RABBIT BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3979, 12 July 1915, Page 2

RABBIT BOARD.

REPORT BY GOVERNMENT 1 FIELDS INSPECTOR.

COUNTRY NOT -SO CLEAN AS IT WAS.

A meeting of the East Coast RabbitBoard was held on Saturday morning. There were present: Messrs AY. D. Lysnar (in the chair), T. Holden, and \V. Ross. The Acting-Director of the Fields Division of the Agricultural Department forwarded a report hv Fields Inspector Allen concerning his inspection of the Board’s district in Slay last. The report stated : ’•Left llangituiki and proceeded down the river for a few miles. Found a good many traces along the river •flats. Proceeded across country towards Otarnatea stream, found country clean. Followed down the Otamatea stream to within a short- distance of Rangitaiki river, and found numerous signs of the pest all along tlio stream. Crossed over the Otamatca stream and proceeded to Motokuri bush, found traces all through, showing up numerous in places. (This country has just been poisoned, but could have been laid thicker on rabbity areas.) Rode to Jvokomoko bush, found country clean. Around Kokomoko bush the pest is showing up (poison could have been laid much thicker on - this portion). Proceeded on to main bush line, which we followed north for some distance; found traces of the pest all along. Also found one corner in the bush that had been missed when poisoning, here traces are numerous. Rode through small hush at Alotokuri—found traces numerous, also saw a number of live rabbits. Proceeded on to Heruiwi; found traces of the past all through, showing numerous about grassy flat and it) main gully loading into the Whoao stream. (This country will want attending to in the spring.) Found the country between Whoao stream and Mangaratu stream fairly clean. (Country between Rangitaiki hotel and the Mangaretu is far cleaner than it was on last inspection in April, 1914). From Mangaretu to Ngahunga the pest is showing all through, and very numerous in places. This portion, will want attention in the early spring. Between Muripara and IV Whaiti only saw an odd trace. (Poisoning is in progress here.) Did not see any traces up the To Whaiti Valley, nor between To Whaiti and Rnatahuna, and tlio bush clearings, at Tatahata,. and M:\tatua. Found poisoning in progress at Galatea. Where there is no noison the pest is very numerous, chiefly along the foot of the hills and about tho edge of the river.

“If anything, this country is not so clean as it was on our last-inspec-tion in April, 1914.” Regarding the Galatea block Inspector Allen asked why, in addition to the three men permanently engaged on this block, there were two gan.es of four men-each put on to poison, in his opinion causing expense which could be easily avoided. Mr Holden said the report was ) ot so satisfactory as that of previ >us years, and he did not like the roscwi disclosed.

The Chairman considered the report satisfactory. To AVhaiti, he sai 1 was the place they should watch, as -t was near the stock track. If the.-a was any danger they could erect* a rabbit proof fence for about five chains end block tho whole valley. It was resolved to write thanking the Department for the report, and to inform them that the Board appreciated. any suggestion. The Secretary (Air W. J. Hennessy) stated that lie had forwarded a copy of the report to Inspector McGill. Reports were received from Inspector McGill and the various sub-inspec-tor S. The record of kills for the month ol May-June was as follows: —Wairoa 0, Pufcere G, Mohaka 14, Wakamii 2, Ruakituri 1, Fraser town G, Olruka 1; total 30; Opotiki: Galatea 4. Tho question of supplying horse feed for the rabbiters was left to Inspector McGill. ",