RABBIT NUISANCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1573, 3 January 1884, Page 3

RABBIT NUISANCE.

PUBLIC MEETING AT TINUI. A kumbkr of settlers interested in tho above question met at tho Tinui Hall oil Saturday Inst, Mr Mackay, who was voted to the chair, briefly stated the objects of the meeting, and read tho following report, being a summary of information received from various sourcesln compliance with a resolution passed at a public meeting held here in October last, tho Committee appointed to collect information relalivc to the effect of ferrets in reducing the rabbit pest, have to report that tho concensus of opinion is that good lias resulted from the use of ferrets and cuts. Mr Bulleu, a gentleman owning some 100.00 C acres of land near Raikoura, and having undoubtedly more experience in the use of ierreta than any individual in New Zealand, states that on liigl country with bushy gullies, he has never used poison, and has had nt number of rabbiters for seven or eigli years, and that ferrets and cats kec|: the rabbits under. Ferrets have bcei used on this properly for lon years and the stock is kept up by lurniiif out two hundred annually, and it ap pears from the information to ham that it will be necessary on all kind: of country to keep turning out a lid stock to make up for deaths. The los is reported as likely to be greater oi

cold clay land than on dry and slonoy. Even under the most favorable treatment the ferrets only attain to an age fe of six or seven years, and under jßn adverse circumstances it is but natural to infer (heir living a much shorter period, Mr Stace, of Starboro station, Marlborough, puts the loss at probably 50 per cent, but jione are seen dead till winter, and wiisn poisoning—then a great number, He attributes the deaths in a measure to the ferrets eating poisoned rabbits, ferret breeding is carried on extensively on this station, Mr Stace having turned out in 1872 510, and hopes tc turn.out a thousand this season, The Superintendent Inspector, Mr Bayley, ■writes to tho same effect as persons communicated with in tlio South as tc the value of ferrets, but advocates the use of the stoat and weasel in prefer ence, and states that Mr Richie, o Otago, has been successful in introduc ing them, arid that tho Governmcn are endeavoring to procure a fuvthe •supply , In the last paragraph of 'M JBayley's letter lie says the most success fill method jyet adopted so as to mak

ferrets really servicraiilr has..bei'n either by poison or other means to reduce tho rabbits to ,a minimum on a given area, then on this particular area to turn out a largo number of ferrets. I look upon ; the idea' of Jetting a few go hero and there hS comparatively useless; under the latter circumstanscs other means of destruction have to be adopted, if dogs and traps this means the destruction of the ferrets as well, In tho breeding of ferrets hutches should be used, each, gill in the breeding season to bo kept separate, but when tho young are old enough to wean, it is advisable to give them as much liberty as possible in dry gravelly yards, and previous to being turned at largo, should he hardened off by being fed on raw flesh, live rabbits also being given tlicm to bill. It is also suggested to kill by shooting a few rabbits about the place whero ferrets arc. being turncil loose on a run in order to afford them food to commence with. ' Upon almost every Class of country where ferrets have been liberated, they are reported as breeding in a wild state, Tho Committeo would in this report also direct attention to the use of poisoned yards, this plan being adopted ill New South Wales aud advocated by the Government there in a circular issued to landowners. A yard about a panel square is formed of scrub, , open enough, however, for rabbits to have free ingress. Over the top of this, scrub is also placed, From sto Gibs of poisoned grain or other medium is then put in it, and all is ready for use. The poison keeps fresh, being sheltered from the sun, while at the same time stock cannot touch it. The poisoned medium should bo replaced at suitable intervals, aiid it is deemed advisable to vary it, using carrots for instance instead of grain. In conclusion tho committee desire to call attention to tho necessity of united action on the part of landowners whose land is, or is likely to becon:e, infested with rabbits, with a viow of making tho introduction of the natural enemies of the rabbit general; and also to tho desirability of keeping the nuisance under without the use of dogs, the committee feeling that all efforts tc successfully combat the evil with natural enemies must prove fatile il hunting with dogs is persisted in. • II is also deemed advisable that'the attention of the Government should bt directed to this particular point ii: order that instructions should bo giver to inspectors and agents not to attempl to force owners to use dogs when ferrets or other natural enemies have been liberated Wire netting is con sidored by most practical men as o: value in tending to reduce the pest Such being the ease, the eommittei think the Government should b( requested to amend the present Fencin; Act in the direction-of making win netting a legal fence as between neigh bors in all rabbit infested districts 'Che amendment, however, not to comi into force except upon petition signet by the majority of the landowners, dm care being also taken to protect th< interests of small owners surroundet by large ones. : Considerable discussion then tool place as to the bad effects of usin< , dogs to destroy rabbits with, the lie J. C. Andrew speaking strongly against them, and advocating the us of natural enemies as the best mean ' of combating the pest, Mr J, Drummoiul, who was present stated that the Government wen willing to hand over the fenets a ; Masterton to a Company if one wa ' formed, provided, say, ten or fiflec; per cent of the increase, and th original number of stock was returnee ! Resolutions were then pa&ed—'Thn 3 it is desirable to form company for th ! breeding of ferrets. That steps be taken to get from th Government the ferrets now at Ma: terton. That Messrs Elder, W. 11. Beelhan Mackay, J. Langdon, Ilandyside, I J. Maunsell, and J. Williams bo a] 3 pointed to carry out the previous resi 1 lutions. : That the committee be empowcrf c to at once enter into negotiations wil e the Government re procuring tl ferrets now at Masterton,