MASTERTON RABBIT DISTRICT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 861, 1 September 1881, Page 2

MASTERTON RABBIT DISTRICT.

inspector's ItEPOUT. Sik,—l have the hoiinr to suhmit the following report of my since the last meeting of'tlie Board 1 Since ray last 'report of the property occupied l>y Mr J, V. S uith, I" have again visited that portion on wliiuh I lmd fciqiid Wljbitj to be still numerous! Tim visit waa made on the day hut oiie after the last meeting ant) I found Mr 'Smith making preparations to lay a large quantity of poisoned grain on the land in (juestion; I liavp ijijt able to inspect the property since thujb date.

I have also inspected the whole of Miq properties lying between the 'Wangaehi) ij.nd Tiuiqi'u r|ferß| and I Biyl ofl the wholp of these pi)isoni.i|jj is |)eing systematically carried on, ' ' In accordance with instructions received at last meeting of dip Board, 1 proceeded to inspect that portion of the Abbotsford property on the banks of the Taueru adjoining Mr Mace's land. I did not, after spending a whole afternoon with Mr Hadfield and his rabbit man, a pack of do!>s, and two guns, find many rabbits, There were only 14 rabbits killed pn tljafc ppgasjon. Mr Hadfield has laid'poisoh'oyer tjj'e clear lapid rifjhtcjuwn to hjs boundary with ifr Mace.' 4 j Ijnd a large <juat}tij;y of pqiaoi) lying over most of the Abbotsfurd property, and I jjm of opinion Mr Hadfield is using every endeavor to redqoe hjs rabbits, a very Urge number having bqen dwtroyed this season.

I have to report that as yet nothing has been done to destroy the rabbits on the land, part of the late Mr Gilligan's estate, which sti|) remains in the hands of the Trustees, With regard to the properties of Messrs Tuck, Qibßon, 0. McLnchlau, and Hare,l have to report that jn each case, especially in the foripejj, aotive steps are being taken to reduce the rabbits, and tl]pse efforts have beon attended with considerable success. The rabbits are more numerous on Mr Harris's ground than on the others, though I observed a good deal of poisoned grain lying on the ground. I am of opinion this is in somo measure due to the use of uate instead of wheat, as experience has shown in most cases this season that the wheat is taken much more readily by the rabbits than oats.

With reference to the section at the Paipii) owned by Mr OHivier, I have to report that some" 30Qlbs qf pnißonei} grain has been laid on {ilia land. Of this 28011)3 wag wheat, and the remainder oats. I find of the wheat soarcely a grain ranqaina, hut the oats hare hardly been touched. A further supply of poisoned grain is rjady,:■ and. will be kid on this land immediately. James Harvey,