WILD RABBITS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3063, 21 April 1881, Page 2

WILD RABBITS.

As conflicting reports of the continued spread of wild rabbits along the coast towards Hawke's Bay were of daily occurrence, and expressions freely indulged in as to the callousness of the Hawke's Bay settlers in paying so little attention to the certain inroad of these pests, Mr John Speedy, with the approval of the settlers of Wainui, wrote to and asked Mr Murray, who is in charge of the stations held by the late Mr Armstrong, if he would kindly name a day upon which he could attend a meeting of the settlers in the neighbourhood. Mr Murray replied that his duties debarred him from attending any meeting, but in his opinion it would be well were a man sent to keep the rabbits from crossing Akitio river, he on his part offering a hut for man to live in on the South side of said river. On receipt of this letter Mr Jesse Herbert called by notice a public meeting of the Wainui settlers to take place at the Bush Inn Wainui, on Saturday, April 16, at 1 p.m., and Mr St. Hill was requested to pay a visit to Akitio and Ohanga, at which latter place Mr Murray lives, to ascertain as best he could how far the wild rabbits had come north, and to ccc Mr Murray on the subject of the hut. Mr St. Hill complied with the request started for Akitio late on Wednesday evening, so as to go over the Akitio line of road alon? the range at dusk and moonlight, tbis being the best time to catch wild rabbits abroad. He returned for the meeting on Saturday, giving in hie report to Mr Graham Speedy, chairman of the meeting. The following is the report:—

In compliance with your wishes I hare paid a visit to Akitio and Ohanga, for the expressed purpose of ascertaining how far north along the coast the wild rabbits have extended. Prom none of the shepherds, nor any of the resident Europeans, by questions put to them, could I hear that rabbits had been seen on the north side of Akitio river. Indeed it may safely be asserted that at the present time the northern shores of Akitio river are free from these pests. How much longer the Akitio run -will continue uninfested depends upon what steps are taken to prevent the invasion of this country by these voracious animals. Once across the river the Hawke's Bay sheepfarmera may have to raise large sums to meet this scourge. Though no rabbits have as yet been seen up to Akitio river, three seperate witnesses, each deserving of belief, hare seen wild rabbits on the north hills bordering the lower part of Ohanga river, on the run generally known as Dr. Featherston'a run—that is, the country between the Akitio and Ohanga nvers. These rabbits must either have been purposely brought across or have swum the Ohanga river. One of the three, by name Edward Price, in the employ of Mr Murray, satisfied me he had come across and seen, hq,res on. the northern

ftarfc of Alritio rivor, a little to tho soitth of the old Provincial boundary of Waimate. His statement is whilst * mustering the horthern part of Akitio river, be started a bare • at, flr3t be was doiibtful vHiat it was, out kis ddg9 soon after turned it out of its lair, and though they failed to catch it, yet he had. ample time to make sure it was not a rabbit, but a hare, and, as if to substantiate his conviction, he pickod up that same day a 'ttead hare._ There is good reason to belvvo w?ld rabbits first stretch along the o 1 country coastwise, preferring the s 1 n-fc succulent grasses already fed down by sheep to long rank grass growing in damp shady places. Mr Buchanan, of Wairarapa, found twelve young ones in a doe he killed. A shepherd found eight, and the smallest number at a litter is four. They breed every five weeks. I have to state Mr Ikturray is doing "what lie canto keep rabbits down south of Ohatiga river, and ia ready to carry out his offer as to a hut for a rabbitkiller to live in on south-side of Akitio river. The Chairman then called upon the members of the meeting to take action on this matter.

Mr Jesse Herbert moved, and Mr St. Hill seconded, " That Mr Murray's offer of a hut on the south side of Akitio liver, suitable for a man to live in, whose business it shall he to destroy all rabbits he finds or hears of on that side of the river, be thankfully accepted, and that the thanks of the members of the meeting be conveyed to Mr Murray." Carried.

Moved by Mr W. Speedy, and seconded by Mr Joseph Herbert, "That the Rabbit Commissioners be requested to appoint a suitable man, or to sanction the appointment of such a one, to live on BOUth side of Akitio river to keep the wild rabbits from crossing said river." Carried.

Moved by Mr C. Herbert, and seconded by Mr T. Speedy, " That the Hawbo's Bay Rabbit Commissioners be requeslod to accede to the wish of the meeting, yr the appointment of a board of sub-com-missioners, such to be residents of the district."

This motion brought about a lengthy discussion, during which Mr Handysides name was mentioned as one in every way qualified for this post, it was acknowledged with great reluctance that his many duties, and calls upon his time, especially his having charge of the Grange estate, rendered it moat unlikely he would accept a post the duties of which be could not attend to, as he habitually does to all he takes Id hand. So it was proposed that Mr Jesse Herbert, Mr Pillans, of Tautane, and Mr William Speedy, be named as sub-commissioners." Carried.

Moved by Mr J. Speedy, and seconded by Mr St. Hill, " That amongst the duties of the sub-commissioners they see that a ranger be placed where bis services are most needed, on south side of Akitio river, also to see he does his work thoroughly and effectually, taking care to show all consideration to Mr Murray's wishes- as regards his sheep." Carried. Moved by Mr Pillans, and seconded by Mr S. Franklin, " That the ranger shall find his own dogs, gun, ammunition, rations, and tent if necessary." Carried.

Moved by Mr J. Speedy, and seconded by Mr Pillans, " That the ranger have the right of disposing of all rabbit-skins he may get hold of." Carried. Moved by MrW. Speedy, and seconded by Mr Jesse Herbert, " That the salary of ranger be at the rate of £ a-year; that the number of doge he should find be ten, and should more be required an allowance be made him for each additional dog." Carried

Moved by Mr S. Hill, and seconded by Mr 0. Herbert, "That the Rabbit Commissioners of Hawke's Bay be at once communicated with, and earnestly urged to adopt the resolutions passed at this meeting; if disincline! to do so, that they take immediate steps to meet the responsibilities of the case." Carried. Moved by Mr Jesse Herbert, and seconded by Mr S. Franklin, " That the owners of the lands between Akitio and Ohanga be written to and asked to aid and assist promptly and effectually in destroying and ridding this part of Cue country of what rabbits are known to be on the place." Carried. A vote of thanks having been passed to Mr St. Hill, and thanks also given to the chairman, Mr St. Hill brought forward a sample of fencing wire which he said he had taken from a coil of many he found landed at Cape Turnagain. He had gone to the Cape for his own purposes, and whilst there had seen this lot of wire. Having heard the Government purposed sending up fencing wire for the Waimate boundary ienee and quantine ground, he made no doubt this No. 10 wire was for the purpose, knowing none of the settlers in the district thought of using so small a size for their fences, he had brought a sample to ascertain if they though this could be used with safety for the Waimata work.

The Messrs Herbert, whose opinion on the subject of fences justly carries weight with it, pronounced the wire good and sound, and though small would make a good and safe boundary fence, provided a sufficient number of wires were uted.

Naturally, the subject being of ~reat interest to all, much talk took place upon its being said Mr Pasley, our Chief Sheep Inspector, would take care the work at the boundary was well and effectively done.

Mr. St. Hill replied this depends if Mr Pasley is hampered or not by clerical officials in Wellington. Whilst in Wairarapa he heard many settlers speak of the pleasant—though to them confessedly trying belief—the Chief Secretary of the Sheep Department had of his own personal knowledge in these matters, holding with marked modesty that his own experience, gained within four walls, was of greater worth than that of practical men like themselves. And as the spirit of the Department was to take all it could of our assessed sheep fund, and to dole it out to us according to the measure of this pleasant chief, he feared our chief Inspector may have been dealt with as others in Wairarapa bad been, and told to carry out clerical instructions, however adverse to his own views in the matter detrimental to the interests of the settler, who were good to be assessed, but of questionable judgment as to expenditure, and therefore No. 10 •wire was sent up for our boundary fence, and probably clerical instructions issued to put up a four or five wire fence with the daintiest of posts. At this stage those present authorized Mr St. Hill to write to Mr Pasley expressing a hope that the fence to be put up should not be of less than seven wires, with an eighth of barbed wire, posts 6x4, six feet apart; height of fence, 3ft 6in, and bottom wire not more than 4 inches from the ground.— [Communicated.]