The Department Of Agriculture in Napier has jurisdiction over the East Coast District, which extends from Pahiatua to Cape Runaway. There are also branch offices at Gisborne, Waipiro Bay, Wairoa, Hastings, Waipukurau, Woodville, and Pahiatua. The duties of the Department include the inspection of all classes of stock, the inspection of slaughterhouses and dairies, and to enforce the law regarding noxious weeds, rabbits, and the registration of brands, etc.

Mr. Walter Miller, Chief Inspector of Stock for the Hawke's Bay District, was born at Mount Stewart, Otago, in the year 1859. He was educated at the Otago Boys' High School, and at Mr. A. Barratt's Collegiate School in Dunedin, and was afterwards for a few years on his father's sheep station. He was then employed in the office of Messrs W. and T. Turnbull, Dunedin, for two years, and afterwards followed farm life till 1883, when he joined the Government service in the Department of Agriculture. Mr. Miller received his present appointment in 1898.