WOODVILLE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4010, 29 May 1884, Page 3

WOODVILLE.

[from our own correspondent.] Judging from all accounts tho rabbits are likely to become an exceedingly obnoxious pest before a very distant; period, not only on the coast, whore they are establishing their position steadily, but inland as well. Somo of the settlers in this district have doubts as to the possible effect of running rabbit-proof fence right across country into Woodville, for it is quite as likely to turn the stream of their progress right into our settlemeut as it is to protect the coast from their ravages. Not that we should be much affected by tho pest, were it to come, because there is no safer remedy against rabbits than small holdings. This is where our friends in the neighborhood of Wainui are at a disadvantage. Their holdings, even if not in very large blocks, are large enough to put their owners in a very helpless condition, if rabbits tako up their quarters there, and worse than that, they tire surrounded by large runs, which will afford splendid rendezvous for •' bunny," and act most propitiously in the way of aiding his increase and providing shelter for him in stormy times. I learn that a meeting of sheepfarmors was recently held at Wainui to fairly organise matters and actually tako the bull by the horns. This has been brewing for some time, and has only been put off, I believe, because residents there thought the evil time was anything but so close at hand. At the meeting, I am informed, it transpired that many rabbits had been seen in localities far north of the boundary fence, and it was ultimately resolved that a party of ten of the sheepfarmers and settlers should go out for a night and watch the supposed haunts of the new arrivals and see for themselves. This was the wisest thing they could do. What they saw, and what fresh resolves were made afterwards, I have not yet heard, and suggestions as to what they can possibly do must be left to more experienced men than myself to bring forward I believe that the great idea is to fence in with wire netting, but hardly think this will prove an effectual check. There is already a wirenetting fence, and a good one too. and one erected at great expense, and yet the rabbits are on the north side of it already. It still remains to be ascertained how they got to the Hawke's Bay side of tho fence, It is more likely that they got through the gate or round the fence, rather than through it. Some time ago tho gate used to be watched by a faithful guardian. This was osten- | sibly to prevent the ingress of scabby sheep into ouruncontaminated province. But, _as it happened, there was no scab in the adjoining runs, and had there been any there was nothing to prevent a scabby sheep or a hundred of them, or a thousand for J;hat matter, from crossing the fence in at least a score of places, it being partially burnt down. Now, had that guardian been planted by that gate at the present time, when pei-haps if left open for one hour a dozen rabbits might scuttle through it and do irretrievable damage, the gate would have been fairly safe. But with an instinct such as one only expects to see displayed by an intelligent Government, the guardian was carefully removed from that gateway just as it and the fence were being renewed and made rabbit proof, so there is no saying how really rabbit-proof that fence really is, for if the gate is left open the road is clear. So much for the fence. Not that it matters much, for I hardly think a rabbit fence is going to keep rabbits back, however tightly the gates may bo kept closed, neither do I believe that a run being- fenced with wirenetting will be found free from their inroads. There is ouo remedy, a never failing remedy against rabbits, one which will alone, I believe, exterminate or at least subdue the pest, and that is the subdivision of the land into blocks which uro not too large for the occupier to thoroughly work. Until this remedy is applied I shall expect to see rabbits thriving luxuriantly in the Poranga-hau-Waiuui district.