MASTERTON RABBIT DISTRICT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 877, 19 September 1881, Page 2

MASTERTON RABBIT DISTRICT.

A meeting of the trustees "was held on Saturday last, all being present, and Mr Stewart in the chair. Correspondence was ; r«ad from Hawke'e Bay. trustees, stating that they intended laying poison at Eketahuna: from Castlepoint trustees, stating that they are not in want of oil of rhodium. A petition wasread from set tiersoh' Upper 'Plain; stating that rabbits exist in ■ considerable numbers on the property of Mr J, W. Woodroofe, and requesting the Board to take steps in the matter. It was resolved " th:it the .'Masterton' trustees have no objection.to tlia. Hawko's Bay trustees laying poison as proposed, but they must decline any. responsibility in oase any stbok should be poisoned." '' That the iqspßota.rb.a iptrnotod to give immediate attention to. the of the Upper Plain settlers." .' The Secretary was instructed to notify, Mr Woodroofe .of ■the' complaint, , . '■. -

The secretary reported having arranged for poisoning Mr Gilhgan's" .estate, and also that Mr Bunny'i opinion was given in favor of the liability of the trust's in this estate for .the. pf tho Babbit Aot, The'treasurer reported tl}» bank balance to be 4'68,175,6d,. .Tlje report' was.read as fqliqws; ..'...'";.

inspector's reeqet,

Since the last meeting of tho Board, I haye visited nearly the wljole of the'dietriot under my charge, with the exception pf tktporfion in the. c]irectio'n of Alfred- : ton—north, pi the Glendpna'ld station: Taiing fjrstlhe properties'lying qf Waijgaelju, witl) one or twp exceptions; poison is still being used where necessary; and on the whole the rabbits are oonstder. ably reduced in ■number. ' I have, howover, to report that on the land ocoupied by Messrs Day and Duncan Mcßachian, rabbits still exist in great number!. With regard to Mr Day's land, the rabbits are numerous only on that portion.adjacent: to the boundary between his property and McLachlan's. 'I visited the latter yesterday, and find that apparently little has. been done to reduce the pest, 'notwith standing'tlio owner lias been repeatedly advised to make greater efforts"!'' and I feel it my duty to reoommend proceedings, to be taken in both cases to compel the owners to take efficient steps toreduce the pest. With regard to the portion lying botweon the Euamahiingit and Waiugawa Jtivers, I have to report that Mr J. V. Smith has laid a large qunntity of poison lately on his land/aridlsawa, great many dead rabbits on l|is'p>ope r riy, : , The poison laid by Mr Bannj6ler' on Mr Olhvier's land, has also been very effaotual. Mr John Dorset has taken stops to destroy the rabbits ;m the Boulder Bauk, and a considerable number liave been killed during the last fortnight. On hii section of the district, the .rabbits have been lntjqh reduced since my 'first visit, Re 'the properties between 'the' ijiuvrnahunga andTaueru rivers I find that 1 with the exception of a piece of Native land between Messrs Pike and Wardell's, the rabbits are being kept in check. I have been informed that there area good many rabbits on the banks of the Taueru, viz,, on the far ride of (he range, -With regard, to the-'Taiie'ra'anil' Opjei: Tau«tu ; ' distnots, I fjnd in niosfc instances active stops are maintained,. jn' Ifeoping the rabbits in check, with tlje exception of the property oocnpied by Mr''John McKenzie. Since my last visit the rab. bits en the northern portion of this prohave been reduced, but little has. been (lone to the southern end. On the 15th I found the pest still very numerous on this portion. I could not observe much qojspn lain), and the rabbits were not very wild or sliy I apprehend' fyey'b^e 1 not been hunted either,'' T served notice 'u Mr Mckenzie 'oh'the above date and will report farther 'at next 'meeting. In °onclnrionl have to state that having ' esterday visited the properties, of Messrs Gibson. Tuok. and Hrre, I am of opinion that tlje owners are qsrng. every able exertidn to' ; keeJ)' the post within/ bounds.' ■'-'' " ; ' ' ''■'.'■ • • '

It was resolved that proceedings bo taken against Mgsbi-b' Day and Dunoan MoLaqblaj) section 18: "That lft r a'ijd' a flqttfljpondiuo amount of rho'dinra 'and wheat;' bo sup. plied to Messrs S.' Campbell and'E. Welonforfeyjng on islands iij the fyuanifihunga;. Accounts were paßsed amounting -to. |2B' 12b 6d. The meeting then adjourned.' -