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It appears that since the Ist January, 1884, contrary to my opinion and without my sanction, some twenty thousand sheep have been admitted into Canterbury which have been dipped in Little's composition, which I do not consider a reliable scab-destroying preparation. I need only refer to the outbreak of scab in New South Wales to boar me out in this opinion. In that case the sheep were dipped throe times in Little's dip, and in five months found to be infected with scab. I have also been informed that it has been used extensively in the Wairarapa District, and has there been a failure. If the use of Little's dip, which is a cold dip, had been sanctioned, there would have been no necessity for incurring the expense of putting in new boilers at the Waiau. I would never have given my sanction to certain concessions which were made to some owners of sheep on the north side of the Waiau in March last. I have, therefore, considered it my duty to report the matter to the Government. I have, &c., P. B. Boulton, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Chief Inspector of Sheep.

Memorandum from Mr. P. B. Boulton to Mr. B. Foster. Complaints have been made to me with regard to the dipping at the Waiau, and I shall be going there on Tuesday to see Fraser with regard to that, and also what repairs are required at the dip. P. B. Boulton. Christchurch, 31st May, 1884.

Memorandum from Mr. P. B. Boulton to Mr. B. Foster. In accordance with my memorandum to you of the 31st ultimo, I went to the Waiau on Tuesday, the 3rd instant, and, from inquiries made from the lessee of the dip, I ascertained that upwards of twenty thousand sheep, out of a total number of 30,700 sheep, which have been brought into Canterbury from Amuri since the Ist January, have been dipped in Little's dip (cold). Amongst this number are 4,500 sheep of McArthur's, from the Wairau District; there are also 1,500 sheep from the Gladstone Bun, the dipping of which you stated to me when last in town should be conducted with especial care. I have never been apprized that Little's dip was in use. You will recollect on a former occasion I declined to sanction the use of this composition. I have been informed that several lots of sheep have been dipped without any supervision whatever—namely, on the 29th February, 1,004 sheep from Lyndon, and on the 28th March fifteen sheep from Lyndon. I shall be glad if you will give me an explanation on these subjects to accompany my report which I have to make to the Government. Christchurch, 7th June, 1884. P. B. Boulton.

Memorandum from Mr. B. Foster to Mr. P. B. Boulton. In reply to your memorandum of the 7th instant, re complaints made, as I understand, by Mr. Tinline, of Lyndon, about the dipping of sheep crossing the boundary at Waiau, I have to state that since the representations made to me by the owners of clean flocks in the Amuri, which were forwarded to Mr. Bayly, and referred to you for your opinion, I have thought it advisable to make some distinction between sheep from flocks which have been clean for a number of years, and those from runs adjoining or in close proximity to infected runs. My practice, therofore, has been to use Little's dip, which these owners use themselves, if they dip at all, for the sheep from clean runs, and lime and sulphur for the sheep from doubtful localities. This was strictly adhered to until, on the 9th April, when Mr. Low's sheep were being dipped for the second time, the old boiler gave way and the sheep had to be finished with Littles' dip. This course was rendered necessary because it would be impossible to dip sheep in lime and sulphur with only one boiler. The sheep from the Wairau and Gladstone, in the Awatore, came from clean flocks, and did not cross infected country. The former were carefully inspected by Inspector Scaife and myself, and, having been three weeks on the road, would have shown disease plainly had there been any infection in them. The Gladstone sheep were dipped in lime and sulphur before starting ; they were properly dipped by Inspector Scaife in Little's dip, at a strength of 1 to 85, and were afterwards seen by me. The 1,004 Lyndon sheep, which Mr. Tinline complains were dipped without the supervision of an Inspector, were sheep fattened for freezing, which I had promised Mr. Tinline should be knocked about and delayed as little as possible. I accordingly instructed Fraser to go on with the dipping, as I had to ride from Montrose (sixteen miles). I arrived immediately after the sheep were finished, and saw that all had gone through the dip. These sheep were dipped on the 29th April. The fifteen rams, also from Lyndon, for Mr. W. Macfarlane, had to be crossed in a hurry, as two large lots were due. I therefore allowed Fraser to dip them, as Inspector Scaife was away, and I could not attend. These sheep, however, came from a paddock close to the station, and were beyond all suspicion. With regard to the use of Little's dip, my neglecting to inform you that I was using it was an oversight on my part, but I may point out that many of these sheep went through the Addington and other saleyards, and would be seen either by Inspector Holderness or yourself. I may say, however, that I am of opinion that it is a perfectly safe dip to use for Hawkswood, Parnassus, Mendip, Highfield, Sherwood, Lyndon, and Leslie Hills sheep, all of which flocks have been clean for several years, and for which flocks a cold dip is invariably used. The sheep from these runs have been dipped to my satisfaction, and I consider the using of a cold dip was a fair concession to make to the ' owners of these flocks. The use of Little's dip for the rest of the sheep was rendered absolutely necessary after the boiler gave way, but I consider it was quite safe to use it at Ito 85. This dip has been proved in Marlborough to be a cure for scab. I would not use it however for bad sheep. I would remind you that, when the Hurunui was the boundary, the Canterbury Inspector had no knowledge of the flocks from which sheep came ; whereas now, as Inspector of both sides of the Waiau, I have an intimate knowledge of the flocks of the North. I most unhesitatingly say that all sheep which have crossed the Waiau have been treated in compliance with the law, and in such a manner as to render any introduction of disease into Canterbury impossible. The only complaints which have ever been made were that I gave the sheep as careful a dipping as though I knew them to be diseased; and I would further submit that it is hardly probable that I, who have had charge of the Canterbury boundary for nearly eight years, during which time I have admitted many thousands of sheep into Canterbury without any outbreak of disease occurring, would risk my reputation by allowing any such contingency to occur. Beginald Foster, 10th June, 1884. Inspector of Sheep.

Memorandum from Mr. B. Foster to Mr. P. B. Boulton. On reading your memorandum of the Yth instant, after replying to it this morning, I notice that you intend forwarding a report to Government; in such case will you please let me have copies of the information you have reoeived, in order that I may know what I have to reply to. Ido not wish to alter one word of my memorandum of this date, but there may be other matters to answer. I should like the position to be fully placed before the Government, because I shall ask for an inquiry into the whole matter, in order that the opinions of others besides Messrs. Tinline and Lowe maybe heard. — **** . Beginald Foster, 10th June, 1884. Inspector of Sheep.

Memorandum from Mr. B. Foster to Mr. P. B. Bc-trr/TON. I am in receipt of your memorandum of the 14th instant, informing me that you have no additional information to give me relative to the complaints which have been made as to the dipping of sheep at the Waiau Government Beserve,