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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 214, 27 October 1888, Page 3

Some few years ago a gentleman living at Kopua imported a case of plants from India. Tbe pots were packed in dry weeds, vrnioh were thrown out. In the process of time ths seeds of it grew, and have spread so rapidly that the Indian weed, as it is called, has now reached along ths railway line nearly to Ormondville, and also down towards Takapau in the opposite direction, It resembles lucerne in appearance. The pig., sheep, and cattle will eat it and become intoxicated from its effects; they will then tumble and roll about in a strange fashion, but they <jo not die from it. The butter made from the cream of cows that have eaten it has a peculiar sourish, bitter flavor. Pigs that eat it become tipsy, and it has the effect of causing scabs to break out all over them, which are difficult to heal. Working bullocks under its influence will not pay attention to the whip, and remain for a considerable time in a semi-somnolent state, but after that is over they are as well as ever. Indian hawkers who have seen it growing know the plant, and say |t is very poisonous ; never'heir is they collect it as a medicine, and say that ltrs a cure dr preventative of hydrophobia and other disease!, Leg-irona are used on females in Broken Hill Gaol. The Chief Justice denounced the practise ar tsvoltiug,