F—No. 1

Mr. Rhodes called in and examined. 18. Chairman.] What are you ?—I am a Stock-holder in the Provinces of Wellington and Canterbury. 19. Have you had experience in supplying the Commissariat ? —Yes, during the continuance of the last war in the South (about 3 or 4 years) I supplied the whole of the Troops with meat. 20. What is the number of fat cattle in Wellington ? —I can't speak positively, but I think three or four thousand fat cattle could easily be obtained. The wholesale price of meat is 2d. per lb. About 30 head are killed weekly at Wellington and the Hutt. 21. Have you ever had any fat cattle imported from New South Wales?—l have on some occasions received cattle from Port Albert in seemingly good condition, but which were not good for food, being feveriih with the voyage. The butchers would not buy them if they could obtain any others. 22. Mr. Carter.] Estimating the fat cattle in the Northern Island at 100,000 what number would you consider available for use ?—About one-fifth. If I had a contract for cattle, I should fook to Wellington, Nelson, and Wairau for my supplies in preference to New South Wales. I think there are quite as many cattle in Canterbury and Otago as there are in the Northern Island. 23. Have you seen the disease called Pleuro'Pnuemonia ?—I have not, nor have I heard of any cases of it in this Colony. 24. Mr. O'Neill.] What would you consider to be the increase in price in cattle when landed here from Wellington and Wairau ?—About 100 per cent, on original cost. 25. Mr. McGlashan.] If cattle were killed in Wellington, do you think the meat could be brought here ?—I think so, by means of powerful steamers, and having a proper place fitted up for it on board. The Witness was discharged from further attendance. Mr. Farmer called in and examined. In reply to the Chairman.] lam a settler and Stock-holder near Auckland. I have seen the disease called Pleuro-Pneumonia in Scotland in 1855. It affects cattle in the lungs, and in three or four days is generally fatal. I have seen a number of cases. I consider it is decidedly infectious. The longest time I have seen an animal affected with it was about fourteen days. It is generally first perceived by the tongue swelling and then drying up. I have only seen two animals recover out of twentyfive attacked, which were kept on two different farms. I was restricted from going among other cattle who had not the disease, and every precaution was taken by the neighbours not to have any communication with me, lest they should convey the disease to their cattle. Out of our neighbourhood only one person escaped, owing to his taking the precaution of preventing any one going among his cattle, and preventing their mixing with other cattle or being in the fields; he even took the precaution of having the grass cut and carried to them in the byres. I think if it once got introduced here it would spread very rapidly. I knew one cow who must have had the disease for four months without any symptoms shewing, and it was from examining the lungs I knew. It is from the lungs I know the disease. They first swell and are full of water and blood. The disease was introduced into the district in which I saw it from cattle imported from Ireland. I have heard of cattle having it three or four months, but I only have seen the one instance I have mentioned above. 26. Chairman.] Do you think sufficient cattle could be obtained here to supply the market ?— I think there could, and if not- sufficient here, then Wellington, in preference to New South Wales. I have never seen fat cattle come from New South Wales. 27. Mr. Dick.] Do you think in the event of the disease breaking out, it would be possible to prevent it spreading ?—I think not. I think it could not be confined to one district, owing to its highly infectious nature. 28. Can you tell whether it was in the air or earned from one to the other ?—I can't speak positively, but the cattle that escaped were surrounded by infected cattle. 29. Chairman.] How far did the neighbour you mentioned as having escaped the disease live apart from you ? —About two miles. 30. Mr. O'Neill.] Supposing the same precautions were used here, would they have the same results ? —I think they would, but it would be impossible to take them in this country. 31. Do you know an instance of an animal once attacked ever having been attacked a second time ? —I have not. 32. Could you inform the Committee from your own knowledge whether the infection was conveyed by contact with the living or animal or both ?—I can't speak as to this positively, but our cattle caught it from drinking out of the same stream as those infected, and a mile further down. The Witness then withdrew.

W. B. Rhodes, Esq. 17 June, 1861,

/. Farmer, Esq. 17 June, 1861.

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PLEURO-PNEUMONIA.