MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2825, 18 December 1924, Page 3

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board was held in the Board’s office yesterday presided over by Trustee B. G. Gower (chairman). Also present were Trustees W. E. Barber, Boswell, Raikes, and the secretary (Mr Roore Rangiheuea). Mr D. R. Barron (Inspector) was also in attendance. Apologies for absence were received from Trustees Grammer, Fleming, Gloyn and McKelvie. CORRESPONDENCE was read and dealt with as follows: From the Director-General, staL ing that it was now lawful to pay travelling expenses to Trustees to attend meetings.—Acknowledged. From J. Huddleston, stating that his property is outside the Board’s area and asking for exemption from rates.—Granted. From P. Hutchinson, also requesting exemption from rating as his property is outside the Board’s area. —Granted. From C. Watkins, requesting date . and place of next meeting.—Left in hands of Inspector. From Manawatu County Counicl, stating that orders had been given to the County Engineer to cut lupins on the County roads. —Received. From E. D. Barber, enclosing rates, subject to adjustment by Valuation Department.—Received. From Jas. Davey, re work required on property.—Resolved to leave Mr Davey’s letter in the hands of the Inspector for attention. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. ; —X- ~ % The Inspector reported as follows “Owing to the short space of , rJ . t time since last meeting, there is not ’• much of'- any great importance to report oil this month. Several poisonings have been carried out in the interval, and these have all been successful to a very great extent, . one of them being the most successful poisoning which has so far taken place. “I have conducted two more de- £ monstrations in fumigation by meii ans of bi-sulphide —one being on -i Mr Dench’s property at Oroua ? Downs and the other on Mr Mit;;f cliell’s property, Taikorea estate.

now occupied by returned soldiers. The country adjacent to where these • demonstrations were held is very suitable for fumigation, but although this is the case, the attendanees have been most disappointing. Both demonstrations have been entirely successful and once again go to prove the efficacy of fumigation for ' the destruction of rabbits. I have impressed on farmers the benefits to be derived from the use of bisulphide either by means of a fumiga-iv.-tor or by the old-fashioned means of the saturated piece of sacking. "In the great majority of cases this is by far the most effective method that can be employed. Several fuini•.gators have come to hand and these I have delivered to farmers, who. are starting systematic work on their properties. “Since the last meeting I have ;;i been occupied in inspecting different areas in the district and have found that poisoning has been carried out in a number of cases while on a number of properties no work has been done. In such cases I have sent out the Statutory warning notices, and if these are not complied with I intend to prosecute the owner of such land, as in certain cases i this is the only means of bringing f : owners to a sense of their responsibilities, not only to. themselves, but 4 to their neighbours who are carrying out the wishes of the Board. “This coming month I intend to follow up all warnings sent out and shall also be engaged in general inspection.” —Adopted. i > REFUND. It was decided to refund Mr H. P. N. Hutchins his rates as his land is proved to be outside the Rabbit Board area. - Accounts-amounting to £49 19/7 were passed for payment.