The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1891. Evils Turned to Good

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 149, 9 June 1891, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1891. Evils Turned to Good

Although rabbits at one time were looked upon as the greatest curse — bar the scab— which could be inflicted on the colony, yet now we notice there is a marked change of • opinion. In Dunedin the other day, a member of the House interviewed the Minister for Public Works with reference to the desirableness of deferring for a term of one month the commencement of the rabbit poison : ing' season. It was represented that a- large "number of persons are employed at the present time in catching rabbits for freezing and canning purposes, and on that ground it was "urged the poisoning season should be delayed. Large quantities of rabbits are being consigned ' daily by rail to the freezing works. The. Hon. Mr Seddon is reported to have expressed himself favorably, and undertook to bring the matter under the notice of the Minister of Lands, in whose department the matter lies. It would seem that in some parts of Otago and Southland the income ' derivable from rabbits is , greater than that from sheep, but we cannot imagine that sheep farmers will ever, be persuaded to look ou " bunny" other than as a foe to be dreaded and therefore exterminated. Opinion appears to be changing also as regards stoats, and Mr R. C. Bruce, in a letter to the Advocate on the subect, says ' that all the fears which have already been expressed of these animals, are goundiess. * On the other hand he shows that they are a blessing because tbey prey on the rats which are far greater enemies to poultry, ducklings, pheasants ■ aud quail, besides being inveterate orchard robbers. Mr Bruce suggests that the extraordinary numbers of i hese latter destructive pests prove that, s<j far as they are concerned, the " balance of nature " requires adjustment in this country. He ventures to hope that stoats and weasels will eventually succeed in securing the desired'

equilibrium. The Rev. J. G. Wood, a high authority, speaking of the < stoat, su^s. " Its favorite food is, ] however, the rat, and it kills such a number ot these posts that it ought to he put iv the list of- our moat useful auiuiald. " Mr Hvaca concludes hia very interesting letter by quoting a case where a family iv England kept numbers; of poultry, aud when the stouts and weasels were suppressed they suffered terribly from the rats, .vhieh at ("nice increased. "But during the periods when tbe Btoats and weasels were plentiful the poultry were never molested by these animals, and none were lost by rats. This, it must be admitted, is very strong evidence in fa vour -.of the creatures whose advent so many appear to' dread. Iv support of. the contention of Mr Bruce,; we may mention that a well known and experienced farmei at Levin, informed us on Saturday that his barn is kept almost entirely free from rats and mice by a family of stoats which have taken up their residence there, , and tbey , have done no harm whatever to his poultry.