PETERSFIELD.
THE CATTLE PLAGUE.
At the Hants Quarter Session, on Monday week, a letter was read from Lord Eversley, a copy of which appears in col. 3, page 2.
Mr. Portal said it was very desirable that some uniformity should exist among the different divisions of the county, and unless it was carried out all over the county, the order would be useless. Mr. Deverell thought markets should be included, as there was a large one held in his neighbourhood. The Chairman—That is provided for in the order. Mr. S. Booth thought they had no jurisdiction. With regard to the Petersfield Market, he thought it would be very hard, for if they were to forbid the sending of cattle, then the price of meat would be very high, and would be a great injustice to the people, who had no voice in the matter. It would be a serious inconvenience to all towns where a market was held, and was a difficult matter for them to deal with. The Chairman—We have no authority to make an order upon the authorities in boroughs. Mr. B. Carter said, Petersfield was not a municipal borough, and they (the magistrates) were quite competent to act. As yet there was no disease there, but there was in the neighbouring district of Sussex. He thought it would be well if the cattle from different districts should be examined by a surgeon and put in different divisions. They could not in any case interfere with private individuals. Sir W. Heathcote could not quite clearly see his way before him. They might by the order exclude cattle from any specified market or fair. He thought the police should have the power to act in the matter. Mr. Deverell—Then it will be ten times worse. Mr. Bernard—How long will the prohibition last? The Chairman—We make no order as to time. The following resolution was then agreed to:—
That it be an instruction to the chief constable, previous to the time of holding any market or fair in any division of the county, to bring the fact under the notice of the justices acting in petty sessions for that division, with a view to their making an order for preventing animals being brought into such market or fair, under the 19th section of the order in council of the 22nd September, 1865, as to such justices as may seem expedient. That the said chief constable do transmit to Her Majesty’s Secretary of State a copy of such order of justices, and the name of any other local authorities, either within or adjoining the limits of that division.