THE

Hawke's Bay Government Gazette.

(PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY).

All public Notifications which appear in this Gazette, with any Official Signature thereto annexed, are to be considered as Official Communications made to those persons to whom they relate, and are to be obeyed accordingly.

DONALD McLEAN, Superintendent.

VOL. X. FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1869. No. 5.

REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SHEEP.

Sir,—I have the honor to inform you that I have completed my inspection of the flocks in this province, and have much pleasure in reporting their continued freedom from scab or other infectious or contagious disease.

The Sheep and Scab Act and amendments thereto continue to work well; but I think it might prove desirable to have their provisions embodied in one comprehensive Act. Sheepowners might wish to have a tar or paint branding clause inserted in the Act, or more stringent measures passed for the immediate suppression of scab, if we should ever be so unfortunate as to have this disease within the boundaries of this province.

Fears were entertained by some of the settlers in the southern district as to the probability of scab spreading into this province from the Whareama district, where it is alarmingly on the increase—owing mainly, I am informed, to a new block of land having been opened up in that locality and stocked with sheep, many of which strayed back to the runs they were purchased or driven from, and in doing so had passed through scabby flocks or infected country, and by this means have carried the disease into flocks which were previously clean.

I proceeded to the Whareama, and had an interview with Mr. Telford, the Sub-Inspector of Sheep for that district, who assured me that all the flocks on the coast line between Castle Point and the southern boundary of this province, were as yet clean; and I am indebted to that gentleman for a subsequent communication, affirming that such is still the case, but that he does not consider the Mataikona flocks very safe. Some of the neighbouring flocks being scabby, this is so far satisfactory, inasmuch as there is no immediate danger to be apprehended; but, in the event of it getting to the Mataikona flocks, its advance into this province would then probably not be uncertain, but simply a question of time, unless other means than at present exist are devised to obstruct its further progress up the coast. The most effectual scheme which presents itself to my mind, having this for its object, would be to secure a block of land on the coast line, by lease or otherwise, clear every sheep from it, and convert it into a cattle station. This could be carried out by a company comprised of runholders. The cattle run could be made self-paying, and no doubt leave a handsome dividend to the shareholders.

This scheme would materially guard against the possibility of scab being introduced through the straying of infected sheep. It may be said that I am premature in suggesting any scheme; but as it would not be in accordance with my convictions if I reported that there was no danger to be apprehended, I have thus crudely made the foregoing remarks.

Beyond our northern boundary this disease has not yet been stamped out; but I am informed that it now exists only in one of the flocks in Poverty Bay. No doubt the disturbed and unsafe state of Turanga