CORRESPONDENCE

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2320, 14 June 1886, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE

(To the Editor.) Sir.—l'see a letter in your valuable columnß from Mr 0. Pharazeyn, who evidently with his, well known andfphilanthrophioal nature does not intend to let the ink rust his pen. No sooner does he return to the Colony than he begins to teach his fellow colonists something, Evidently tho red rag which, has brought him forward with such a rush to attack, or as he puts it "give advioe to" the settlers of Wairarapa ftorth is the moeting together of four settlers to quietly discuss the rabbit quostion amongst themselves. I would not have taken the trouble to answer his letter but his inferences might mislead the public, He states that "he cannot refrain from expressing his surprise at the present aspect of the. rabbit question in the northern part of the district." Would it not have been bettor if instead of rushing into print he had taken a quiet trip to tho district and seen what the Bottlers are doing and the state of stock and feed, 1 fancy even he might have learned something. There are runs in this district largely increasing in the number of stock returned to Government, not as they were in his" fearfully diminished ed. Does he refer .to his Longwood property for his practical experience ? Tf bo ho should have kept quiet. A small place adjoining ut township, level country and clear, needs no further comment. 1 know all the runs in Wairarapa South, both before there were any rabbits and also after they were well stocked by tho pests, "during most of the latter time MrPharazyn w«b at home" and I am certain wo will never be troubled, "if ordinary care be taken," like they were, and the country cleared of fern and scrub He blbo'.calls,the Knmurau meeting almost a panic meeting ! The meeting together of four settlers in such a large district almost a panio meeting. Surely he must have thought that there was a nothing after the four. With regard to calling on Jupiter for aid, I do not know any of tho gentlemen here who are on intimate terms with the gentleman, m I presume they will be brave enough to go along trusting to their own eiperience and ingenuity. Although admitting that ho has not tried wiro netting as an assistance in diminishing rabbits, he boldly uvors that it is useless. I deny that it is useless, and consider that as a boundary fence it it money well spent. An owner has five or six neighbors. To start poisoning on the different boundaries at the sametime as eaoh of his neighbors is willing to start on their places might not chime in with poisoning the centre of run. With a wire netted boundary fence he can work on his own system, and be independent of his noighbors, Would it astonish the gentleman to know that last year rabbits were quite as low In numbers as in the southern. No doubt owing to the very dry Bpring we had they increased slightly, but I am certain the winter's poisoning at present being carried on, will reduce them to a mere fraction. The few does left alone m this district must have been operated upon by H. Tindall, or else all preconceived • notions with regard to their feouridity wust be a fable. Ttmti uilutWly will net thrive

on all sorts of country, m-else with poisoning the plague -would soon iiu at <w end here. I must apologise to you £jkv tho length of letter, and refer Mr PliafP zyn to Mr Bailey's report; only caution-' ing him next time he goes for this " district write from knowledge not from inferences drawn from ; a report 'of a private meeting,... ' ~. ■■;>., . . Faithfully yours, ■ ' '.-'■: RrjRAL. [Our correspondent apparently ovorlooks., the fact that Mr Pharazyn possesses a large coast run on which he has had "'j '■ favorable opportunities for studying (l j tho rabbit qusstion.-ED.W.D.] •