the expeditious manner in which Mr Rf \ nold's (jot the 1 attic yarded, and the facilities and attention be affurded bv him. I h.i\o, &c, Il'.I 1 '. C. Li v\is, Inspector of Cattle North and South Ant kland Cattle I)i>tricts. Auckl md, November Ist. To Mr Lewis. Su,— l beg to submit the following as the result ot my ex.imiratiou <>f cattle on th<- properties of the Land Company and Mr liuikc :— Jll (oinp.mv with vo'irselt and Insnoctor Rimciman 1 \isited the Kureka on the j^tn and 26th, pait ot Woodlands on Oi tober 27th, M in^w.ir 1 on 2^th, and otliet p.u U of Woodlands oi th 20th. The number ol » attic examined wao about 2300. I h.i'i c to state that I found nothing to lead me to believe or suspect disease to exist ot a c 011tagious or infectious nature among any of the cattle examined. The tiny* whuh n.is now elapsed since the last outbreak, which i am lead to believ e i s something like fix c months, anA 1 onsidering th« wet st.ite ot the land the cattle have been depastured on, which would be tavoiahlc to the development ot pleuro, 1 should not apprehend .1 further outbreak, although 111 .some exceptional cases the 1111 übative stage may be prolonged to six months trom the time flic germs of the disease are received into the system. Im iv aKo st.ite, the 1 attic are, Ovcopt a veiv small percentage, in good thriving condition. On Saturday 30th, I \isited Mi liuike's farm at Ie Awamutu, and ex imined his <attle, which I found to be in a state ot health. — I am, &c, Al.Mtl.l) SllXßl', M.R.C.V.S.L. Hamilton, Ist November. Inspector Lewis. In compliance with telogi am fiom Wellington on the 2ind instant, I have the honor to report : Monday, 2^th October, I visited Kurok.i with Inspector Lev. is and V.S. Sharp. We rodi; through a. gre.it many cattle. On the V.S. leaving one mob I drew his attention to two < ovvs, whic h appeared to me to be unhealthy. They were driven to the yard and examined by the V.S., who stated that one ot the two beasts' "lungs were not sound, in presence of Messrs Lewis, Murdoch, and Whitaker. When asked bv Mr Murdoch, he declined to say whether it was pleuro «r not. We then visited su\eral other nv>bs of 1 attic, several ot which looked very suspicious, so much so th.it two out of one mob were yarded and examined. 20th. — Inspection continued: We rode through several mobs ot cattle, which appeared to be in better health that those we \isitcdthe previous day. We were then shown about 300 yearlings, several ot which I did not consider healthy. We were then shown a large mob ot cows and calves. I did not join the inspection ot this mob ot cattle, but was asked by Inspector Lewis .is the V.S. was leaving, whether I suspected any disease in this mob. In reply I pointed out a white cow, which was driven to a yard .md examined bj the V.S. 27th.— Proceeded to Woodlands, continued the inspection, rode through .1 large mob of cattle, several of which did not look healthy. Next saw a, largo mob ot bullocks ; all appeared healthy. We then saw some bulls, and they appeared healthy. Also saw scv oral small lots of cattle. 28th. — Proceeded to Mangawara, saw several mobs of cattle, a few of which did not have a very healthy appearance. 29th. — On returning from Woodlands to Hamilton, -we saw ten head of cattle which were not seen the day before. They all appeared healthy. 30th.— Visited Mr Hurke's farm at Te Awamutu,accompanied by Inspector Lewis and V.S. Sharp. Saw 63 head of cattle, the whole of which appeared healthy, except one. This cow I referred to in my report to the South Auckland Cattle Jioard, on the 16th instant ; the cow w.is yarded and examined by the V.S., who stated that the lungs were not sound. Ido not consider that sufficient time w.is given to make an inspection of the cittle tor the purpose of removing the restrictions now on tho above properties {V.S. Sharp not having made a fio\t mortem examination of the cattle stated by him to have unsound lungs) to warrant me in rccommeding the restrictions to be removed from cither place. — I have, See, John Runcimw, Inspector. Inspector Lewis wrote, stating that he had submitted Inspsctor Runciman's report to Mr Sharp, and enclosed a letter from the latter, to the effect that Mr Runciman's acoount of what had been done when the two cows were yarded was totally inoorrect, and that bo far from declining to state whether or not one of Vaq beasts had pleuro, he stated most positively that it had not.

Inspector Rumanian reiterated his assertion. He believed his report to be correct. The following telegram was read :— Wellington, November, 1880. E* cry Maclean, Esq., Chairman, S. A. C.Li. I lam dire: ted to inform jou th.it Go\ernmcnt has rece ved repot ts tromCattle Inspectors L "vvis and Runcimaii, and V.b. Sharp ;v rattle (in Waikato Land Association's property, .md on Mr l.i.ike's f.irm at Te Awamutu. Go\crnment arc s.ifislied with the reports, but according to section as of the Att of 1871, cannot declaie South Yuekland C.ittle District, or any part thereof to be free fiom disease, unless they have leceived a toi mal certificate from the Hoard under the hand of the Chairman and the mspectoi that thcplac es which were declared infected are fiee from disease. Inspector Lewis having been present at the inspection as Inspector for the District, has been instructed by telegraph to transmit his formal certificate, in order that it may be tendered legal by ) our signature, if your Jioardteel justified in giving the certificate. The question of moving cattle from one part of the Waikato Land Association's property to another is one for jour Board to deal with, by instructing^ Inspector Runciman as to what licenses he is to grant under section 27, Act 1871. D. Maunsell.

Mr Fantham did not think they had anything before them to justify them in removing the restrictions. He was of opinion that it would take at least 28 days to examine the property, though the commission had done it in four. Regarding the difference of opinion between Mr Sharp and their Inspector, he thought they ought to procure the testimony of the other gentlemen present. The inspection to his mind had been a perfect pantomime. At first they had been told that the number of cattle on the Company's property was 2,800, then that it was 2,5000, and now it had been reduced to 2,300. No one in the world had deceived the Board more than the Company. The Board knew very well that pleuvo had been in the country, and that within the past few weeks a beast had died of the disease near Auckland. They had objected to Mr Runciman's inspection as being too hurried, and surely that by the Commission was open to the same objection. Mr M Jirtyn reminded Mr Fantbam that the members of the Commission were in a better position to give an opinion than Mr Uunciman.

Mi* Fantham said lip "WdB not satisfied wifch the inspection. Ho considered that Mr Lewis had taken too much for granted. The Chairman said they ought to respect the sworn declaration of Mr Reynolds. He thought the Board should tnke steps to have the rest rietio us removed say in auother mouth.

Mr Fauthain had no wish to keep the restrictions oti longer than was necessary. They should be removed in about three mouths from the present, provided that no di.sea.se broke out before the expiration, of that time. In the meautimehe was quite w illmg that the Company shouid be allowed to send beef away for immediate slaughter, and to remove stock from one part of the estate to another. The Chairman paid it mv.st not bo forgotten that the Company were suffering very considerably by the imposition of the restrictions. He thought two months would be quite long enough. Mr Ferguson thought they might as well m.ike the period six mouths as three month-, because at the end of February the Company could have httlo or no sale for their stock. Mr Mrirtyn said they had now the report of a duly qualified man, and of the Chief Inspector, and if they did not cary out their report*, he could not see vhy they hud procured them. He begged to move that the restrictions be taken off tho Eureka estate and Mr Burkes farm in accordance with the In&ppctora' report. Mr Fantham moved that the restrictions be not removed till the Ist February noxr,. The Chairman said it appeared fco him that Mr Fantham entirely lost sight of the Company's interests. Mr Fantham said he first considered the safety of the public. He would a>k the Chairman whether he was prepared himself to buy cattle off the Company's Estate and allow them to run with his other sto«k. The Chairman said the question was not pertinent because it was not proposed to remove the restrictions at once and not at all until the cattle had been again inspected by a Veterinary Surgeon and declared clean. Mr Fantham expressed the opinion that the Boird had been subject to outhide influence. The Chairmin thought Mr Fantham had been amenable to otit*ide influenLC.aud had boon actuated in his conduct at the Board by a desire for popularity. He road the following letter addressed by Inspector Runcimm to the Premier : — [( Ol'V.] Hamilton, Xo\ ember 1880. Tho Hon. J. Hall, i'romor, Welli-i^ton,— I h.i\ c- flu- honour f >inloi'ii wni th;it on poiusinir tin* " U ai'c lto M nl," (1 itod 10th ult., I was \cry much surprised when leadm j the < orrospotid'-iv o bctwoLMi the Chi.irum <>t the S<iuth \mkl.ind C ittle Bond .md tho J'ronicr, < oik ortuntf tho piopertv ot .\lo>sr, Mon in .md .Stitdlioline'shciiitf ■1 non-inioi ted plat i* I w.is not aw, ate until I saw tho < orrospond( n< u « hi<h I knew nothing of, that the roeommenda.tions of the I>o ird uoie not conhrm.-d. And I consider th it the Ch.urm in ot the IJn.ud nuijlit. .it .ill times, to intorm me ot -.urli tiieumsl.mi es ; but cilice July List he has dune epiitetho ie\er-e, and kept me pertertlv ignorant ot tlu-ir prcu codings, Iri'nnontlv sendinij a telegram statin" the l!o,ud would meet ,it a cert un hour, and when I .iiri><>d the l>o;ird had been dism'sstd, it h.i\ i'iy been held two hours puvious, purposely di" ei\ in<; me. And I also consider that the members of tinDo ird ought, .it all times, to be an independent body, not at all subjei t to outside intiueiK c, a body that \\ 'llld render i-uTi .issi>t mi i- to a person pei forming his duties, and not strive to hoodwink him. (Signed) John Ri'vim'a, That letter, he though^, referred to Mr F.mth.un. Mr Fantham thought it most certainly did not. After s >mc further discu-.sion, it wns resolved to remove the restrictions on Mr Burke' 8 farm, as suggested in the Chief Inspector's report and those on the Company's property on the Ist January, subject to iu&pection by a duly qualified veterinary surgeon, and that permission be given to remove cattle from one part of the estate to another under the Inspector's certificate. The Board then rose.

An Appall ix a Act ok Crukltv. — It appears that a female lay servant, employed in the Carmelite convent of that name, had been detected in the act of stealing some bread, and that for this offence she was tried, about ten days ago, before an impromptu tribunal, consisting of the abbess and two of the senior nuns, aud condemned " to undergo the torments of purgatory." The abbess and her reverend coadjutors then proceeded to enforce their barbarous sentence. Havin» conveyed their victim to a cell in which an iron stove stood out from the wall, they caused the stove to be heated in her presence, and then, tying her hands tightly behind her back, held her face down for several minutes close to the surface of the glowing metal. Her struggles and heartrending entreaties for mercy were of no avail. The nuns, it is said, protracted her martyrdom until her scorched eyes had lost their sight forever, and her whole face was converted into one huge blister. It i.s added that the perpetrators were denounced by several members of the community to the local authorities, who have consigned the abbess and other nuns to prison, where they arc now awaiting their trial. A habd oasis.— Major Dunnnp : « Awf'lly dull down here, isn' it, Miss Maria?" Miss Maria :" Do you think so ? Why don't you go, then ? You're a bachelor, and have only yourself to please." Major Dunnup : " Only myself to please ? You don't know what a doosid difficult thing tlwt is to do." — Jf>M>,