SUCCESSFUL WORK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20068, 14 October 1939, Page 10

SUCCESSFUL WORK

CONTROL OF RABBITS

FEW TRACES OF PEST EAST COAST AREA The successful work of the staff of the East Coast Rabbit Board in preventing the spread of rabbits from outside districts into the board's province was the subject of favourable comment at yesterday afternoon’s monthly meeting of the board. The inspectors’ reports showed that there were few traces of rabbits to be found in the board’s territory, while the kills effected in the northern area last month numbered four and in the southern district nil, though two rabbits had been caught in the southern district this month. Those present at the meeting were Messrs. E. M. Hutchinson, chairman, M. T. Trafl'ord, E. M. Monckton, C. G. lioldsworth, M. L. Holden and F. R. Bould, of the Department of Agriculture, and the board’s inspectors, Messrs. 11. A. Burgess and T. R. England. Payments totalling £282, covering two months .were confirmed. Northern Area Mr. H. A. Bufgess, inspector, Whakatane, submitted the following summary of work done in the Whakatane-Gala-tea area and review of the country he had inspected during September:— “Ngahuinga and Heruiwi country was worked, also Whirinaki and Galatea estate, Tawhinau and Hikurangi, Te Houhi and Kopuriki estates, Opoutea and the clearings in that district, Omatora and foothills at Te Teko, the country along the foothills to Edgeeumbe, Ruatoki district, Opotaka and Awhakotoro.

“I have inspected the sandhills between Thornton and Whakatane, there being no signs of rabbits in that area, nor were there any traces on the sandhills at Ohiwa. I saw no indications on part of Owhakotoro or Opotako.

“A careful search was made near the White Pine Bush, where rabbits were reported to have been seen, but no signs were found. A rabbit was reported at Edgeeumbe and traces were found on a property there. One rabbit has been caught so far. “On looking over Te Teko block, Omatora, I found signs near the bushline and that area is being attended to. No traces could be found on Te Houhi or Kopuriki estates. An odd sign was discovered near Horomanga, Galatea estate, and one rabbit was caught. There had been no further traces.

“I inspected Ngahuinga and Heruiwi country and there were signs near the junction of the Whaeo and Rangitaiki rivers. Two rabbits were caught and no further indications seen.

“A rabbit was reported in Minganui Valley, and that district is being i searched. The kills' during September j totalled four, one at Edgecumbe, one at Horomanga, and two at Ngatuinga.” Southern Area Mr. T. R. England, inspector, Wairoa, reported as follows: “During the month the following places have been worked: —Messrs. Glendinning’s property (Waihua station), F. Mogford’s, and McKinnon Bro.’ stations, and Waihua native lands, no signs being found there. The Putere and the Mohaka Crown lands were clean, as also were the parts of Mohaka native lands worked. “Most of the Putere settlement was worked and a few signs were found on the Maori property, but the rest of the country was clean. There were no traces of rabbits on Ferndale station. “The Waikarenloana native lands were found clean and no indications were seen on Waihi station, nor on the land of Messrs. Thomas, Neale, and Tapper Bros. Patunamu station (Messrs. Richardson Bros.), and Kahotea block (Messrs. Hemming, Gamble and Christie) were also clean. "Parts of Otoi were worked and found clean. No further fresh signs were discovered on Pihanui or Cricklewood. “A rabbit was reported near the Kopuawhara camp, and I covered the country in the locality, but could find only hares. I inspected the Waikaremoana native lands and the country around the lakeside at Onepoto, and found that territory clean. “I looked over parts of Putere (Messrs. Horne, Burt, Ganges, and Torbett’s blocks) and could see no indications. I inspected parts of Maungatanawha along the river faces and found odd signs on Mr. Kahu’s block. That place is now being worked. I saw nothing on the parts of Woodlands station, Messrs. Mossman Bros.. I inspected.’’ The inspector added that this was the first occasion he had no kills to report.