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thing is shorn which goes through the dip. But this lamb had not been shorn until it had been through the dip. 2011. I think you said that you'had a clean certificate up to that time ?—Yes, for seven years. There was scab on the boundary of eight miles in a ring-fence, and I never got scab until just then. 2012. You say that you were not able to get a clean certificate because you could not muster all your sheep for dipping: might it not have been there at the time you were mustering your run for shearing?—l do not think so, for that one would have come with the others. 2013. You do not know how long it may have been in your place : when was it found?—ln April. It was a scab which one might perhaps miss in the yard, particularly if you were not looking for it. There was no breaking of the wool. 2014. Does that portion of the Mataikuna Bun which this scabby sheep came from adjoin your land?—No ; it does not. 2015. What distance is it away ?—I think it is four miles. 2016. You consider you ought to have had notice of that ?—Yes, decidedly. 2017. Hon. Mr. Waterhouse.) Is it a matter at all of frequent occurrence in your part for the Inspector to declare one portion of a flock infected and give a clean certificate over the remainder ? —No; it is the first time I have heard of it. 2018. Hon. Mr. Williamson.) What has become of that sheep?—l got nothing by it. 2019. You did not send it back to its owner? —No. 2020. The owner did not say he was satisfied the sheep was his ?—Drummond was satisfied that the sheep belonged to the Mataikuna Bun. I consider that it was through this neglect that scab was caused to be in the district at the present time. Had it not been for that, I should be like the others and looked on to the boundaries, but none of us received notice. 2021. Hon. the Chairman.) Do you think that people ought to be compelled to dip once or twice a year until the disease is stamped out ? —Yes; every flock should be dipped once a year. 2022. With lime and sulphur?—l think that lime and sulphur is the only practical cure for scab. 2023. Are you aware that other dips are used for killing ticks ? —Yes. 2024. But they do not use lime and sulphur? —I think that every flock should be dipped with lime and sulphur at least once a year until the disease is stamped out.
Feiday, 3ed Octobee, 1884. Mr. Deummond, examined. 2025. The Chairman.) You are Sheep Inspector in the Wairarapa, I believe ?—Yes ; the North Subdivision. 2026. Will you state to the Committee how the Act has been working there ?—You mean since I took charge ? 2027. Yes ; when did you take charge : you were in South Wairarapa originally, I believe ?—I was in South Wairarapa: I had charge of that subdivision ; but I could not tell from memory when the change took place. 2028. Can you tell us about the date?—lt is about three and a half years ago since I left South Wairarapa. 2029. You succeeded Mr. Sutton ?—Yes. When the change took place Mr. Sutton was given the charge of the whole of the Wairarapa. Before that it was divided into two, as it is now : I had the South, and Mr. Telford the North Subdivision. 2030. There is no Chief Inspector ?—No. 2031. You have no control beyond your own subdivision ?—No; only over my own subdivision— the North Subdivision. 2032. Is there much scab now in that division?— No. 2033. Is it diminishing ? —Yes; it has been diminishing since I have had charge of it. There are only three flocks now infected, and I have every reason to believe that two of these are really clean ; I can see no scab upon them. 2034. Hon. Mr. Waterhouse.) Which are those stations ?—The lea Station (Bey. J. C. Andrew's) and Mr. Berris's station. 2035. What is the station infected?—Liverton's station. 2036. Hon. the Chairman.) Liverton's is a small station, is it not?— Yes; there are only about four thousand sheep. 2037. Is it all fenced ?—Yes; but it joins the Crown land, which is the most troublesome part of the Wairarapa. 2038. But, if his own land is fenced, would not that be sufficient?—No; the fence is always getting broken down. He keeps it well in order ; but it is surrounded by Crown lands, on which there are wild pigs, cattle, and dogs. The wild dogs got into his ground, rushed up his sheep, and drove them through the fence. It was some little time before he got them altogether. When he did, they were all right till some months afterwards, when he found a wild ram very bad with scab. This excited his suspicions ; he looked at his flock, and found scab just breaking out. 2039. He is killing sheep on the Government land, is he not ?—Yes; Liverton and Cook have the contract. 2040. Do you think" that they will get rid of the wild sheep in that way ?—Yes, I think so ; but it is a very hard matter. I think there are very few wild sheep about there now; but the country is so rough, it will take some considerable time before they can be got rid of. Liverton says he goes over the ground for weeks and weeks and thinks he has got rid of the sheep, when, to his great surprise, he finds one. But there are very few wild sheep there now. 2041. Do you not think that Mr. Liverton, being appointed for the purpose of killing these wild sheep, would take care at any rate to protect his own land, and be able to get a clean
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