APPENDIX III 419 



adjacent thereto, within fourteen days after any notice in writing 

 signed by any Justice, subject to a penalty of from ^5 to 20. 

 After seven days' default the Justice may order destruction of 

 the weeds, the cost to be recovered from the occupier. Duly 

 authorised persons may enter upon land to search for Thistles, 

 and on complaint being made of the suspected existence of 

 Thistles, and the existence being confirmed, the Justice may make 

 an order for eradication. Crown lands are also subject to the 

 provisions of the Act. 



New South Wales. By the " Prickly Pear Destruction Act 

 of 1901 " provision is made for the compulsory destruction of 

 the Prickly Pear. 



In New Zealand, Act No. 10 of 1900, " To prevent the spread 

 of noxious weeds and to enforce the trimming of hedges," pro- 

 vides that occupiers of land shall clear that part between the 

 centre of the road and their boundary of all noxious weeds. 

 No person is allowed to sow, sell, or offer for sale any noxious 

 seeds (except gorse seed for fodder by permission), or any 

 seed that has not been thoroughly dressed by a machine or 

 other sufficient process to remove all noxious seeds. Thrashing- 

 machines, clover-dressers, and chaff-cutters must be thoroughly 

 cleaned immediately after use. Occupiers must take the neces- 

 sary steps each year to clear noxious weeds from their land, and 

 to clear at least a quarter of a chain each side of internal fences 

 and watercourses. Powers of inspection and entry are given. 

 Some thirty plants are scheduled as noxious weeds, and the Act 

 empowers the Governor to extend the list on the advice of the 

 Joint Agricultural, Pastoral, and Stock Committee. 



In South Australia, Act No. 26 of 1862 provides that the 

 occupier of land (including the adjacent half of any road) 

 upon which Bathurst Burr (Xanthium spmosum), Scotch 

 Thistle, or Variegated Thistle, shall be growing, shall, after 

 due notice, effectually destroy such plants, or in default be 

 liable to a penalty not exceeding 10. Powers of entry to 

 inspect, and to destroy in default of the occupier, are given. 

 Act 409 of 1887 extended the above Act to include the " Star 

 Thistle " (Centaurea calcitrapd}, but repealed its provisions 

 as regards the Scotch and Variegated Thistles, the former of 

 which was found to be eaten by cattle when in a dry state, and 

 is therefore regarded as a fodder plant of some value in dry 



