THE NEW RABBIT ACT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 932, 23 November 1881, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE NEW RABBIT ACT.

The following is copy of a circularletter which is being sent out to all owners ond occupiers of lands in the Wairarapa by the local Rabbit Inspec'or. We understand that "Hie Rabbit Nuisanco Act, 1831" will be worked under the sheep inspectors, who will employ such assistance, at day pay only, or by contract as may be required for tho purposes of the Act} the necessity for creating a new department will thus be avoided, and the cost of working the Act will readily be ascertained and controlled. Sir,—l have the honor to inform you that under" The Rabbit Nuisance Act, 1881," Rabbit Districts in the Counties of East and West Wairarapa, constituted under 11 The Rabbit Act. 1880," have been merged into one now called' The Wairarapaßabbit District," This includes portions of country which Wo omitted from former districts. As Shee ( j Inspector I have been appointed Rabbit Inspector for the district, and liavo engaged tho services of tho following persons as my authorised agents, for the purpose of assisting me to ascertain if there are rabbits upon lands within the district, viz.:— Gayfer, Charles H. Harvey, Jim.,.James Moore, Frederick 6. Smith, James W, "Vallance, Henrv. It is clearly impossible for Inspectors to deal effectually with the rabbit question without the assistance of landowners, I respectfully desire to impr ss upon vou tho importance of every exertion being made by the owners and occupiers of lands to destroy tho rabliits thereon. Unanimous and continuous exertions must be made, and unless theso arc adopted and maintained, the only course left open to mo will bo to enforce tho penal clauses of the Act. Power is given by the Act to enter upon lands and to destroy the rabbits thereon, charging the cost to the landowners. This provision will only be u*ed where owners cannot be found. It will bo my duty not to interfere with the means adopted by landowners tor destroying rabbits, so long as these prove effective, and only to put the penal clauses into force when persistent neglect or failure is apparent, Means are being taken for destroying rabbits on Crown and Native Lands, and I trust all cause of complaint in this respect will shortly bo removed. I have therefore to request your earnest co-operation in this matter, and I venture to express a hope that landowners throughout the Wairarapa will eonsider this question as one not only of immediate interest to themselves, but also a subject of vital importance to the Colony as a whole. I am, etc.. W. A, P. SUTTON,