WAINUIORU RABBIT DISTRICT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 563, 8 September 1880, Page 2

WAINUIORU RABBIT DISTRICT.

A meeting of the Trusteed of the above District was held on ftatmday, 4th inst. Present-Messrs Buchanan (in the chair), Beetham, and Moore. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE, Correspondence with the Colonial Secretary's office, relative to filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr E. E. Martin, was considered, on which it was resolved to request the Colonial Secretary to move the Governor to appoint Mr J. Martin, jun., instead of filling the vacancy by the process directed in the " Regulation of Local Elections Act 1876."

A letter was alao read from Trustees of Masterton District, asking co-operation in requesting the Government, in view of the alarming extent to which rabbits spread on unoccupied Government and native land, to assist iu their destruction by offering a bonus for the natural enemies of rabbits, and the removal of the restrictions, regarding the sale of ammunition. The, Secretary was instructed to acknowledge receipt of. the letter, and although it had arrived' too late to be considered by the Board prior to the prorogation . ojt. Parliament, - the Chairman

(Mr .Buchanan), during a recent visit- to Wellington while tlio House whs in session, had doue what he could in furtherance. of' the objects mentioned in the letter, in whiuh the Wainuioru Trustees entirely concur,

The Inspector's report was then read. Mr H. fl. Beetham having been appointed treasurer, the following accounts we re passed for payment:—R, Wakelin, adve-i tising, Ll Us 6d; J. Payton, printing and advertising, L2los 6d. The following apportionment of phosphorus (with corresponding amount of oil of rhodium) was made of 2001b and 200oz respectively, ordered, and v to : arrive; from Messrs Levin and Co., for distribution by the several TrusteesMr Buchanan, 60,1b5; Mr Martiu, 601bs; Mr Moore, 301bs ;• Mr Meredith, 101 ba; the balance to'be sent to the Secretary's care to be disposed of aB required. The following resolutions were then passed .'—That the Secretary be instructed to obtain the opinion ot the Board's solicitor as to taking legal proceedings against defaulting aborigiual landowners for recovery of rates; that in future all phosphorus 4 and rhodium purchased for dis' tribution by the Trustees shall be disposed of at cost price; that notice, under section 18 of " The Rabbit Act, 1880," be served forthwith on the owners of jthe Longbuah run; that the Secretary be instructed to write to the Carterton Trustees, and inform them poison has been allowed for the purpose of laying on Taumata (which, it would appear, is a piece of land not included within either of the two districts); that the Secretary be instructed to prepare a landowners' list under the new Act, and take the steps directed by law for striking a rate for the current year. The meeting then adjourned till 2 p.m. on Saturday, 2nd October next.

INBPEOIOKS REPORT. The Chairman, Waiauioru Babbit District, , Sir, I have the honor to state for the information of the Trustees, that since making ray last report, dated the 7th inst., I have made a tour of inspection of that portion of the district on the coast lying between the Wharearaa and Pahau rivers, On the 12th inst, I visited the property at Kohiwai belonging to Mr E. Meredith, sen. Rabbits have made their appearancehere, but are not numerous, One of Mr Meredith's sons and a shepherd are occasionally out hunting, but the average killed has hitherto been very low. I then proceeded to inspect the land occupied by Mr R. Meredith, On this property rabbits have been seen, but none killed. Only one or two, lam informed, have been observed, and no rabbit dogs are kept there.

I next inspected Mr Hitchings' run. The same remark as that used with reference to Mr R, Meredith's land is applica ble also in this case viz., that rabbits have been seen, but none killed, Mr E, Meredith, jun.'s property next came under my notice. On this run the rabbits are more numerous than on those previously mentioned, about 100 having been killed since the pest first made an appearance in that locality—some eight or nine months as>o. I am informed by Mr Meredith that he kept a rabbit man on for some six months, but finding the average obtained to be below one a day he discharged the . man, Mr Meredith is now, he tells me. about to commence poisomng, I may state that on the above mentioned properties belonging to the Messrs Meredith some nine miles of wire netting is being erected, with a view to prevent the encroachment of the pest. I next inspected Bomo native laud at Eparaima, lam told by the natives that they have killed several rabbits within the past few months.

The next place I visited is that leased by Messrs Lett and Smith. These gentlemen have occasionally met with and killed a few rabbits. The rabbits have, unfortunately, found cover in a furze hedge which forms a portion of the dividin <r fence between this property and that belonging to Mr E. Meredith, jun., I next inspected Waikaraka run, the property of Mr Donald Donald, A few rabbits have also been killed there. From thence I proceeded to Mr Win. Bennett's, Here also a few have been killed. Mr Bennett's sons have a pack of dogs, hunt regularly, and keep the rabbits completely hi check.

I then visited Mr Talham's run, Homewood. Mr Tatham has killed about 20 rabbits sines their first appearance in the beginning of this year. Mr Kumraer, on the Kaihoata River, has only seen one rabbit on his property; I next visited Plat Point Station, Here a few rabbits have been seen and killed. Mr Carswell, the manager, informs me it is his intention shortly to put on two rabbit-men, with a view to preventing the encroachment of rabbits from inland.

I proceeded thence to Glenburn, owned by Messrs Moore and Krull. On this run four or five rabbits have been killed. A rabbit man was kept some months on this property, but has since been discharged.

I then inspected that portion of the Messrs Cameron Bros.'a station which ließ to the north of the fahau River. No rabbits have been seen on this ground. Mr Cameron intends putting a man on as a precautionary measure. I may state that I am informed the natives living on a reserve at the mouth of the Pahaua River admit having liberated rabbits there, but most of these have since been killed.

I then visited Messrs W. and D. Sutherland, Upper Pahau. I found the rabbits getting numerous on this property. Two rabbit men are kept, with packs of Messrs Sutherland with a notice under section 11, Mr \Y. Sutherland informed me is about to commence poisoning immediately,

The next place I inspected was Mr Jas. Smith s, on the VVainuioru. I find the rabbits are kopt uuder here—average below 10 per day. Rabbitting done by himself with dogs and gun, I then proceeded to Mr Edmunds', The rabbits are not numerous on this property, No steps are taken fco keep them in check. This and my last report includes the whole of the properties in the district. _ Speaking of the Coast generally, there is no doubt the rabbits are commencing to make their way in that direction, as some have been seen hsrg and there over the whole district. _ They are not yet, however, in sufficient numbers to interfere with the grazing of stock, and perhaps on this account comparatively little notice appears to have been taken of their gradual encroachment. I am of opinion that the majority of runholders in the coast district aro electing to take efficient measures to prevent or at all events check this encroachment. In one or two instances, as reported, rabbit men have been taken on and finally discharged, because, as it seems, the average number of rabbits killed by them was so small that the employers did not consider it worth while keeping the men on longer. I am of opinion that on all these properties it would be greatly to the advantage of the owners to employ at least one man on the larger runs (the owners of smaller properties combining as circumstances permit), whose sole business should be to prevent the encroachment and increase of the pest. Unless some such steps are taken, the rahbils will in a short time begin to get the upper hand of them. Acting under your instructions I visi-

tod the Longbusli run. Finding that 11,0 steps were being taken to effeotually reduce tht rabbits there I delivered to Wi Mahupuku the letter given to me for that purpose,. ■ v

I have also since visited the properties belonging to Nopera Tiki, Mr J.Strailg, Messrs Buck & Kerable, Measca JuryiA Te Kaha, Messrs Wall Bros!,'Mr D. Morrison, and Hon. J. Mattin. With the exception of Mr Morrison I find that all these landowners, upon whom I had served notices- during my first tour are successfully continuing their, operations, the rabbits ■ being considerably reduced since my first visit. I verbally warned Mr Morrison that unless he at once took more efficient steps to reduce the rabbits on his land, it would be my duty to recommend the Trustees to interfere in the matter.

In my first report I staled Mr H. McMaster was about to take steps under the notice served on hiin, I have now to state that he has put a man on rabbitkilling, in pursuance of hia promise, Befrre concluding this report, I wish to draw the attention of the Trustees to the large extent of unoccupied Government land lying at the back of the Coast ranges, with a view to their taking some measures for dealing with this portion of the district, I have, Ac,, J. W. Smite, Inspector.