THE RABBIT NUISANCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1158, 9 May 1884, Page 3

THE RABBIT NUISANCE.

We have received from Mr Miles, Sheep and-Rabbit Inspector, tho following report for the year ending March 31st, 1884 :

What means have been adopted for destroying rabbits ?—Daring-winter months poisoned grain ; rest of year dogging, shooting, and trapping. In some cases ferrets worked in hand, and on some stations feirets have been tamed loose; also drowning out, digging out, and in soma instances where exterminating machines have been used.

Have yon. any recommendations to make ? —That the Weka or Maori Hen‘ be gazetted as a natural enemy, as to my certain knowledge and personal observation they help greatly to keep down the increase. No doubt many are caught" in traps—so are ferrets —but I know that many rabbitera kill them-purposely, they knowing them to be a great enemy to the rabbit. What progress has there been made ? Very good. 443,819 more skins haying been returned this year than last. The Sheep have in most cases come in remark? ably well, are in good condition and healthy, and the loss has not been ..so heavy this year as last.’ : Also a very good show of grass. ■ ' HOw many tenders have been accepted ? - -Ist, two let and expired during year ; 2nd, five let and not expired daring year. What did the whole of them amount to ? —lst amounted' to L 228 6s stl; 2iid amounted to about L 722, more or less. , Number and description of reserves you will require to deal with, and the approximate area of such available for grazing pure poses 2 Clyde Commonage and Mining Reserves adjoining, about 7000 acres ; Cromwell Commonage and Mining-Reserves adjoining, about 8000 acres ; Hawea Hundred, about 12.000 acres ; Blacks Commonage, about 1700 acres : Mining Reserve, Cardron^/River, about 300 acres ; Mining Reserve, Molyueux River, 'about 200 acres. In all these cases contracts have been let {or keeping rabbits clear tor 12 months. Wfiat quantity of phosphorus was used for Government purposes ?—Nil, but about SOlba lost by taking fire. What quantity was sold-to private indi-’ viduals ?—6loiba. What was the quantity on hand on the, 31st March last ?—B2olbs. Number of skins exported ? • 1,664,168. Number of prosecutions—Two. .- Number of. convictions—Two., : • Number of 'dismissals —Nil, • , , Names of owners of properties dealt with’ .under section 11—NIL , Number of ferret-breeders—Two stations, Wanaka and Kawarau (to the best of my knowledge), m.- 1 Have any ferrets been? turned out, and it so, with what results f—Some have been turned out on one or two stations. Results dot known. . ■. - , • ' General Remarks—,l entertain great hopes thal next year I shall have a more satisfactory report to give, owing t» the united and simultaneous action at present being taken- to destroy the pest, this being the result of meetings convened by me throughout the Vincent ’ County, which were exceedingly well. Attended, and the spirit of the business ; thoroughly entered into fiy all interested. I must also mention that a few rabbits in the County have been found, on being opened, to have a disease .of the liveir which, however, I do not consider to be tuberculosis, but.the subsequent effects of half spent poisoned grain, the liver being charged with water. Not many to my knowledge have been picked np dead from this disease, but have found to be so affected on being caught and opened.