WIRE-NETTING v. RABBITS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 439, 15 April 1880, Page 2

WIRE-NETTING v. RABBITS.

To .the Editor-of the Waiearapa Daily. SiR,-From the action of late taken in various parts of 'the Wtirarapa and East Coast districts re bringing the Rabbit Aot into operation,.it would appear .that the settlers are alive to the necessity of getting rid of the rabbits. On the subject of keeping the rabbits iu check, I beg with your permission to offer a few suggestions. For some time I have held the opinion that wire netting used as fencing was of eminent utility. This opinion is strengthened by seeing large landholders like Messrs Beetham Bros, and Mrßuohanan iißing it; who would scarcely do' so without it was of some practical use. What I suggest is, that legislation should be brought to bear on this matter, i.e., it should_ form ,part of the Fencing Aot, that'wire-netting (a rabbit-proof fence) should be a legal fence within the meaning of the Act, and that neighbors should be obliged to pay their fair quota of expenses, both of erection and maintenance, Jiet it not be supposed that a wire-netting feuce...would, be. perfectly rabbit-proof, any more than the ordinary wire fences are sheep-proof, There are - many advantages to be derived from propertieabeing fenced asyindicated, even-outside the rabbit questionOne would be}.an almost, if not quite, & perfectly secure sheep, fence, a desideratum certainly in districts certainly like the. -Wairarapa.and' East Coast, where scab still keeps a tenacious hold. Is the trespass or spreading of rabbits' a more serious evil than the trespass of of cattle and sheep 1 If it is more serious, or even equal, why not-have-a Fencing Act to abate the one as well as the other. Under existing arrangements, one man may strive-his utmost to keep down a nuisance, while his neighbor does nothing. For the sake of argument, let it be supposed that A is an individual taking all known precautions to keep dowu rabbits onlus land; while B, his neighbor, is negligent. Aat his own expense, keeps a man along the boundary between the two properties, with dogs and all things necessary to kill rabbits, How what happens 1 As soon as the rabbits are hunted, a half or a third scatter on to the negligent neighbor's land; not to be killed, but to breed and most likely to return to their old haunts, or .others come.in their stead. With a proof fence this could not happen, the rabbits would be more or less in a trap and get-killed;.the careless, indolent., individual would also have to keep his own share of rabbits,.and at the same time bear half the cost of fencing, which no doub, would have the effect of spurrina hinj on to take steps towards eradicating theni " It is almost Belf-evident that any ani-. mai, great or small, is more easily oaught in an enclosure, than, elsewhere..: The remark jb often made that' Mr' can: easily muster h\i ruhj- beoausa it is well-fenced. Should wire netting-come ■into vogue the oase' will,-1 imagine," be somewhat similar with the bunnies. The more mile 3 of proof fencing on a property the easier it will be found to keep the rabbits under. .

One argument used against wire'netting is that at creek pressings, gateways, and such places, it wpuld soon get out of repair. Just as well say that wire fenoing is no use to keep sheep separate, for the same reason. All fences are useless jf out of repair; There "would of necessity (as with other fences) have to be persons employed to keep them in ; thorough order', and they, would v hß much better employed doing this than continually hunting. with packs of mongrel curs, patchingvferrab? bits, but scattering and disturbing sheen for miles. .. ,

The system of hiring men with dogs to kill rabbits, is .by raany persons believed to be a wrong one. The men have adireot interest in not exterminating the 'rabbits, for thy reason that they are the means of their getting employment. ..The manner in whioh otock are. disturbed ..under thfe plan ifl cortaiiilyjery detrimental.' r Proof lence,'v;poison, ; . oat's, and- any natural enemies pt .rabbits that- we can acolima'' tjze audlet;at -large,:point as the true and" economical way to--keep down a serious pest.""". ■'.•■■ ■-• ■ln conclusion, I may : refer to'th'e'satis-' rfaotory reiuits on; land : at the

Waingawa, from fencing it round with a proof fence, palings and wire.. When the surrounding land is bare and desolate, feed-may be seen oti,thji property,\simply - : v ibecpse rabbits' 'are fenced off from iik'jil: '.* effectual on |ohe property, why not on numbers : ' of' others ? Apologising for- .. -taking jip' so .mucitfof your valuable space, .? .",,-.; Ihave, etc., ••'-"' ■ • ■•