THE RABBIT COMMISSION. Wellington, Nov. 14.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 317, 17 November 1888, Page 4

THE RABBIT COMMISSION. Wellington, Nov. 14.

Mr A. 0. Bell, the New Zealand delegate on the Intercolonial Rabbit Commission, will return to the colony this week, and private engagements will probably prevent him from directly taking any parl in the further investigation. He, however, approves personally of all the steps that have yet been taken by the Commissioners as a body, and in his report to the Minister of Lands enters into elaborate explanation? to justify the demands being made by them upon the patience of the public for more time to enable them to carry their works to a_ thoroughly practical conclusion. Extensive experimental work in laboratories was only undertaken with reluctauce on account of the time it would occupy, but he is convinced of its absolute necessity, and gives assurance that no unavoidable waste of time is occurring, while all the work is being done well. Mr Bell has never expected that rabbits can be entirely exterminated, and the most he hopes for is a really good rabbitdiminishing scheme. Tt may, he says, be relied upon that not only will the Commission give an approximately true value to such schemes as, without being altogether worthless, would fall short of the value now claimed for them, but they will also sweep finally out of the way many schemes which, pretending on easy means of extermination, possess no real value at all. The report of the Commission, which will shortly be presented to the New Sduth Wales Government, will, in Mr Bell's opinion, be adjudged to fairly justify the sagacity of that Government in originating the idea and the wisdom of other colonies in uniting to carry it out.