The Daily Telegraph. TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3775, 21 August 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1883.

It is satisfactory to know that the committee elected by tho settlers at the meeting convened by Captain Russell on the 11th instant is going about its work in a comprehensive manner. The committee consists of Messrs D. McLean, J. Loughnan.R. Harding, and J. Chambers, jun., than whom four more energetic settlers could hardly bo found. From their experience of what tho rabbit plague really moans we may be sure they will act energetically to second the efforts of the Porangahau Committee to keep it as far as possible from this district. The two committees met last week, and thoroughly cxaminod the Waiinata and Akiteo country. They satisfied themselves as to the presence of rabbits in the near neighborhood of the provincial boundary line, and examined the country through which it was proposed to erect a rabbit-proof fence. From Akiteo they returned to Wainui, and from there to Porangahau. They were to have left yesterday for Waipukurau, from whence they intended going to Woodville, and on to Ekitahuna. It is reported that rabbits arc coming through the Seventy-mile Bush along the main road, and the committee deem it necessary to ascertain how far this report is borne out by facts. Before finishing with the Seventy-mile Bush they will,probably, visitMrG.D.Hamilton's and Mr Gaisford's country to tho eastward of Tahoraite. This country may be classed as " dangerous," being surrounded by forest, and it would be well to find out whether rabbits have made their appearance there. In tho proposal to fence from the coast at Waimata to Woodville the line to be selected would depend of course upon how far rabbits have penetrated the bush. The length would be somewhat over thirty miles, but of this distance the Porangahau Committee only proposed to erect ten miles from tho coast end. It is part of the duty of the Hawko's Bay committee to satisfy themselves as to whether ten miles of fencing would be a sufficiently protective measure ; hence their visit to the Seventy-mile Bush. Their report will bo looked forward to with much interest.

In connection with tho rabbit plague it will be remembered that Mr Teschemaker, in tho last circular letter that we published from him, advised that ferrets by the million should be turned out in country infested with the pest. Doubtless the suggestion prompted Mr W. C. Buchanan to ask in the House whether the Government would place a sum of money on tho supplementary estimates for the further importation of the natural enemies of the rabbit. The Hon. Mr Dick, in reply, quite agreed that the damage done by rabbits was very considerable, and that it was advisable to do their utmost to introduce the natural enemies of the rabbit into this colony. The Government had for some time been making importations of ferrets, and ship after ship had been supplied with them by the Agent-General. In the majority of instances a very small proportion of them wore brought here alive. In some cases they had all died, and in others perhaps a fifth or a tenth had been landed. The Government was still inclined to encourage their importation if there was any hope of their being brought out alive in any numbers. They were also prepared to give money for the purpose of encouraging the breeding of ferrets within the colony. That was done to a considerable extent, and he found that the breeding of ferrets was going on satisfactorily in several parts of the colony. The Government was also ready to encourage the importation of the stoat and weasel, if they could bo got; and an offer had been made to a man who said ho would go Home and bring them out. The Government had offered to give £5 per head for fifty of them if ho could bring them out to the colony. They were prepared in every way, and were most anxious, to encourage the introduction of the natural enemies of the rabbit.