The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1889. ANCTHER RABBIT RAID.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3107, 18 January 1889, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1889. ANCTHER RABBIT RAID.

Another ribbitraid lias commenced in tlie Waivarapa District, and one |i of the first victim? of it has been an ex- H .11., before whom many a hundred sheep-farmer has liad to do penance in former times. JStemal vigilince 1 seems to be essential to keeping in » check the prolific rabbit, and of late in somewiy or another, this vigilance appears to have been slightly relaxed with the inevitable consequence of an increase of the pest. Last year, the Wairarapa got a good character amongst the rabbit-haunted districts of the' Colony, there having been i reported to be a sensible diminution of the enemy, lerhaps, then, the weary rabbit-hunter thought lie might for a time rest, and be-thank-ful; or the worn-out Inspector, daily expecting inarching orders either to the sultry hills of Auckland, or the ■ snowy mountains of Invcrcargill, may have said in his heart: what is the use of worrying any moro about ) the vermin—but whatever may have been the cause, rabbits seem suddenly to' have increased and , multiplied on all sides, and again the i arm of the law is invoked to stay the 1 plague, and the H.M. is required to r inflict the penalty of the law on the t careless and unfortunate delinquent t New ideas as to dealing with the r plague still crop up, The latest r hails from, Tanbua Station, Cobar, N.S.W., and from a physiological point ofvioty is extremely interesting, Mr William Eodjer, the proprietor of the infested property, has discovered an infallible remedy, his specific being to kjil the does, and allow the male pest to escape alive, 'Jfeijnds that in harmony with certain wellknown laws of reproduction,, the predominance of the male leads to | the infertility of the female, and thej predominance of the female to a i maximum of fertility. • He argues i that in New South Wales, trapping i has led ¥ the destruction of more • ina-lcs tip females, and that conso- ; quejjtly raljbits increase us. the direct |: outcome' of the method flf 'jfenvejiaion.. | Mr Hodier claims to have'reduced , rabbits' to ft minimum on his properly 1 in two years by practising.his pbilo- a Bophical method,' His run is not J fenced, and his neighbors have not r] helped him. The country is. scrubby ( and rocky and a natural home for 'j rabbits, as there are pipes where itjs t impossible to ride over it. MrEodjer e claims for his plan that (t is l|ie I cheapest, iriost effectual, und'easM [ of any yet in existence, and that • there is lio danger of disease of any „ kind in connection with if. Hft also a professes his willingness to give l further' jn/ojJinjtion to any elifi " applying to him fop |}ie same, It remains to be seen whether x }lr!« Kodier is the dctu ex liiacldnu who is | to solve the rabbit dilliculty, and , whether a New South Wales squatter a . cap boat M. Pasteur as a scientific p oxtmgiijshei'pfS, pest, . «