OTARAIA AND EAST COAST RABBIT BOARD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1787, 13 September 1884, Page 2

OTARAIA AND EAST COAST RABBIT BOARD.

(From the Standard.) ■ A meeting of the Committee of the above Board .was held at the Martinborough Hotel on Saturday:lust at 3 p.m. Present—Messrs. 0. Tully, E. Harris, J. Martin jim,, McLeod, Stokes and C. Phillips, (Mr Phillips in the chair).

After confirming the minutes of the last meeting tho inwards and outwards correspondence was read. The correspondence inwards was of a voluminous nature, from Messrs Levin & Co., Mr Bayley, the Chief Rabbit Inspectoi, Mr Orbell, and Messrs J. Barton, D. Cameron, R. S. Hawkins, J; Moore, 0. Tully, and Messrs Whatman Bros. The Chairman reported that he had inspected tho manner in which the Messrs Holmes of Matahiwi had bred ferrets with so much success, and was very pleased with it. Settlers could hardly adopt a better plan,

From the letter of Messrs Levin and Co. it was evident that considerable difficulty would be found in getting ferrets from Kaikoura. People there were holding every gill for biceding purposes, in consequence of the demand from here and other placos. Settlers therefore cannot rely upon obtaining any definite number. Breeders will offer the increase when they have them, and purchases will then have to be made. The only good that has been done in sending orders for ferrets appears to have been tho inducement to the Kaikoura breeders to breed them, With respect to Mr Orbell's letter, the Chairman pointed out that the matter should be allowed to drop. This Board was not appointed to interfere with the Rabbit Inspector in any way, It was a voluntary association of settlers desirous of devising the best measures to reduce the rabbit pest, Mr Orbell's letter might bo published for general information, but there the matter should encj,

This view was not taken by. the committee, and it was proposed by Mr Martin and seconded by Mr Harris— That this Association would feel obliged by Mr Orbell stating what runs he is dissatisfied with (as to poisoning operations) and how many ferrets he would consider it would take to keep the rabbits down thereon.—Carried,

With respect to the introduction of the "natural enemy" the following series of resolutions was agreed to : 1. That the area of rabbit infested lands in the Wairarapa and on towards Napier amounts from four to. five thousand square miles, that to constantly, .re-poison the land is a bad plan, and in order to save settlers from ruinous expense, a natural enemy of some kind must be introduced.

2,That poisoned gram cannot be relied upon to thoroughly clean a run from rabbits. Old rabbits will not always take it, nor very young ones, The poison remedy, although an excellent one, so far as it goes, will always leave sufficient rabbits behind to restock the land, 3. That as the ferret is well known to lie the plaything of boys and girls in English villages, it cannot be so harmful as stated.

4.- That this Association is exceedingly averse and wishes to avoid taking any course harmful to general interests, hut some effective remedy must be found for the rabbit difficulty. It was pointed out that the fen eta that had'been introduced during the past five or. six years were doing excellent work, and it was well known that they were fairly clearing some of the runß in the colony.

Resolved—That Messrs Lovin and Co. communicate with Invercargill, Auckland, and Tasmania, in order to see whether any ferrets can be obtained from either of these places, Besides the breeding establishments already in the district, it <vas resolved —Thai settlers generally begin breeding from ono or two ferrets, so as. to get a small supply, and also an insight into the mode of management. That it will be always -necessary to turn out a few ferrets, as those- turned put are subject to a high death rate.

■ Resolved—That in tho opinion of ;tb,is Association, stoats and woasels may be found better than tljo ferret as a natural enemy, being ot a wilder nature, and not caring to venture too near homesteads; neither are they

likely to attack luinbs. That this meeting would be glad of any information upon the-subject.

Itowas pointed ,out that the people of England and, Scotland took little or nonotice of, and did not appear to be injured by, either the ferret, polecat, stoat or weasel.

Resolved—That the introduction of either the ferret, stoat or weasel will certainly reduco the plague of rats, which is becoming a serious question. That upon this point it is well known that farmers at hone are often glad to see one of these little animals about their barns,

With respect to Mr Bayley's letter, it was resolved—That as the Crown lands within our infested area of four to five thousand square miles, number some hundreds of thousands acres, Mr Bayley's attention be called to the fact, and further, that the Government be requested to aid the efforts of individual settlers in the district, seeing that their lands are often flooded with rabbits from the Crown lands, Resolved—That it would be well to continue turning out cats. :•■.With.respect to tho effect of the natural enemy remedy, it was resolved —That the settlers need not expect the use of the natural; enemy, to. entirely clean off the rabbits atiy more than the poison remedy. All thafc.it. will do will be to keep down an excessive increase, and so save many people from ruin.

Tho Chairman pointed out that many estates at Home have numerous rabbits with, perhaps, as many ground vermin upon them at one'and the same time. The vermin kill the young rabbits, but they do not appear to kill all the old rabbits, a certain balance of prey being maintained.; Furthermore, that we in New Zealand must expect now always to bo troubled, more or less, with the rabbit, ..■ ■ ■ ■ ■

With respect to the breeding and keeping of ferrets; Besides the directions in Mr Hawkins' letter and Mr Holmes' plan, it was resolved—That it is quite a mistake'to" sacrifice warmth to cleanliness in the ierret house, if a house is usod. The cold, stone floors are inadvisable, as a gravel floor (in the house), well littered with hay or straw, is the best. That thorough ventilation (in the bouse) is absolutely necessary, a draught through the top of the building being a good plan. That each gill should have a separate breeding pen or hutch. That a small yard fenced round with timber or zinc, let six inches'to a foot into the ground, and containing a little stack of hay, straw, or manuka, properly thatched, would be found a good hardening-off place on rough runs, That rabbits and water are quite sufficient food, the young ferret being taught, if possible, to kill its own food before being turned out. Resolved—That rabbiters should be urtpd to use tatre ferrets and nets, in clearing warrens which cannot otherwise be cleared. Resolved—That the next meeting be held on October 4th.

The Chairman, in closing the meeting, remarked that considerable difficulty would be found in obtaining a supply of tho natural enemy, and that settlers had better take vigorous measures in the meantime with gun and dog; but trustworthy men must be employed, as a doubtful man will only do harm. He. personally, would be opposed to the introduction of the natural enemy in a greater quantity than was absolutely required, and he trusted that the increase of the ferret would be carefully watched, and trapped,' if necessary, It would be found quite easy to trap them, as the common gin trap was the deadly enemy of the ferret. He would again urge settlers in the township to see to the security of their fowlhouses, seeing that a number of ferrets were already in the County, and appear to make for the homesteads. He doubted whether the ferret was truly a wild animal. He wished to warn runholders that they cannot rely too much upon the ferret, nor must they, on any account, allow it to become too numerous, Intelligent and energetic supervision will always be required now, over rabbit, ferret, and dog, so that settlers must make up their minds to regard the evil as permanant, and take measures accordingly. The stoat and weasel may be found better than the ferret, seeing that it will not venture so near the townships where dogs are, nor are they likely to attack lambs. They apparently are of a wilder nature. Be thought it a pity that such things had to be introduced, and if any other remedy could be found toe would gladly support it. The whole evil of the rabbit difficulty was not yet seen, as it would be found one.of tho greatest afflictions that could have befallen us, Personally, he preferred an open association like the one he was addressing, to individual settlers doing anything in the dark.