OTARAIA BABBIT DISTRICT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 874, 15 September 1881, Page 2

OTARAIA BABBIT DISTRICT.

The following is the InspeoWs report which was to hare been read at the meeting of Trußteei on the 7th inst Sin,—l have the honor to report for the information of the Beard that sinoe its last meeting I have made & tour of inspection through the Otaraia District, Speaking of the district generally I find that, to the present time the rabbits are considerably reduced in number on all those properties on which it wasnecsssary to use poison; and with referents to those where rabbits were, and still'are, not sufficiently numerous to necessitate the adaption of this means of destruction; hands are still being employed, with dogs and guns, killing in the usual way. This remark, does not apply to the Pirinoa proportion which, hitherto, no regular hand, has bean employed. . With regard to what it bting done since, what may be called the main poisoning was completed, I have to report that Mr J. Martin, junr., is still poisoning the Blue Rocks, on n portion ,of whieh he has hands engaged killing. l observe a very marked decrease in 'he rabbits on : this property, owing to the-, systematic stepswhich have beeil- taken to reduce their' numbers. Messrs; :E, Martin and 01 Harris are both still uiiag poieon btiidtg employing labor

tin oi Messrs Tullock, W. and S. Mmith, Phillips, and G. Harris, together with 1 one or two smaller sections in ilut vicinity, have been poisoned once, A flood which recently occurred in the V Ruamahunga River l.as proved of great in reducing the rabbits on the ibove holding, It is clear that tho efforts • made, and ■which have had good effect, up to the preient time in reducing the rabbits in this district must nit now be relaxed. I regret to observe i. icndency en the part of landowners in this direcpoisoning with considerable in the first instance, the inclination on the part of many evidently is to reduoe the rabbit tilling staff without delay to a minimum, This I think is likely to prove » pinny wise and pound foolish course to pursue, as in a very short time at this season, rabbits will breod up again to their original numbers, and every effort must be made to keep down the breeding power as much as possible. Having this in view it is my intention to warn all landowners that the fact of a considerable reduction in the number of rabbits on their respective properties as the result of » free use nf poison up to this time, cannot in any way relieve them f/om the penalties which may be imposed upon proof of any negligence heroaftor; but it Trill'be my duty, and must be to their interest, to carry out the provisions of tho Aet as strictly aa possible. I have the honor to be &c., F W. Smith.