80

REPORT.

SINCE my Report last year many of the Flocks which were then in a very diseased state, have been either got clean, or so near it that nothing is at present visible; still, with large flocks, and in a rough country, where clean mustering is most difficult, until the shearing is over there is no certainty but that the disease may again make its appearance. The only flocks that are now in a bad state are those of the Otaraia, Hautotara and Longbush stations.

Mr. Anderson, whom I understood to have the management of the Otaraia station, and who gave me notice of scab in the flock, having failed to clean it in the six months allowed by the Act, when brought to Court pleaded that he was not the owner or person in charge at the time he gave the notice; and further, that if responsible when notice was given, the flock having subsequently passed into other hands, his responsibility had ceased; consequently the case was thrown out, there being no clause in the Act to meet the case of a flock changing owners whilst scabby; therefore, for a lengthened period these sheep have been ruinously neglected. Little doubt exists that both the Hautotara and Huangarua flocks became scabby from sheep trespassing into them from Otaraia.

Mr. Collins has spared neither trouble nor expense in endeavouring to clean his flock, by engaging the most experienced hands, and I can only attribute his failure to down right misfortune.

Whatever is to be done with the Native flock at Longbush I am at a loss to know, no appliances for dipping being yet erected, and the Natives state that they have not the means of doing so.

I have not seen any disease amongst the Taratahi flocks now for a considerable time, but until, as I have said before, shearing is got over there is no certainty but that scab may again appear; though should it do so, the settlers in this district having their lands fenced, it will be little trouble to eradicate, they being able to make clean musters.

I have endeavoured to prevail upon many of the flock owners to erect dips, seeing that their flocks were so precariously situated, but with little success, having no power by the Act to enforce action in this matter.

On the whole there is much less disease in the district than there was at this time last year, and what spread of scab there has been, I attribute to the neglect of the Otaraia flock.

Mr. R. Wilson, of Hautotara, has not as yet erected any appliances upon his station for dipping, and has hitherto made use of that of Mr. Harris, the homesteads adjoining each other; and Mr. Wilson would persist in using Hood's specific as a bath in face of my remonstrance, there being no provision in the Act giving the Inspector power to cause flock owners to erect dips or to use effectual means at once.

This report will doubtless be read by many of the flock owners, and it may not be out of place if I mention, as a suggestion, that in dipping a flock of sheep, after a certain time the liquid in the trough becomes so impregnated with the grease of the sheep, together with dirt taken in from the yard, it is doubtful if this thick stuff will penetrate quickly to the skin, which it is necessary for it to do to effect a cure, and may cause a whole dipping to be a failure. This should be most particularly attended to.

There is now in course of erection three boiling down establishments in the Valley, which will be a great boon to the flock owners and enable them to cull the flocks to their satisfaction.

This report refers to that portion of the district on the Wairarapa side of the Tauerau bush, turning in a line for Pahau, the east being under Mr. Telford's special charge.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

W. H. DONALD,

A. Follett Halcombe, Esq.,
Provincial Secretary,
Wellington.

Inspector of Sheep, Wairarapa and East Coast.