The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 1886. THE RABBIT PEST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2257, 30 March 1886, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 1886. THE RABBIT PEST.

-.WIIEN'-trie Eabbit.rNuisance. Act. of 1882 came into operation, its provisions were, objected to as being arbitrary and unjust, It was undoubtedly the case that thoy empowered the department to punish and even-ruin some country Kettle's.;. Drastic as the measure was we defended it at, the time because we considered that a desperateeril deinan-' ded a severe remedy, and even if the measure pressed hard on individaal settlers its operation was limited to three years, and by the expiration of tljat term the work of ex-terminating the pest wjght, to all practical intents, and purposes, be accomplished, Dur- : the last session of Parliament, however, It was found expedient to extend the duration of the Act, and a stringent enactment, which could only be justified as a temporary expedient, bids fair io become permanently the law of the land. For the b'ist twelve months afier-tjie passing of the measure the Act worked well, for there was a sensible diminution $ ,the pest, and the department which the measure ijid much better work' than was effected by the local bodies which preceded it. During the second year of the measure such further progress was attained in ridding the country of the pest that the department might almost he said to have broken the neck ,of the difficulty, and to have held the rabbits jn cheek; but at the commencement of the thir| year we find that in this district relaxation of all effort on the part of the; department, and that during the spring: and summer months, the period when the reproductive powers of the pest are most prolific, the Rabbit Inspectors for Wairarapa North have been sent to another part of the district to hunt sheep on Crown lands, and that during their absence this country has become Kteially alive with rabbits, and that

instfyik sbfj)eft b'^exte'Fjilinated|; ; ' iffs v/brseUhp evijv ngwe' / wm'H [ lining jundcrt3espp|ip rull'tiie best ■' r'er)ipd| ; ;j.lor Jthis deplorable failure 1 to nsiig the Colonial Seore- i tary who is at the head of the Rabbit' . Department! but as such an alternative , is denied to us we would suggest the . appointment of a Minister of Agriculture. ' Ve do not like creating new j offices, but it is evident that a lawyer ] in charge of Rabbit and Sheep Departments may cost the colony as much in i one year as would maintain a duly : qualified Minister nf Agriculture for a ' century. In this district "lone enormous sums of money have been spent by settlers in destroying rabbits. One landowner alone lias, we are assured, laid four tons of poisoned grain, and is now as much plagued with the pest as ever. This vast expenditure, owing to the criminal negligence of the Government, has simply been so much money-wasted. In vain have settlers in past years been brought up in batches and. fined, anil in vain will they again bo hauled helore the courts' and punished if the department itself displays .the culpable laxity which has characterised itsadmimsteration during the past few months, We sounded a warning note at the commencement of . the present year, and it was even whispered that iVJr Buckley tho Hon. Colonial Secretary, was coming up to the WairaVapa himself to look into the matter' lie did not come, and if he had appeared among us we question whether the poor man could have done anything. He might possibly have eaten one rabbit, but his practical knowledge of the pest would not have enabled him to annihilate a milion. At tho time we refer to the Ministerial organ in Welt lingtort ascertained from the Department that though rabbits had increased, there was no cause for alarm, as the augumentation was but a trifling one, No'doubt the information was picked up in some poulterer's establishment in , the Empire City, as it could scarcely havo been obtained from the agents of the departments in the country districts. However, the mischief is d°ne, and the work of two preceding years i 8 simply thrown away. {Suggestions now for remedial measures may be considered futile, for as long as responsible heads of the rabbit department ar« either I gnorant or incompetent, it is impossible to deal effectually with the rabbit pest. : Two months hence when Parliament meets, something may be done, and i somebody, we devoutly hope, may be ;. punished.

'■■.The annual examination of schools in the Wairavapa will be commenced to-day at Tauherenikau by Mr Robert Leo, the Inspector to the Education Board, Thero was an addition of six new members to the Pahiatua Lodge of Good Templers on Saturday last, and pno new . member was proposed. :■ Mr Syveson will, it is expected, have his mill ready for work at Eketahuna this week, which will, without doubt, give an impetus to the building trade in that district, Another firm is m negotiation for a site for a saw mill. If successful a Plaining, Moulding, and Sash and Door Factory will be run in connection therewith. This will prove vory advantageous to tho stttlers of the Forty Mile l Bush district. j ,:A little boy on a station in India used to amuse himself by playing on a harmonium, He found one day that the pedals had become very stiff, and lie exr peviencedgreat difficulty in working them. Soon after, a pianoforte tuner camo round and on taking the instrument to pieces to examine it, found a largo cobra coiled up inside—dead. It is impossible to tell what iuduced it to seek such a strange, and at times.noisy abode. .' O'Comiell, during a Munster circuit, was engaged in a case where the question was the validity of a will, by which property to some amount was devised, hut which the plaintiff alleged was forged, O'Connell noticed that the subscribing witness, during examination, • swore several times that" the testator signed the will while life waj in him." Suspecting something, ho asked the witness " was it not that a live fly was in the dead man's ■. mouth while his hand was placed on the will ?" The witness, through fear, actually confessed that this was the .case. " ;. A public meeting was held in the schqolhouso, Pahiat.ua, on the 26th insfc., to arrange for the formation qf a Town Board in Pahiatua, There were about .fifty ratepayers present.' Mr W. W, McCardle was voted to the chair. Jt was resolved on the motion of Mr T. Millar, seconded by Mr H, 'Sedcole. that a Town Board be formed. Tho motion was carried, the boundaries to be from the Tiraumea to the Wellington Corporation Eeserve, The following committee were appointed to.carry out the anangements, etc.,:—Messrs Naylor, Crimp, Reese, Crew, Hughes; • Shelbnurne, Miller, Gregory, Dawson, Burrows, M'Cardle, H, Sedcole, and A. W. Sedcole, A correspondent writes. !.' There is a ; litiie. matter that I' think might with advantage bo brought before the public and perhaps do good in the future, Some time in tlm beginning of this month tenders were called by tho Ukotahuna School Committee for ten cords of firewood to consist of tawa, rata or maire (mixed), to be cut in 2ft lengths, tenders to be sent in on the 15th. Only ono legal tender was put in, 'and this accepted, but a verbal tender for 13s per cord has been accepted for only tawa (green). Tho written tender was 13s per cord as per specifications. Tho tenderer ; of the hitter was and is willing to supply tawa at 1 Is 6d per cord, Why the school should be a loser of los is a matter that ought to be seen into. The Rev. F. W. Isitt's address at the Anniversary services of the Wesley Church, Wellington, 'last Sunday were of deep interest, Referring to the' question of social impurity,.the nreaohersaid there" was room for joy in tho fact that England was roused to anger by recent revelations, while other nations might have been passive, but how much occasion was there for sorrow m the fact that such rei yelations were possible.' He'did not refe'rii/. questioned statements,'but to Utterances ijf's'uch inert as Lord D alho'usie and Shaftesbury, Howard ■'Ylncj&Jt, and others, that upwards pf 20 persons' have beenkuown to the police "and Government as carrying on the vilest traffic w'th Continental agents; that for 21 jon" years had this unspeakable anguish been going on in the most Christian nation, but because vice had its sympathisers upon the steps of the throne, in both houses of Parliament, in occupants of the bench, in proprietorsand editors of popular journals, hot'a single prosecution had .been instituted.' Commenting severely upon the character of some colonial' politicians whom he had known Mr Isitt urged' the truth of Lowell's utterance that "no nation is safe that elects to be governed by its blackguards," and besought, every Christian present to do his utmost to har the way to power of every man, whatever his tgJeciaia^tb&,wko l j

The Loyal Masterton Lodge, 1.0.0. F., wot 'at tho Temple Chambers this even- ®':: ';■'■■■: : A'.cricket. match took place on : Saturay last between the second eleven of Voodside and the 'second eleven of ; s ahiktua, resultihg in a victory for the ormer by one run and nino wickots to pare. A rifle match at 200,300, and 800 yards, ook place in Carterton on Saturday jetween teams of the Masterton and Hai'terton Rifle Volunteers, of. five men :ach, and resulted in a victory for tho miner by 18 points, Masterton made !17 and Carterton 199. MrH. Broom, cash tailor, has commenced business in the premises lately iccupied by Messrs R. M, Galloway & Co.' Mr Broom having been connected with the late firm for many years Ml be a sufficient guarantee to customers that all ardors entrusted to. him will be faithfully jarned out. .'. Wo are requested to draw the attention ;>f militia officers to a district order dated 28th August l»Bt, which requires all such officers to send in their, names to the District Officer by tho Ist April in each year, otherwise they will be considered as deceased, and their mimes struck out of the New Zealand Army List, ■ Mr J. King, jeweller, of Cuba-street, N ollingfcon, has £SO worth of Easter gifts now on view in his window, to be competed .for amongst the purchasers of goods at his shop up to May sth, on the •' guess hnw many" plan. The prizes are a gold watch value £2O, a gold locket and necklet value £l2, a ladies' silver lever watch and chain value £7 10s; a gold brooch and earrings valuo £4los and £3 10s, and a gold nugget ring value £2los. At the R. M. Court Maste'rtor., yesterday, the following additional were hard: -Henry Fannellv Charles Edwards. Claim £1 It's 3d for goods supplied, MrSkipper for plaintiff, Judgment, for (jmoipit and £? 13s costs, Win., Hqehes v John Anderson, Balance of wages £(> 15s, Mr Beard for Plaintiff, Jndi'raentfor amount and costs, Wm. Deadmanv Lawrence Johnston, Claim £ll 14s, alleged balance due for bush falling, Mr Skipper for plaintiff, and Mr Beard for defendant. On tho application of plaintiffs caunsel, the case was adjourned for a fortnight. The usual monthly meeting of the Carterton Town Board was held yesterday Present Commissioners Fairbrother (Ohaipan) A, Campbell, H, Callistor, O, M, Gardner, and W. P. Allen. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Treasurer reported a uredit balance of £ls. The Clerk informed the Board that there was a number of unpaid rates due, and the Clerk was authorised to take proceedings and recover them. Some discussion arose about the expenso of advertising, and Coin, Gardener considered that as they had had the usual notices they ought to be sued without any further notice. A discussion arose about the beat way of getting the reserve ploughed and some trees planted, Com. G. M, Gardener thought it cuuld be done quite as cheap by requesting a few. persons to give an estimate, as it would be if they advertised for tendon. On the motion of Com, Gardner, the Chairman, and Com, Callister were Authorised to arrange with the Bank for an overdraft of £SO. Several accounts wero passed for payment, and .tho meeting terminated ■ The Wellington Press speaks very highly of Miss Ada Campbell as alecturess. In referring to »'Evil in the light of science; its' cause and euro," the subject chosen for- her discourse on Sunday evening it says:—The most forcible' part of her lecture referred to the social evil. In dealing with this delicate question the lecturess affirmed that the reproductive instinct in human nature should be the purest of all functions just as it has been the most degraded and abused. She contended for the right of a woman to speak in public on this subject. If good was to be done in public or private a woman had as much right to do it as a man if she if sho were ablo. She held that this evil is regulated by the law of supply and demand. Legislative enactments had always boon powerless to suppress it. These unfortunates were hunted down and subjected to restrictions'and degrading penalties, whilst their partners in guilt were allowed to come and go, unchecked, unquestioned. She maintained that Magdalen Asylums and refuses did not mitigate the evil, for they only saved a few, whilst the evil continued as great as ever, "If you wish to destroy a tree," said the leefcuresa, "you would not top off the blanches; you would know that for every branch you topped off, an other, if not two would grow. If you wished to destroy a tree you would digit up by the roots, So vfitli this evil.' If it is to be destroyed it is to be rooted out of men's nature. Miss Campbell denounced in tho most scathing and unsparing language the crime of seduction, and maintained that it was the most fruitful of all causes jn increasing the ranks of the social evil. That many . of earth's noblest and fairest daughters became the victims of this evil through the very innocence and self-sacrificing devotion, which formed too large a part of their confiding nature. Betrayed and deserted by .their seducers, abandoned by their friends, sneered at by their acquaint nces, they are left to fight life's battles as best they can. and are geenerally sunk at last in the great black sea ■ of social infamy. The remedies for suppressing the social evil, the lecturess believed, would be found in equalising the right of ii]en as regards trdporty, occupation and remuneration, For that the number of these unfortunates was'greatly increased by the dependence of women on man in the struggle of existence, But the radical cure lay in the reformation-on men. Miss CampbeH said, " Reform tho men and tho women'aro bound to become reformed; Btop the demand and the supply must of necessity cease." This portion of the lecture, though given in a straightforward manner, was yet couched in such well chosen language as not to offend any pure minded person. The lecturers listened to throughout-with much attention. It is probable Miss Campbell -will give a few more lectures before leaving Wellington. Couy/is, Colds, Bronchitis, etc, are quickly cured by using Baxter's celebrated "Lung Preserver." This oldestablished, ponutor medicine, is pleasant to the palate,' and highly extqllod by the members of the medical, legal; and clerical professions, Sold by'all Patent Medioine Vendors. See .testimonials in advertisements.—Advt. Messrs L. J.. Hooper & Co., of the Bon Marche, received their first-instalment of autumn and winter goods on Saturday, these goods have been'imported direct fr'opj the manufacturers in England and Scotland, and are now being marked off at prices that will'compare wjth any wholesale house in the colony. v-Adyt, Mr Thorburu, the Clothier, of Willisstreet, Wellington, is raising £llOO. on his Btock. He is selling all his stock at tho cost pria for cask only for 28 days. It iB a rare chance for country settlers to fit themselves and boys out with a cheap suit. He is adopting this plan instead of borrowing the money.—Advt ■ Venetian Blind and Revolving Shutter -manufactory. All Blinds guaranteed of the very besv description. Price list on application to R. W. Henn (late Henn & Hansen.) Poneke Steam Venetian Blind and Revolving' Shutter Jactory ( Wol-

Mr W. G. Beard is in! Wellington, deputed by the Masterton Institute Committee to try, and arrange for the purchase of the Wellington Press Library, which is valued at £IOO, for the sum of £35, or prorata. f We regret to have to record the death of our late townsman John Hicks Corbett, who, after a six week's illness died this morning at half-past tun o'clock. Deceased had been suffering from typhoid fever, and about three weeks since sustained a relapse and took,to .his bed. He was attended throughout by Dr Hosking, who could only alleviate his sufferings, as the disease of which he died was of such a nature that it had to take its course. Constitutionally the lato Mr Corbett was not strong, and this told against him at the last. Mr Corbett was well known in the Wellington Provincial District, having been for many years host of the Asjliouby Arna at the Lower Hutt, and subsequently of the Travellers Best, Taita. While iii the Hutt he did good work in the promotion of the local Horticultural Shows. About eight years ago Mr Corbet settled in Masterton, taking the Empire Hotel. During his residence amongst us he displayed a genuine interest in the promotion of local friendly societies, and he was also a prominent member of the Masterton String Band. At the time of his death, he was the R.W. Muster of the Thistle Lodge, 5.0., Past Grand of the Loyal Masterton Lodge of Oddfellows, and Past Arch Druid of the Stonehenge Lodge. His life was insured for £IOOO, but it is not known at present whether he kept up the payment of- premiums. Deceased leaves a widow and nine children, besideß a host of relatives and friends to : moum their loss.