RABBIT BOARD.
The monthly meeting of the Wairaarapa North Rabbit Board was held yesterday (WanZX**?J> the ™ bein 8 present Messrs W. H. Beeuia~ | m the chair), Maunsell, Moore, Groves, and Inspector Drummond. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Clerk reported that the whole of the rates had been paid. A communication from the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company was received, enclosing account for shipments of Btoats and weasels amounting to £ll4O 10s 7d. The Treasurer reported a credit balance at the bank of £BO4. He also stated that there was about £3OO of the third instalment uncollected. Accounts amounting to £99 9s 9d were passed for payment, together with the account from the Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. It was decided that the Chairman arrange with the Bank for an overdraft to meet the liabilities. inspector's beport.
\ The following report was read by the Inspector : Sir.—l beg to hand you the following report relative to the work of rabbit destruction p the district.— Since last meeting of the Board poisoning operations have teen all but completed, and f am able to inform you that very generally the result is most satisfactory, the poison having been well taken and a large number of rabbits destroyed. I regret, however, to state that on
some few, and these some of tbe larger properties, it has been most difficult to induce the owners to carry out the work properly. I have found it necessary to lay informations in several cases where owners have not reduced the pest to satisfactory limits. If owners will only see the economy of following up the good work effected by the poison by other effective means, I feel confident that the rabbit nuisance will be reduced lower than it has been for years past. There is, however, a feeling that because the rabbits have been reduced so low by poison that a rest can be giyen to the work of destruction. This is an idea that must be most strenuously opposed. Nothing can be more fatal to the reduction of the pest to a minimum than for settlers to cease taking the most energetic measures, especially during the next two months when rabbits are breeding fast. And I regret to say that there is every appearance of an early increase of the pest. Numbers of young rabbits are already seen, and stops are noticeable in all parts of the district. In the first place I would direct the attention of settlers to the destruction of rabbits on country on which their ewes will lamb. In order to carry out the work of destruction by other means than the poisoning, I would ask the Board to grant the services of the four overseers now employed for another month. I maka the request feeling sure that if the most stringent supervision is not exercised a great deal of the good that has been effected will be lost, and that the pest will again assume proportions that will cause serious loss and trouble to the settlers. It must be borne in mind that more can be done in the next few months towards the suppression of the pest than can be effected during all the summer and autumn. On several runs bi sulphide of carbon (stink pot), is being used with good effect on the burrows. I fear, however, there is a tendency to place too much reliance upon it. It is no doubt a useful element of destruction if used with discretion, but other measures must not be cast on one side entirely. It will also be found that in using the carbon reliable men must be employed, or owners may find their labor thrown away. A report on the subject by one of 'be Overseers points directly to this. The experience I have gained (and which is borne out by the Board's overseers) during the recent poisoning season, shews that there is a want of any regular system in carrying out the work in the district. At nearly every place there is a different sort of poisoning, and all sorts of fads an 1 experiments are tried. But little attention is paid to the choice of gangers to overlook the work—a most important matter. The supervision of the work by those most interested, viz., owners and managers, is also open to comment, and with but a few exceptions it can be only characterised as lax, particularly on some of the larger runs. Until landowners arrive at the conclusion that the work of rabbit destruction is of the most paramount importance, requiring the closest supervision by competent men, I much tear that victory will remain with the rabbit. The last consignment of the natural enemy ordered by the Board arrived per Aorangiin good order and condition last month. Out of a total of 258 weasels and 91 stoats, 245 weasels and 83 stoats were delivered here on the 16th July, the loss on the voyage being 21. The care taker who has been out with several shipments informed me that he considered this season of the year most suitable for bringing them out. I append statement showing particulars of the distribution of this shipment. With respect to future shipments I think the Board should seriously consider the question as to whether it is advisable to import more; or rather to further encourage the breeding of ferrets. The latter, I feel confident, will be found most useful and can be bred in the district at about one third less cost than stoats and weasels can be imported. It must be borne in mind that ferrets in this district have never had a fair chance. In the first place very few have been liberated in proportion to the area of country, while the hand of almost every contract rabbitter has been against them. I see nothing to hinder all ot the larger land owners breeding and turning out several hundred during the summer months when rabbits are breeding. If each owner at the present time had ferrets to turn out in quantity I feel confident that most of the young rabbits in stops and burrows would be destroyed. One thing I feel sure of, that success with the natural enemy whether ferret, stoat, weasel, or cat can only result from the total abolition of the system of killing rabbits at per head, together with the reduction of the rabbit 3to a minimum. As long as rabbits are in excessive numbers it will be years before the natural enemy can hold the balance of power. Some runs in the district have been so overrun with rabbits that it would have taken all the natural enemy ever imported to make the slightest effect. In conclusion I cannot but express my appreciation of the manner in which the four Overseers, who are assisting me to carry out the work of supervision and inspection, are performing their duties, and I consider it is largely due to their energy and firmness that the poisoning has been carried out so effectually. I attach statements showing tbe result of inspection since last meeting. I am, etc, Thomas Mackay. Inspector.
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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3885, 13 August 1891, Page 2
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1,196RABBIT BOARD. Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3885, 13 August 1891, Page 2
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