Catarrh in Sheep.
The prevalence of catarrh, and the losses caused thereby, were a source of much disquiet to the earlyflock-masters,and many were the nostrums propounded and remedies suggested to avert or eradicate this dreaded sheep plague. O n the ist June, 1850, the stockowners attended in large numbers, a meeting held at the Royal Hotel, convened " to devise the best means to prevent the spread of catarrh, and to establish an Insurance Company, for the protection of those whose flocks might be visited by this pestilence." It was called on requisition to the Mayor (Dr. Greeves), who, though a stockholder, was not a squatter, and Mr. Henry Moor, M.L.C., was elected Chairman. Addresses were delivered by Drs. J. F. Palmer and S. Martin, Messrs. J. C. Riddell, James Moore, W . F. Stawell, W . M . Bell, G. S. Brodie, W . F. Splatt, John Hodgson, and Captain Stanley Carr, a recent arrival, of large experience of sheep and who was about to become a settler in the Province. Resolutions were agreed to (a) Declaring that upon the prompt destruction of infected flocks mainly depended the prevention and eradication of the disease ; and (b) That the urgency of the case and the large amount of property directly and indirectly involved, called for the interference of the Legislature as the only means by which the cost of the necessary measures could be saddled on those who ought to bear it. Mr. Stawell submitted the draft of a Bill based upon the Report of a Select Committee of the N e w South Wales Legislative Council, and a Bill rejected by that body. H e moved a resolution affirming the desirability of having introduced in the Legislature during the current session a measure to be limited in its operation to Port Phillip, and that the Chairman be requested to bring in the same. This was agreed to, as was the draft of petitions on the subject for presentation to the Governor and to the Legislative Council. Messrs. Stawell, Palmer, and Bell were constituted a Committee to prepare a Bill in conformity with the wishes of the meeting, which terminated with a resolution pledging the utmost co-operation with the catarrh Committee of settlers recently formed at Geelong and Trawalla. THE SANITAR'Y' CONDITION OF MELBOURNE.
The fear of an epidemic and the uncleanly state of the City caused much uneasiness in the public mind in 1850. In the early part of M a y a preliminary meeting was held and a Committee appointed to report upon the best means to be adopted for the preservation of the public health. Another meeting was held at the Mechanics' Institution on the 18th June. The Mayor (Dr. Greeves) presided, and an elaborate Report was submitted. The paramount wants appeared to be a thorough system of drainage and an abundant supply of good water. The preliminary Committee had interviewed his Honor the Superintendent, who fully recognized the claims of the City for aid from the land fund to enable the Corporation to carry out some effective scheme of sewerage. T h e Committee suggested that application should be made to the Governor to place a sum on the Estimates for the purpose, and that an approximate statement of the probable cost be supplied. The City Surveyor (Mr. James Blackburn) had supplied a Report in which he dealt exhaustively with the scavenger and sewer branches, and this the Committee appended to.the other document. It was considered that as a temporary measure,, the Corporation should be empowered to levy a scavenger rate, and to remove all noxious matter from the streets "as a preliminary measure of Sanitary Reform." T h e Towns Police Act, and the powers vested in the Corporation to make bye-laws, rendered unnecessary any special legislation in this particular. Resolutions were passed for the adoption of a Petition to the Queen praying for the appropriation of a sum of money from the land fund towards City improvements ; and for the presentation of a memorial to the Government to procure the enactment of a sanitary law by the Legislative Council of N e w South Wales. AN ANNUAL MELBOURNE FAIR.
During the Separation rejoicings Dr. Palmer suggested the founding of an Annual Fair in Melbourne as a mode of perpetuating the great Separation movement, but the idea did not catch the public
