DESTRUCTION OF RABBITS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1141, 28 August 1883, Page 3

DESTRUCTION OF RABBITS.

The Rabbit Inspector, in his annual report, says : On the whole, since the Act of 1882 came into force, great destruction has been effected, the results of which will be patent during the incoming year. The cost has been : Wellington and Maßterton ...£494 Blenheim 80 Kaikoura ... 43 Oamaru... 180 Dunedin 1134 Nnseby 6 Clyde 787 Tuapeka 153 Queenstown 412 lnvercargill ... 1300 Southland 258 Total £4847 For 444,620 acres. The cost of phosphorus used has been £568 12a. The number of skins exported from the colony has been 8,922.756. The estimate of Crown lands to be dealt with this year is 993,600 acres.

In his annual sheep returns for the year ended 31st May, presented to both Houses of the General Assembly the Superintending Sheep Inspector, Mr P. Bayley says : Sir,—l have the honor to subnj it the annual sheep returns for the year ending the 31st May, 1882. The total number of sheep in the colonv on that date was 12,408,106, asagains't 12,198,215 for the previous year, or an increase of 217,891. In the Napier, Wellington, and Canterbury Districts the numbers have increased mest. There a-e also 207 more owners, making a total of 7,064. It will be seen that a decrease haa orcurred in Otago, although the breadth of improved lands is greater. This is undoubtedly due to the rabbit pes I, and the consequent abandonment of several runs. At the same time it must be borne in mind that these figures only represent the number of sheep on the 31st May, 1882, or at a time when the ravages of the pest were most severely felt, and the active operations compelled by present tfahbit Act had not become law.

The classification of sheep in the colouy can approximately be taken as follows: Long wools, 988,879 ; crosa-breds, 4,098,735 ; merinos, 7,320,492 : total number, 12,408,100. Exported, 2,000 ; imported, 177 ; boiled down, 40,095 ; used at pieaorvirig works 103,154. The tabulated form attached licreto shows the number of sheep in each county, as well ns the number of infected sheep in each district. It will be seen that a reduction of 328,801 sbeep on the infected list has been effected during the year ending the 31st March. 1883. Of the 206,584 still infected, 171,600 are depasturing in Marlborough, 30,810 in the North Island, and 4,174 in the Nelsen District. The largest number of infected Bheep are within the Kaikoura bubdivision.

The reduction may be attributed to the vast amount of fencing that has been erected during the past three years. Where these steps been taken the result has in all cases been satisfactory ; at the same time this very fencing has excluded in places large blocks of inaccessible country upon which sheep still exist, and for some time to come (as lute ovento have proved), we may, export

occasional outbreaks until these areas arc thoroughly cleared of wild sheep ; yet, any outbreak that may occur cannot spread now with the same facility as hitherto, but in nearly all cases be stopped at once. There are a few exceptions to the general efforts to fence throughout the colony, notably in the Kaikoura Subdivision, where there are two runs on which no boundary fencing lias been erected, and under existing circumstances do finality can possibly be anticipated towards the extermination of scab, and ultimately some special steps other than provided by the Sheep Act will be required to deal with these areas. 1 am of opinion that with several runs the only real soluti >n to the question will be the destruction of stock running thereon, and a period of three or more years allowed to elapse before being restocked. It maybe worth while remarking that up to September, 1882, certain sections of the Act were suspended in the Marlborough District, and from that time the the Act has been in full operation ; consequent upon this, proceedings have been taken against several Kaikoura owners, under section 23, and verdicts obtained against them. 1 am further of opinion that an alteration is absolutely required in section 45 of "The Sheep Act, 1878." The word "negligently" hiving been introduced renders many convictions for scabby sheep straying or allowed to stray almost an impossibility. Several cases have come under my notice lately where scabby sheep have actually strayed and infected clean neighbouring flocks, while at the same time the owner of these scabby sheep had obtained and held a clean certificate for his flocks. The erasing of this word from this section would compel tho owuers of scabby sheep to keep them at home, and, further, would make them feel more responsible as the owners of scabby sheep than they are, while the word "negligently " allows them n loophole to escape. And, as during the last two years such efforts have been made, and with fair results, scarcely too stringent measures can now ba take to stamp out scab. I consider that section 45 is the most important in the whole Act in dealing with infected sheep, and was intended so to be, but the insertion of this one word has deprived it of the greater portion of its utility.

The provisions of section 2G are apparently incomplete ; an addition is required which would prevent an owner of infected sheep from increasing the number of his flock by purchase so long as he came within the definition of section 5 subsection (7).

I would further draw attention to the unworkable nature of section 68. To carry it out in its integrity, especially in clean districts, should owners decline to dip for lice, when so instructed by the Inspector, the only resource open to him is to put in force all the provisions of the infected clauses.

During the last twelve months the frozen-meat trade has been initiated. This will undoubtedly create an outlet for surplus stock, as well as cause a demand for, and give an impetus to, the production of half or cross-bred sheep, thi'se having been found the most suitable for the Home market. -I have, etc , Benjn. P. Bayley, Superintending Inspector. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington.