The Rabbit Pest in Victoria.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3538, 17 June 1890, Page 3

The Rabbit Pest in Victoria.

Victoria is nil examplo of bow rabbits increase and spread, in these Australasian colonies, Hot a decade ago the ravages of the pest did not v extend beyond about twenty shires, Ab'lUfi present time about a hundred store's ■are'occupied, in most mm bv countless numbers of these auimals. The losses to individual farmers and to the country generally through this /rfPbbit plague n>»y- bo put down as incalculable; while' tho outlay of tho Government, in carrying out different measures for the suppression o( the nuisance, lias totted up to upwards of .£140,000; this amount is in addition to what landholders themselves hare spent iu endeivors to kill off the ■ rabbits and fence crops against thoir attacks, During 1858-89 tore* peuditure by Government on rabbit was £17,800. For fRo present voarParliament has voted the largo sum of £194,450, £32,000 oEwbiolrirfor killing rabbits, the remainder for advances to shires for tho purchass of wiro netting, tx, bringing up tho amount to £334,456, as the cost to Government in putting' down tbo pest. In the history of operations against ribbits, a fresh era has commenced in Victoria, the clauses of a new Act haying been proclaimed in operation, which makes it incumbent upon every owner and overy occupier of infested land to use qhe host of his means and ability in clearing said land of rabbits, For 'Weral years the administration of Babbit Acts had been left in the hands of local authorities, with the effect that in tho place of tho plague being kept under, it bad continued to spread with alarming strides, until it is now established in almost every part of the colony. An end has come to this divided authority, and Government assumes contiol over the wholoinfestedlandwbetheralienatcdor not. The rabbit country is said to comprise an area of 44,000,000 acres, and through the passing of tho Act at present in force, it is now for tho «t time possible for the work of ermination to le, according to tho wording of the clause, "simultaneously commenced, continued, and performed." In order to effectually carry on tho work, a new department has beeiicreated, the staff of inspectors having been increased to sixty one, and as showing the amount of clerical labor involved, the printed _ matter sent through tho post office in connection with bringing into effeot the fcrmin Act aggregated over half a ton in weight. The methods to bo employed in tho examination of rabbits are chiefly poisoning by means of chaff, or other such food, as may bo fouud most suitablo in different districts, treated in a solution of arsenic, and, obovo all, the complete digging out all burrows and the destruction of such harbors as brush fences, The penalty which may be imposed upon any person who fails to take proper steps to clear bis land on the day named in the Government proclamation is specified in the Act as follows:—"Any occupier or owner who shall after such day have failed to have fully and continuously performed such duty to the best of his means and ability shall thereupon bo guilty of an offence against this Act, and fifflL on conviction pay for such dhwe a sum of not less than £2 nor more than £SO in addition to any other penalty or liability to which ho may be subject,. upon proof being given that in the opinion of the chief iMpeotor any occupier or owner has foiled to have fully and continuously performed such duty to the best of his means and ability; the burden of proof that suoh occupier or owner has complied with the provisions of tbis.'ectiou shall lie on the defendant'