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Legislature to guard against, and would be a grave injustice to the Provinces of Canterbury and Southland, whose Executive authorities have expressed such strong opinions as to the necessity of maintaining the restriction. It is a mistake to suppose that the interests of wealthy runholders and stockowners influenced the Assembly in passing the Act of 1861; the principal thing had in view was this, that the introduction of pleuro-pneumonia would be ruinous to the agricultural interest throughout the country.

With the certainty that a proper supply of mutton can be introduced into Otago, it seems quite unnecessary to run the risk of introducing so deadly a disease; and while, therefore, His Excellency’s Government (as already intimated to you) see no reason to interfere with the course you adopted in relaxing the restriction so far as relates to cattle imported from Gipps Land, they have to request that no further steps may be taken by you without previous reference to them.

Copies of this letter are transmitted by this mail to the Superintendents of Canterbury and Southland.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,

F. D. BELL,
For the Colonial Secretary.

3rd November, 1862.

The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

Sir—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 92 of the 17th ultimo, on the subject of the importation of cattle from Port Albert, and in reference to a Memorial praying for the withdrawal of restrictions.

I have the honor to be, &c.,
(Signed) J. RICHARDSON,
Superintendent.

Government Offices, Melbourne,
22nd October, 1862.

Sir—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch of the 24th ultimo, covering a Proclamation of the Provincial Government of Otago, admitting into that Province cattle shipped at Port Albert, Gipps Land.

It will afford me much pleasure to give due publicity to this decision, and to do all in my power to aid in rendering the removal of restrictions as free from risk as possible.

Gipps Land has, however, already been officially declared “A clean District,” under our Act for preventing the spread of pleuro-pneumonia in the Colony, and beyond appointing an Inspector to preserve it from the approach of infected cattle, which, from its comparative isolation by mountain chains, is not in the least probable, my advisers are of opinion that no further step need be taken.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,

HENRY BARKLY.

To his Honor Major J. Richardson,
Superintendent of the Province of Otago.

NOTICE TO MARINERS.

In the Harbour Regulations, published in the Otago Provincial Government Gazette, No. 214, dated 5th November, 1862, page 180, eighth line second column from the top, for “Blue with a White St. Andrew’s Cross, Ebb Tide, and Bar fit to take,” read “BAR NOT FIT TO TAKE”
(It is probable that the same error may have appeared in the New Zealand General Government Gazette.)

The following are the correct Signals at the Flagstaff, Otago Heads:

Blue Peter: Keep to sea, the Bar is not fit to take.
Red Flag: Take the Bar, there is no danger.
Blue, with a White St. Andrew’s Cross: Ebb tide, and Bar not fit to take.
White Flag: First quarter Flood.

The following Signals are in use at the Port:

Pilot: The Union Jack at the fore.
Customs Boat: The Union Jack at the peak.
Gunpowder on Board: The Union Jack at the main.
Medical Assistance: The Union Jack over the Ensign at the peak.
Government Emigrants on Board: Ensign at the mizen mast head.
Mails on Board: White flag at the fore.
Boarding Officer: Blue flag at the main.
Clearing Officer: White flag at the main.
Police: The Ensign at the main.
Do. at night: Two lights vertical at the peak, having five feet between the two.

By order,
THOMAS DICK,
Provincial Secretary of the Province of Otago.