The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-05 00:00:00

The Cattle Plague.

A special meeting of the magistrates of Middle-
sex was held yesterday at the Sessions House, Clerk-
enwell -green, in pursuance of the following notice
issued by Mr. Nicholson, the clerk of the peace for
the county :

44 The Chairman of the Court having received from the
Home Office an important order with reference to the cattle
plague, made by the Lords of the Privy Council on the 16th
December, requests your attendance *A consider the same
on Thursday, at twelzo—o'clock, the 44.11 Jent.:-.37, 066,
when the chairman of the Court trusts tlie chairiiika of each
petty sessions will make it convenient to attend."

Mr. Henry Pownall (the chairman of the Court)
presided, and there were present—Mr. Armstrong,
Mr. Kemshead, Mr. Loveland, Mr. Rankine, Capt.
D. O'Brien, Mr. Johnson, Mr. J. Fish Pownall,
Mr. Wyatt, Mr. P. N. Laurie, Mr. Pilcher, Mr.
Giles Pilcher, and a large body of the magistracy of
the county.

The CHAIRMAN said the large assemblage of
magistrates then assembled he took as indicative of
approval of the subject which he had called them
together to consider. The object was not one to be
explained in a few words, as the Government had
already issued four Orders in Council in reference
to the cattle plague. The first of these orders was
issued in July, the second in September, the third
in November, and the last on the 16th of December
last. The last was the one in which they, as magi-
strates of the county of Middlesex, were more im-
mediately concerned at the present time. The
order .of November placed power in the hands of the
district magistrates to make certain regulations to
prevent the spread of this disease ; but that order
had been found to be quite ineffective, and therefore
more stringent measures are necessary to be carried
out. It was only yesterday that he had received a
letter from a chairman of one of the petty session
divisions of the county which bore out what he
had stated. (The chairman then read the letter, in
which it was stated that the whole of the district
was free from the disease except two parishes, where
it raged fearfully, but no precautionary measures
had been adopted.) Notwithstanding this, and
with the admission that the plague raged fearfully
in two parishes, no steps had been taken by the
magistrates because it did not affect the whole of
the county. Similar complaints had been made
through every county, and representations had been
made to the Government from the most influential
agriculturists throughout the country, and the agri-
culturists amongst the nobility had also urged upon
the Government the necessity of enforcing other
measures of greater stringency. Therefore some
orders should be issued which should give the public
confidence that effectual precautions would be ap-
plied, so that they might be able to stay the pest by
which they were at present afflicted. It theref ore
became necessary that they should have more strin-
gent regulations, but not more stringent than the
.L.AJ .
this county was very peculiar in many respects, as
they had within it an enormous population to be
fed, and therefore it was a question that required
great consideration. It was a question more im-
portant than the feeding of that population, for it
was a question how they were to preserve the stock
of the whole country. The arrangements for the
prevention of the spread, of the disease were not
b4night to perfection, and although science had
developed certain measures, yet it was important
that they should take other steps to prevent the
' contamination in every direction as much as possible.
In Essex yesterday a resolution was passed prohi-
biting altogether the traffic of cattle along the public
roads, &c. Similar resolutions had also been passed
in Surrey and Hertfordshire. It had been prohibited
to drive cattle from one farm to another if they had
to pass over a turnpike road. Now they had to
consider how that would affect the county of Mid-
dlesex ; for if they were to adopt such a resolution,
and prevent the passing of cattle along the turnpike
roads, that would virtually stop Islington market,
unless they could by some scientific process get
them there without crossing the turnpike roads.
Still he hoped that county would not fail to deal with
the subject by such strong measures,as the necessity
required ; and if it was required that the market
ought to be stopped, that should be done, and it
would be better that the supply of beef to the inha-
habitants of London should be suspended for a few
weeks rather than the supply to the whole country
should be stopped for many years to come. The
power of stopping Islington market rested with the
Lord Mayor, and if his lordship was not disposed to
take that step, .it would then be for that Court to
interfere and stop the cattle from
passing over their
turnpike roads. It appeared to him to be impera-
tive that their roads should be stopped as in the sur-
rounding counties was done, and thus to show them
that the magistraies of the county of Middlesex were
not less anxious for the public safety than their
fellow-magistrates of the neighbouring counties.
Four ways were open to them tomeeatleitllige
tehveil.roTaldsie
first was to stop all communication
of the county ; the second was toad asllowwtthheltcathttelye
to be driven to the market ; the t.iiir
r;eeatndallthfeorfeoiugrntheawtatlse,
should be there slaughtered
that as far as they could di
market to which they
circle from the place
shouldwere
driven, e slaughteredwithin
a limited t h e
where they were landed. It appearedto
agree on
him that
they should appoint a committee to wait upon the
Lord
plan Mayormost
t o
likelyse e if
tatey
. could mutuallyefficiently to • t
the
carry o
effect the Order in
dwefiouldivneloyt, be
ableas
the
Caonuyn
resolutionc Council. Ty
definitively, heaadsjsourned from Saturday last to
Court that day t
waso pass
Monday next ; but if a committee was appointed
that day they could confer with the Lord Mayor
and draw up resolutions, and the report of them
could be brought up on Monday, so that no time
would be lost. When those resolutions were pre-
sented to the Court on Monday they could then be
made valid ; and as there would be a county day on
Jan. 18, the magistrates would have a fortnight to
see how they worked, and then, if necessary, they
could make any modification in them. He hoped
the magistrates would take up the subject in the
spirit which the urgency of the case required.
Mr. NORTHALL LAURIE rose and said that the
Court required no apology from their chairman for
the manner in which he had brought the matter
about. The gravity of the subject quite merited
his observations. He thought the best way would
be to appoint a committee at once. In a matter
affecting the whole of the county the time of the
Court could not be misapplied, and they could not
have the committee too large. For his own part
he entirely concurred with the chairman in his re-
marks. He thought that nothing but a cattle
blockade would be an effectual remedy against the
disease. There was another point, namely, the
manure, which was taken into the country, and was
liable to do great:damage. They had not that direct
control over the police that the Government had,
and they laboured under a 'disadvantage thereby.
He looked forward with great anxiety to the future,

„-,
p...e4e.A., / ‘Lee, ~,-; ATE PAPE
A., •-....-,. .4--=,-.3.7e.m.ktik
_._ .. ..
for if the cattle ease went on as it w kir ' -I''' 14
he could hardly conceive what the res ' !,..,
M•it7
At present the butchers of London 1
‘..._7,
-:-.-- tz.,-- - 4.:,-,
-
themselves very well. He thought that tltinz hasil . **lv
better act first, and see the Corporation of the City 4
of London upon the matter afterwards. It appeared
to him that the Court should also meet from time
to time to consider this subject, as nothing could be
done without the order of the Court. He was aware
that offences had lately been committed in reference •
to taking diseased cattle to market, and where a
conviction was obtained a fine of so much per drove
was inflicted. He thought that the traffic would not
I be stopped until they imposed a penalty of so much
per head. Ile concluded by proposing that thesub-
-1 ject be referred to a committee of the whole Court.
Mr. Bus!: said the Court was perhaps unaware
of the fact that it could not restrain traffic by rail-
way. Farmers might bring diseased meat into the
market, and they had no power to stop it. London
was the focus for cattle, and he did not know but what
the order of the IGth ult. precluded them from in-
tering with the cattle upon the roads. Ile concluded
by moving—” That a committee be appointed to
consider what measures it will be desirable to take
under the powers given to the Court by the Order
1
Hof Council of the 16th December, 1865, and to
report to the Court at its next meeting. That
power be given to the committee to communicate'
with the Home Secretary, the Lord Mayor, and any
other authorities they may think requisite ; and that
the committee consist of the chairman of each.
division."
Mr. HEALY seconded the proposition of-Mr. Busk.
Mr. Arrrnoeus said he did not think that Mr.
Laurie's motion had been seconded ; if it had not,
he should be happy to second it.
Mr. HEALY (in continuation) said that this mat-
ter concerned not only the butchers but other trades.
It was a matter that required mature consideration,
and should be referred to a smaller committee to
c onside'. ..the ramifications of the question. He
thought the chairindi'ltild hardly -
be enough to form a committee; they might include
one gentleman from each division as well.

Mr. BUSK said they might certainly include one

worthy magistrate as well as the chairman.

Mr. H. L. TAYLOR said he felt that it was a very
important subject, in consequence of his recent con-
nection with the metropolitan market. He thought
it would be highly indiscreet to pass any resolution
that day without due consideration, as it was a
question that affected three millions of people who
had been in the habit of indulging in the luxury of
meat, and they ought not to think of closing the
market without careful consideration. They must
consider this question in all its bearings, as it was
one of a most important character, and it appeared
to him that all its ramifications should be entertained
by a committee. They ought to cause as little
trouble and as little depreciation of the value of
cattle as possible. He could not go with his•friend
Mr. Laurie that it should be a committee of the
whole court. There could be no doubt that what-
ever committee the matter was referred to it would
represent the entire feelings of the county. He
thought that the several chairmen of the petty divi-
sions and as many more would form a good com-
mittee.

Mr. W. E. Cox addressed the Court, and in the
course of his observations alluded to a case that had
come under his notice of a farmer sending two cows
to market that had been condemned.

Gen. WOOD thought the amendment proposed by
Mr. Busk by far the best plan to adopt. They must
not interfere with the market without the co-opera-
tion of Government, because if they were to stop the
supply of the London markets they would stop the
supply of all the surrounding districts as well. He
considered this an imperial question, because if they
stopped the supply of the London markets, they
stopped the supply of the world. In considering the
question they would, of course, think it their duty
to give the Government any information and assist
them as much as they could.
Mr. WYLD, M.P., thought that if the market was
to be closed it should be by an act of the Govern-
ment, and not of the magistrates of Middlesex.
After a few observations from Mr. Turner, Mr.
Laurie's motion was withdrawn, and the amend-
ment, which became the substantive motion, was
It was afterwards agreed that a committee, con-
sisting of 17 members of the Court, should be ap-
pointed to carry the former resolution into effect,
and to report to the Court at an early day.
The Court then adjourned.

The Proposed Municipality for Westminster.

At the meeting of the vestry of St. George,
Ilanover-square, held yesterday (Thursday), Dr.
Brewer in the chair, a letter was read from the
vestry-clerk of St. James's, Westminster, inviting
the vestry of St. George to send delegates to confer
together on the subject of the proposed consolida-
tion of the vestries of 'Westminster into one
municipal body. Mr. Glenton having moved and
Colonel Bagot having seconded, that the letter be
simply acknowledged, and ordered to lie on the table,
Dr. Appleton moved an amendment—That six dele-
gates be sent to the proposed conference from the
parish. lle alluded to the circumstance that each of
the parishes in the borough, under the present sys-
tem, maintained a large staff of well-paid officials,
whose services were only necessary because of the
district being subdivided into small parishes, and on
that wall--(pointing to a table of officers' salaries)
he said, was a record of what St. George had to
pay owing to that very subdivision. St. George
might possibly manage its affairs better than the
other parishes, but it was bad at the best. (Dis-
sent.) They ought to meet once a week. Ile
had known of bills being passed through Parliament
yielded to
pressure vestry
from
before the vestry could take steps to oppose them,
St. owtinGgetoorgteheirrepuenaftereqdluyenytof
individuals, and refrained from doing what was
for the public good owing to that pressure being
put upon them.—(Dissent.) In a municipal corpo-
ration there would be more independence and more
strength, than in a number of jurisdictions, as
at present. Let the members look at the gas
supplied to their parish. Was it not wretched?
This was only owing to the fact that the gas
companies banded together, and were able by
that very means to snap their fingers at the various
vestries who were not so united as they should have
been. The gas and water companies did as they
liked, and all that the ratepayers could do was " to
grin and bear it." If they wished to know what a
municipal corporation could do, let them look to the
city of London, who were preparing to light the
City with gas, a thing that the divided vestries of
Westminster, as at present constituted, would be
unable to do for their several districts. He trusted
a municipality would be formed. Mr. Westerton
seconded the appointment of delegates. After a
-discussion the amendment was lost, and the origi-
nal motion declared carried by 16 to 6.

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