The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3768, 13 August 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 1883.

The settlers gathered at the Agricultural and Pastoral Society's rooms on Saturday represented a very large proportion of the wealth of Hawke's Bay, and the measures they took at that meeting to secure that wealth were in every way satisfactory. Th c unanimity of action that was shown was somewhat unexpected, but no doubt the forcible arguments of Mr Fitzßoy, Mr Douglas McLean, and Mr Coleman led the meeting to view the subject as one not affecting mere individuals, but one which related to the progress and prosperity of the whole province. The only industries that we can boast of here are those which spring from pastoral pursuits, and when those pursuits are threatened at their very foundation nothing but prompt and united action will avail. Nevertheless it was known that differences of opinion were held concerning the most effectual course to take with respect to the rabbit nuisance, and it was feared that this would j>revent unity of action. In opening the proceedings Captain Russell plainly stated that the view he took of the question was that every man should look after himself. He altogether failed to see that ho would derive a benefit from subscribing to a fund for the erection of a fence to keep rabbits out of the province. The fence was to be erected a long way off, and he thought that in putting it up it was very much like saving the Porangahau settlers at the expense of the whole country. Captain Russell forgot, apparently, that the provincial boundary fence was originally erected to keep scabby sheep from entering the province, and that the cost of the fence was wholly borne by the whole of the sheepfarrners. In putting up that fence the Provincial Council did not consider that the Porangahau settlers derived more benefit from it than did the settlers of other districts. It was known that if scab once entered the province to more or loss extent the character of the whole of the flocks would suffer. It was of provincial importance that this district should be free from the taint of scab, and so the fence was put \ip as a preventive measure. So it is now with respect to rabbits. The invading pest is gradually but surely coming towards our borders, and it would be worse than suicidal to take no steps to check its advance. The experience of the other colonies has shown that fencing is the most effectual check that can be adopted, and in New South Wales at this time the whole boundary line between that colony and Victoria, a distance of 400 miles, is to be fenced. It is not pretended for a moment that a fence will absolutely keep the country free from rabbits —there are sure to be some loopholes. In thia province we know there arc several small colonies of the enemy, but they happen to be in comparatively open lands, and their increase can be easily kept down. But the country proposed to be fenced off is an untrodden, wooded, broken region, which, when thoroughly entered by rabbits, could never be effectually worked. It would therefore form an undisturbed breeding ground, from whence hordes of starving rabbits would swarm and take complete possession of the open country as they have done in Tasmania. There it was found that the rabbits were complete masters of the situation, for however much they were hunted and destroyed in the open the back bush ever furnished an inexhaustible supply to take the place of those that were killed. A fence was accordingly erected, and the rabbits were speedily brought under control. We agree with Captain Russell in thinking that the Waimata fence should be extended beyond ten miles, for although that distance covers the more dangerous ground, being light and patchy bush, there can be no doubt that there are plenty of rabbits working their way through the dense forest beyond. The committee appointed at the meeting to act in conjunction with the Porangahau committee will bo best able to judge of this matter, and being thoroughly impressed with the importance of the duties entrusted to them wo may hope that effectual measures will be adopted to prevent the introduction of a scourge that, in its effects, is equal to, or even worse, than the plagues to which the pastures of ancient Egypt were j subjected.