SOME AMUSING REMINISCENCES

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3812, 30 June 1928, Page 3

SOME AMUSING REMINISCENCES

RELATED BY INSPECTOR FLEMING.

Mr. D. Fleming, who for many years has been Government stock inspector in this district and ivho retires at the end of this month, was in reminiscent mood at the farewell luncheon tendered him by the Manawatu Rabbit Board on Thursday, and recalled some of his past experiences as an inspector. On one occasion, when stationed in the South Island, in company with another inspector he wds ordered to make an inspection of poisoning work carried out on a certain farm. The'two inspectors rode over the farm which was in--tested with rabbits, and yet there was evidence of pollard poisoning on all sides. When negotiating a <steep bank Mr. Fleming’s companion leant over and picking up some of the pollord, commenced to chew it. Mr. Fleming followed suit and as far as they could tell there was no ■trace of phosphorus in the bait. A chemical examination proved their surmise correct, and it transpired that the property-owner had been feeding the rabbits, and that there was a gang of trappers camped on the farm waiting for the factory to open up before commencing operations. In this manner the owner of the farm derived a certain'revenue from the sale of the skins. “Needless to say a prosecution followed,” said Mr. Flem-

On another occasion Mr. Fleming had to inspect a dairy supplying the milk for a town in the North •Island. He timed his visit fairly early in the morning and as he dismounted from his horse at ' the house he heard a woman’s voice call out “Johnnie, stop washing your hands in the milk!” Mr. Fleming’s first acquaintance with the chairman of the Manawatu Rabbit Board (Mr. B. G. Gower) was made many years ago, long before Rabbit Boards were thought of, and under somewhat amusing circumstances. Together with Mr. Goodwin, Mr. Fleming had to inspect Mr. Gower’s property, and having ridden down the back of the run, desired to inspect the adjoining property and, not wishing to make the long detour back to the road, decided to take the fence down and cross over into the next farm. This they did unci were just putting the fence up again when two very irate men rode up on horses and the gentlemen he afterwards knew as Mr. Gower exclaimed : “Well, we’ve caught you at last.” It turned out that some person had been in the habit of pulling down jVIr. Gower’s fence and that Mr. Fleming “caught in the act” was mistaken for the offender.