EXTERMINATION OF RABBITS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1147, 2 June 1880, Page 3

EXTERMINATION OF RABBITS.

As an instance of how the work of babbit extermination is going on in Some of the up-country districts, the Tuapeka Times states that on Monday 40,000 skins were brought to the railway station, there to be despatched to Port Chalmers for shipment to the London tiiarket. Those skins were brought from Messrs Strode and Fraser's Earnscleugh Station, Clyde. These gentlemen employ 18 poisoners on the station, while six men with pack-horses (known as “ packers”) are engaged in Conducting traffic between the Home Station and the rabbiters’ camp in the ranges, carrying out poisoned wheat and necessary supplies and returning with the rabbit skins. Two men and a clerk find full employment at the station in making up poisoned wheat and fixing tip and despatching the bales. A waggoner is engaged in conveying •wheat to the Home Station, and bales of skins from here to Lawrence. Some days ago he brought down 22,000 skins ; on Monday, as we have said, he had at the Station, when he left it there were over 40,000, in readiness to be despatched to the railway ; and still there are no symptoms of the traffic diminishing. Messsrs Strode and Fraser supply the rabbiters with poisoned grain at the rate of 8s per 1001 b., and purchase the rabbit skins at 2d each. The men are earning from 20s to 30s a day, and more men would be taken on but cannot be had. Some.of the so-called “unemployed” were offered work, but declined it, preferring their chanoe of loafing on the industrious along the road. ‘While these particulars refer to Earnscleugh Station, it is only fair to mention that the other rnnholdevs are pursuing similar measures, in concert, and by arrangement arrived at in public meeting. The poison does not seem to be taken by the sheep. Although the country . “ stinks with rabbits,” yet the tide appears to have fairly turned ; already, in many places whore the grass was formerly devoured down to the roots, ic has again resumed its verdant line and forms good pasture for the sheep. As an instance of what oilier run holders are doing, wo may note that Messrs Cargill and Anderson have six men employed, who are working their run and making a “ fine clean job Of it” Their men arc said to Ire earning 20s to -12os a day each. The work of destruction is calculated to last for the next mouths; and this in another inducement to men -who roallv want work and cannot find it, to inqnbe f -v themselves “ whether these things arc so.”