OTARAIA AND EAST COAST RABBIT BOARD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1751, 2 August 1884, Page 2

OTARAIA AND EAST COAST RABBIT BOARD.

*■ - 1 Qftom the Standard.) r A meeting of the committee of the above Association was held at the' Martinborough hotel on Saturday, the ' 26th July, at 2 p.m. Present-Messrs j 0, Tully, 0. IJarrjs, W, M'Leod, W. , Wratten, 8, Mupuku, J, M'Leod, J. Martin, and Coleman Phillips (in the chair.) The minutes of the previous meeting , were read and confirmed, j The Treasurer's report showed 10s (3d in hand. , It was resolved <f That unless settlers interested forwarded their subscription ' to the funds of the Association, the beneficial objects of the Association will fall through." Resolved—"That future meetings of ' i the Association and the committee be held monthly on the last Saturday of the month, at 2 p.m., at the Martinborough hotel," Correspondence inwards and outwards was then read. Resolved-"That as ferrets are difficult to obtain and competition in purchasing would enhance the price, : all orders be sent through this com- : [ mittee forthwith, Price to be 10s i each, delivered in Wellington, or as near that sum as possible." i With respect to Mr Obeli's letter, 1 it was resolved, " That Mr Orbell's letter encourages settlers to purchase "and breed the natural enemy, and that \ the letter be published for general in- e formation." £ The Chairman reported that Mr .Buchanan had kindly requested Mr A, i Rutherford to send up Mr M'Kenzie's s grain poison mixer, and that it had s been on view at Mr Pain's store. \ Resolved—" That Mr Rutherford be thanked for his courtesy, and that the s machine be forwarded to, % W, H, ( BeetJiani for inspection of settlers in the North Valley."' a With the respect to the present s season's, poisoning, it was resolved n "That until ferrets be obtained, vigorous suppressive measures be taken C over poisioned ground, as ever doe p caught prevented an increase of about C twenty-five rabbitt by Christmas." o Proposed by MrPhilips and seconded tl by Mr J, Martin, "That it be advisable ol |Q dissolve the phosphorus before b putting it into the cask, Moved as an amendment by Mr n Wratten, and seconded by Mr Tully, n " That putting the phosphorous dry a] into the cask answers the same pur- tl pose." The amendment was carried. n With respect to Mr Phillips' notice hj of motion, inviting settlers who object to the introduction of the ferret to at discuss the matter, it was resolved, C: .".That all settlers in the Valley are m invited to attend a meeting of the in committee, and that their statements m aud objections shall be carefully con- vs sidered," Resolved—" That owing to the re enormous damage done by the rabbit, th the introduction of the ferret must be pe regarded ag a necessary evi]. Resolved—"That with respect to he ferrets attacking children, it is the ar opinion of this committee that there co are more recorded instances in England bl of rats attacking children, With respect ac to the killing of poultry, that rats kill . a great number of chickens. With be respect to the killing of lambs, thaj pp there are few, if any, recorded instances m in England of ferrets killing lambs," ofi Considerable discussion then ensued as to the proper mode of breeding lai

ferrets, but the subject was deferred Until next meeting, ■ -It was then proposed by Mr Phillips " That the introduction of the stoat, weasel,-mongoose, or fox, into the North Island of New Zealand, would be moat harmful.", - Moved as an amendment by Mr Wratten,.and seconded by Mp\M'Leod, "That stoats and weasels would lie advantageous/ and that application be made to the .Government for a few." The amendment was carried, Resolved—"That the use of traps be absolutely prohibited in the North Island, as they are more harmful to the natural enemy than to the rabbit." Eesolved- " That Mr Nation's .attention be called to the fact that he has omitted to re-publish Mr E. S. Hawkins' letter as requested." Considerable discussion then ensued' as to the number of ferrets which each settler should take, so as not only to economise his rabbit expenditure, but also to comply with Mr Orbell's letter. (The settlers interested are Messrs Sutherland, Cameron, Tully, McLaren, Eiddiford, Barton, McLeod, Harris, Wallace Smith, J. Martin, V, Wratten, the Maoris, and others.) It was pointed out that it would be unfair to throw the burthen upon one or two settlors, but that all should participate in the movement. Mr 0. Harris applied for twenty doe. ferrets, and Mr Tuliy for ten,' to be obtained, at once, and Mr McLeod applied for twenty ferrets, (equal sexes) and Mr W. Wratten for ten, to be obtained as soon as possible. The Wajrarapa Stanford account for 10s was passed for payment. Resolved-" That iHs inadvisable for landowners to purchase ferrets in South Wairarapa except those caught near the townships or bred in a bona fide manner." The Chairman pointed out that turning out breeding ferrets, say in the springy (October) and allowing them to breed in warm places upon the run, would be more efficacious than breeding them in confinement; the loss bydis* temper being so great. Moved by Mr J. Martin, and seconded by Mr C. Harris, " That the Inspector be requested to make a thorough examination of the runs, not later than dm middle of September, so as to see the efficiency of the late poisoning, also if possible to meet the committee afterwards," This concluded the business of the meeting. Memorandum from Edward Orbell, Masterton, July 3rd, JijSSi I have the honor to. aoWyledge the receipt of your letter dated 30th June, informing mo that you have been requested, by a meeting of settlers to inquire from me whether in the event of their purchasing and breeding a sufficient number of ferrets, and turning them out upon their runs, that such will be considered "efficient steps," if the rabbits afe down to a minimum after poisoning, In reply, I beg to state that sufficient number of ferrets having been turned out upon a landowner's property, 1 should consider efficient meant efficient. When rabbits are reduced to a minimum and proper steps are taken systematically for the breeding and turning out /'errafs, I iliinlc our Inspector should be satisfied, and the destruction of the imsis receive a fair trial, I might deem it advisable that the rabbit agent or myself should be present when the ferrets are turned out, Edwap, Orbell.