ALFRED Chetham Strode, Esquire, Resident Magistrate, sitting at Gabriel’s Gully, in the Tuapeka Gold Fields, do hereby verify that Mr. Joseph G____ has submitted for my examination his Diploma from the University of London, the Royal College of Surgeons of London, and the Apothecaries’ Hall, in accordance with the provisions of an Ordinance passed by the Legislative Council of New Munster, intituled “An Ordinance to define the qualifications, and to provide for the remuneration in certain cases of Medical Practitioners.”

Dated this fourteenth day of October, 1861.

A. Chetham Strode,
Resident Magistrate.

HEREBY certify that John Morris of Port Chalmers, in the Province of Otago, has this day submitted for my examination proof of his qualification to practise as an Apothecary in the city of London, in accordance with the provisions of an Ordinance passed by the Legislative Council of New Munster, Sess. 1, No. 2, intituled “An Ordinance to define the qualifications, and to provide for the remuneration in certain cases of Medical Practitioners.”

Dated at the Resident Magistrate’s Office, Port Chalmers, this 5th day of November, 1861.

A. Chetham Strode,
Resident Magistrate.

HEREBY certify that Ebenezer Hallyer of Port Chalmers, in the Province of Otago, has this day submitted for my examination his Diploma as a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in London, as likewise his Diploma as a member of the Apothecaries’ Company of London, in accordance with the provisions of an Ordinance passed by the Legislative Council of New Munster, Session I., No. 2, intituled “An Ordinance to define the qualifications, and to provide for the remuneration in certain cases of Medical Practitioners.”

Dated at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, at Port Chalmers, this 27th day of November, 1861.

A. Chetham Strode,
Resident Magistrate.

Superintendent’s Office,
Dunedin, 19th December, 1861.

HIS Honor the Superintendent directs it to be notified that he has appointed James Bruce, to be Inspector of Slaughter Houses and of Cattle intended for slaughter within the Town of Port Chalmers, and within three miles from the outer boundary thereof, and every person licensed pursuant to the provisions of “The Slaughter-House Ordinance, Session 8, No. 6, to keep a Slaughter House within the said Town, or within three miles from the outer boundary thereof, is hereby warned and required to give to such Inspector, before he shall slaughter any horned or neat cattle, six hours’ notice in writing of the cattle intended to be slaughtered, specifying the place and time, under a penalty of £5 for each and every head of such cattle, which shall be so slaughtered without such notice having been given.

By His Honor’s Command,
John Hardy,
Provincial Secretary.

Dunedin, Dec. 10, 1861.

SIR,—I have the honor to lay before you the returns of Sheep for September, 1861. You will observe that there is a great addition to the number of last year. The return for 1860 (Southland included), was Four Hundred and Thirty-nine Thousand Nine Hundred and Eighteen (439,918). In 1861, for Otago alone there is Five Hundred and Twenty-three Thousand One Hundred and Twenty-six (523,126). Add to the above 55 per cent. of Lambs under three months old (not returnable), and there is very near a million of Sheep in the Province.

Lambing is nearly over, and from the splendid season that has been, the average will be very much higher than we have had for the last few years. It is almost incredible to see the improvement that has taken place in the country by stocking. The experience of the quantity of grass there is this spring is actually wasting for want of animals to use it.

Clip will be good; the quality of the wool much stronger and better than last year, also free from the fault that was ruinous with it.

The contemplated importations of Sheep are very large. In fact, I am aware that upwards of fifty thousand have been contracted for, and I have not the slightest doubt that there will be upwards of a hundred thousand taken into the Province the ensuing year.

I am disappointed at being unable to hand in a clean return, and am afraid there will be little chance of doing so until the importations from Victoria cease. But if the settlers would erect dips on their stations, and carefully dress all the newly-imported Sheep they buy—like those that have been to the “Throughs”—doubtful country—it would give a great assistance in eradicating disease from the Province.

I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Wm. Low,
Chief Inspector of Sheep.

His Honor the Superintendent, Otago.

P.S.—There are as yet a few returns not sent in to me. As soon as I receive them, I shall hand them in forthwith.