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Wairarapa, August 22nd, 1868.

I much regret to have to report the spread of scab in this district. I attribute it entirely to my suggestions to certain flock owners not having been adopted and carried out. I have no power under the Act to enforce action upon any suggestion I may offer or instruction I may give, as to the treatment and management of clean flocks, and very little in the case of diseased flocks. I have no doubt that the spread of scab is as much the result of want of caution on the part of owners of clean flocks, as of negligence in the case of diseased flocks; as illustrative of this I would mention that on the 9th of December last I visited Tupurupuru station—Mr. Angus McMasters, senior,—and suggested to Mr. Hugh McMasters, junior, the dresser, that his flock was in a very critical position, and as a precaution against the adjacent flocks mixing, recommended him to double-bank his shepherds on the northern boundary of the Wainuioru, as I was aware that previous to this some of the sheep brought from Akiteo to Tupurupuru had strayed back as far as the Whareama. I have reason to believe that this request was not attended to (as Mr. McMasters, senior, has since told me he never heard it had been made), and attribute the fact that the flock is now diseased to some of his home-bred sheep having strayed into infected flocks and subsequently returned to their own run, leaving the Akiteo sheep making for the coast.

It is a matter of surprise that some of these sheep have not made their way back to Akiteo and taken the scab back with them: perhaps the fact of my ordering some few of their throats to be cut at Whareama prevented such a calamity happening. In making this remark I am not to be understood as implying that diseased sheep did not stray into Mr. McMasters' flock on his own run, but simply as supporting my opinion that the spread of disease may be attributable to want of management of a clean flock, as well as neglect of a diseased flock, a matter over which the Inspector has no control.

It is surprising that Mr. McMasters having so many shepherds, and those chiefly Scotchmen, none of them should have detected the disease in its earliest stages, it having now assumed a serious character.

The moving of sheep from Tupurupuru to Tuiterata easily accounts for the spread of the disease in that direction.

Mr. Bennett, of Otahuao, found in his flock in March last two sheep with Mr. Rowe's ear mark. How these sheep traversed the bush between Tupurupuru and Otahuao, having the Taueru river to cross is a mystery to Mr. Bennett, especially as the river is the only unfenced boundary on his station; and he never for a moment dreamed of sheep coming in upon him in that direction, the natural boundary being so good. The two sheep found were not diseased, but from the fact that two of these trespassers are there, more will probably be found when the flock is carefully mustered.

I can only attribute the introduction of scab into Mr. Bennett's flock to the trespass of diseased sheep. His clean certificate was cancelled on the 13th July.

The disease in the Te Oreore flock no doubt proceeded from the Otahuao flock; Mr. Collins having taken delivery of sheep from Mr. Bennett while the disease was invisible.

Seeing a marked improvement in the state of the coast flocks reported scabby last year, I was in hopes that the district would in a very short time have become free from scab, but in consequence of the recent outbreak at Tupurupuru the chances are greatly against this most desirable object for some time to come, unless dips are at once erected, and fencing gone into with a hearty good will, and an expenditure of money, which entirely rests with the settlers themselves.

The most infamous practices have of late been going on on the Taratahi, and causing no little dread to the clean flock owner. I allude to the passing of diseased sheep from place to place without the knowledge of the owners. If this is done, so long as scab is in the district no clean flock is safe for a day. I feel assured that the majority of the settlers will assist the Inspector to put an end to this proceeding.

Being most constantly on the travel in the sheep districts, many of the flock owners may gladly listen to a few words from me regarding their flocks—I can observe a diminution of robustness of constitution in merino sheep on many stations, this I attribute to the want of sufficient feed when young, in other words to overstocking. We are always led to believe that one good animal is worth two or three inferior ones, most particularly in the case of sheep when the wool is a consideration. The wool of a strong healthy grown sheep must naturally be of a much superior quality to that of a stunted one, and the fleece of the latter is of little value in comparison with the former. The last remarks are not applicable alone to quality of the animal, but also have reference to health. An animal stinted of feed is no doubt much more susceptible of disease than one with a robust and healthy constitution, and to have this it is undoubtedly necessary not to overstock the pastures.