Sheep Inspectors Report (Continued.)

Mr. Vincent) and Mr. Bewley and Mr. Beamish, and now Messrs. Stevens and Fraser can agree to treat their flocks simultaneously, they will conclude to have much difficulty in effecting a cure. They are all neighbours of one another in a country difficult to fence thoroughly, and unless they act together it appears to be nearly useless for one or two of them trying to clean their flocks. Each of them at different times has had reason to hope and believe he had effected a cure, and when it has proved otherwise he has blamed his neighbour for reinfection and then has followed all the ill feeling and unpleasantness usually existing in a scabby neighbourhood.

The case of Mr. Williams is different; his neighbours are all clean. They have kept themselves so by constant watchfulness and dipping, when a mixture has taken place, notwithstanding their care; but he has neglected or been unable to provide proper appliances and remedies for the cure of his flock. He has, no doubt, been striving after a fashion of his own to effect a cure, and has probably in this way spent more time and money than would have been sufficient for the purpose if properly applied; but he appears to learn nothing by experience, and as to advice he will not take that either. The Sub-Inspector, Mr. Sligo, who is his nearest neighbour on one side, has repeatedly offered advice and assistance, of which, however, Mr. Williams has entirely neglected to avail himself.

Since my last report the Government has doubts for sufficient reasons, permitted several of the fines inflicted under the Scab Act; but I think it is my duty to state for your information that the effect here has been to diminish considerably the practical usefulness of the Act. I venture to suggest that, if this fine in any neighbourhood were remitted only after all the flocks in that neighbourhood were reported clean the effect would be both pleasing and beneficial.

I did not receive the printed forms of receipts in time to use them this year; but in lieu thereof I have handwritten to Mr. Nixon the sheep returns made by the farmers in May last, 1866 for the amount of assessments; I hope these will be found correct.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

A. M. DONALD,
Sheep Inspector.

Debtors and Creditors Acts.

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW ZEALAND—MIDDLE DISTRICT.

In the matter of the Petition of William Blake Graham, of Wanganni, in the Province of Wellington:

AND

In the matter of “The Debtors and Creditors Act, 1862,” and in the matter of “The Debtors and Creditors Act Amendment Act, 1865,” and in the matter of “The Debtors and Creditors Act Amendment Act, 1866.”

On Friday, the twenty-first day of December, 1866.

ON reading the Petition of William Blake Graham, and the affidavits of Matthew Vare Hodge and Henry Levy, filed herein, and on hearing Mr. Izard of Counsel for the said William Blake Graham, it is ordered that the said Petition be accepted, and that the said Petitioner come up for hearing on the fifteenth day of January next, at the hour of eleven o’clock in the forenoon, at the Supreme Court House, at Wellington, and that a meeting of the Creditors of the said William Blake Graham be held at the Court House of the Resident Magistrate at Wanganni on the second day of January next, at the hour of two o’clock in the afternoon, for the purpose of reconciling the trustees, and the mode of winding up the said estate, and that in the meantime William Robert Edward Brown, the Inspector of Bankruptcy in the said Province, be appointed to perform the duties of Sequestrator of the estate; and it is further ordered that this present order be a vesting order by the Debtors and Creditors Act, 1865: provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall preclude the person or persons of the said Petitioner from any work of arrest which may issue against him under the Writ of Arrest Act to the satisfaction of a Judge of this Honorable Court, or of a Registrar thereof in the absence of a Judge.

By the Court,

(L.S.) R. B. S.