PHOSPHORIZED GRAIN FOR RABBITS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1817, 18 October 1884, Page 2

PHOSPHORIZED GRAIN FOR RABBITS.

The following' report has beou pre-sented-.by the Wuste Lands Committee of the House of Repretentatives on the petitions of J. A, R, Menzies and others, and of J. A, Ward and others—"The pelitioners pray for some recognition for the valuable services tendered to tho colony by Captain Raymond towards the extinction of the rabbit pest. "The Committee have had under consideration the claims of Captain Raymond on. account of his having brought to economical use phosphorised oats as a rempdy for the rabbit pest. "It would appear that this gentleman devoted considerable pains to the perfecting of his method and at once made it known to the public without hope of reward. "There is no doubt that immense benefit acoued from the use of the

poison both on private property and on Crown Lands. The Committee are therefore of opinion that public services! such as these should be lecoguiaed by the State and they therefore recommend that £SOO be placed on the estimates as a reward to Captain Raymond. " Chairman," On what evidence can the Waste Lands Committee have bused the above report. Captain Raymond cannot claim to be the first to introduce the use of phosphorized giain into New Zealand to destroy birds and rabbits. It lias bejn in use in Marlborough for years as a poison for rabbits, and it was used, we are informed, in Auckland in 1873 to poison Birds. The Hon. J. A. R. Menzics, M.LC, is said to have originally introdnced rabbits into Southland, he now signs a petition praying that a reward may be given by the colony for means for their destruction.