MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2944, 3 October 1925, Page 2

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The usual monthly meeting of the above Board was held in the secretary’s office yesterday presided over by the chairman (Mr. B. G. Gower). Also present were Messrs. W, E. Barber, McKelvie, Gloyn, Grammar, Boswell, Raikes, Fleming and (he Inspector (Mr. D. R. Barron).

CORRESPONDENCE was read and dealt with as follows : From the Department of Agriculture, re supplying ihe Board with poison.—Left in the hands of the secretary and inspector.

From same, re the destruction of hawks stating that it has no protective measures but also pointing out (lmt the Government'has been urged to offer a subsidy for the destruction of hawks in view of the losses they indicted amongst lambs. MV. Gloyn said that this was the first year that lie had known hawks to attack- lambs and kill them. He had seen two of his lambs attacked by hawks. They had their eyes pecked out and holes torn in their sides. If the Board was going to kill" rabbits they did not want hawks.

The chairman said that one of his best sheep had lost an eye as n result of the ravages of hawks, tic had killed the sheep and waited with a gun in ambush with the result that he had killed 32 hawks. The letter was received.

From Air. 11. Dawson, asking for permission to shoot rabbits in the Board’s area.—Application declined.

From Messrs Ilolben and Kirk, enclosing sketches of chairs suitable for the Board room. —Decided to obtain ten chairs.

Matters in collection with the forthcoming election, to be held on Die first Monday in November, were discussed and it was decide to have polling booths at Ilangiotu Siding, Taikorea, Baincs.se, Oroun Downs and Foxton.

Accounts amounting to £76 5s 6 were passed for payment.

INSPECTOR’S REPORT. During the past month I have been engaged in the inspection of properties in the Board area, following up the general poisoning notices sent out in August. Owing to the continued wet weather the work lias been greatly retarded, and owing to the saturated condition of the country, work has not yet been able to be carried out in several localities. In a number of eases where poisoning has been done, good results have been obtained and in the majority of cases, only 20 of the kills have been full grown rabbits, a fact going to show that a steady decrease is taking place as regard the number of rabbits in the Board’s area.

Fumigation in a number of eases, Is being actively pushed on, and the men who are working under the direction of the Board, are doing good work, and this work is gradually being extended. I have sold several cyanide blowers privately to groups of farmers.

During the month a demonstration was given by AH. Clyma with his patent rabbit-catching net. The method used is that of setting a net on bare country in the vicinity of cover. Such as, gorse, lupin, etc. The net is set in the late afternoon and while the rabbits are out feeding it is automatically sprung off, from a distance of anything up to a quarter of a mile, and the rabbits are driven into the net, becoming entangled in it, as in a snare. As ihe nets are anything from 10 to •_;()() yards long, it will lie seen that a number of rabbits can be obtained in one setting. On cover eounti'v and during the months of .January or February, this method would prove suitable. I would again remind farmers of taking advantage of the first suitii!c run of weather, and using evert effort to gain control of the pest before the breeding season is further ahead.

During the month I shall be engag cd in the general inspection of pro pcrlies, ami with the general super vision of fumigation work.