WILD RABBITS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3103, 8 June 1881, Page 3

WILD RABBITS.

the Editor of the Daily T_t/ECHUPH.] Sib,—ls it fated our proceedings should ever be subject to mistakes, if not blunders? One would have thought tbe experience of ages must have taught us beneficial lessors, both in private and public matters; but it is not co, for to this day we find few if any the better for the experiences of another. In our case, a year or more ago, we were made aware of the necessity of doing something to stay, if possible, the inroad of the Wairarapa wild rabbit upon us. A temporary scare moves _s. A meeting is called at Hastings in 1879. Commissioners are appointed, and an assessment is levied, and after this spasmodic action nothing is done. On what grounds were these Commissioners appointed ? Doubtless because they were thought to be gentlemen of action, energy, and business habits. It was therefore with come surprise your readers saw in the Weekly Mercury of the 27th May that, to relieve themselves of the necessity of exercising the qualities they were given credit for, they had banked the sum raised by assessment as a fixed deposit. The time, however, came when opinions were freely expressed as to their unexplained dilatoriness. It happened that some one of us ventured, whilst in Napier, to say in the hearing of a Coramfcsioner that such dilatoriness was inexcusable. For reply he was told that, as a resident of the southern part of the province, holding interests which would be seriously affected were wild rabbits to come in upon us, he and others of the district were euilty of indolence, and showed indifference to the welfare of tbe neighbourhood, iv not having exerted themselves in ascertaining how far north ■wild rabbits had got along the coast, This from one. of tbe Commissioners struck him as forcible if nothing else! Another has been content with repeating " Tell us what we are to do ? If suggestions are practical and reasonable we will take action in the matter." Ah I how keenly alive to their responsibilities some officials are. Another, who was questioned why nothing was being done, answered " we know not whether our appointment as Commissioners still holds good or not, We are waiting to hear from head quarters," evidently unconscious whether their term of office as Commissioners had lapsed by fluxion of time, or whether they still held office until successors were appointed. A very pleasing and interesting state of things! Well, Sir, let this pass. What I have to say is the Wainui settlers called and held a meeting on the 16th April last, and passed resolutions, which they forwarded to the Chairman of the Commissioneie, their concluding resolution, begging tbe Commissioners, if they considered their propositions unsuitable, to take what steps they themselves deemed best to meet the responsibilities of their position and emergencies of the case. Taunted as one of us had been for indolence and want of interest in this matter we did hope our meeting would bring about some active measures on the part of the Commissioners, but from whatever cause, as far as the public is aware, they give no sign of wakefulness. As to our meeting resolutions, we have been dealt with somewhat cavalierly. Tbe receipt of our resolutions was acknowledged to our secretary, and the note stated that they would be placed before a meeting of the Commissioncs, and would doubtless receive tbe attenl'on due to them. Possibly we have received the attention due to us through our resolutions, for to thi* d.aj tbe report of the,

meeting has not been seen by all the Commissioners; the resolutions have neither been seen nor are known to them all; iv truth our resolutions have been pigeon-holed, and this from Commissioners, one of whom had taunted us with indolence and indifference to the interests of others as well as stupidity to our own. It has been said we were impertinent id calling a meeting, and still more in passing the resolutions we did. We will, Sir, be obliged if anyone holding this opinion Will state his grounds for this in the columns of your widely read journal.— I am, &c, Wainui. Wainui, June 4,1 SSI.