RABBIT TRUSTEES MEETING.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3100, 4 June 1881, Page 3

RABBIT TRUSTEES MEETING.

A meeting of the Rabbit Trustees for the County of Waipawa was held at the Court-house, Waipawa, on Thursday, 2nd instant. Present—Col. Herrick, (chairman), Meßsre. J. N. Williams, S. Johnston, and J. Mackersey. Moved by Mr Mackersey, seconded by Mr Johnston, that Mr Graham Speedy be appointed Rabbit Inspector (with or without salary) for the districts of Wainui and Akitio, and that he be instructed to superintend the erection and maintenance of the rabbit fences about to be put up in those districts under the authority of the Rabbit Trustees.—Carried. Moved by Mr J. N. Williams, seconded by Col. Herrick. that steps be immediately taken for putting up about six miles of rabbit-proof fence on the south side of '\e Akitio river, along the line pointed out to the mover of the resolution by Mr Murray, the present manager of the Akitio station. Carried. Moved by Col. Herrick, seconded by Mr Mackersey, that the Chairman should urge upon the Government the necessity of putting up the boundary fence at the Waimata with as little delay as possible. —Carried.

Moved by Mr J. N. Williams, seconded by Mr Johnston, that as soon as the boundary fence at Waimata is completed, the Rabbit Inspector be provided by the Trustees with sufficient wire netting to make the same a rabbit-proof fence, and, if necessary, extend it for some distance further into the bush.—Carried.

Moved by Mr Johnston, seconded by Col. Herrict, that a ranger be appointed, at a salary, whose duty it shall be to prevent rabbits encroaching upon the main road from Eketatuna to Woodville; on the Makakatu river-bed from Eketatuna to its junction with the MaDgataennku ; on the Tiraumea river-bed from Alfred Town to its junction with the Manawatu; on the south side of the Akitio river; and on each side of the rabbitfence, from the sea into the main bush at the back of Akitio runs.-—Carried.

Moved by Mr J. N. Williams, seconded by Col. Herrick, that having ia view the serious nature of the rabbit nuisance as it exists in the Wairarapa district, and the inadequacy and expense of the means taken for meeting the difficulty, it is necessary to import the natural enemies of the rabbit, such as weasels, stoats, polecats, and foxes, and that immediate steps be taken for importing as many as possible of the kind not prohibited by law, and liberating them wherever rabbits make their appearance.

Moved by Mr Johnston as on amendment, seconded by Mr Mackersey, that the Chairman be asked to make enquiries as to the habits of the above-named animals, and report to the next meeting. Amendment carried.