RABBIT BOARD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3933, 8 October 1891, Page 2

RABBIT BOARD.

Aa Unfounded Charge.

Tbe monthly meeting of the North Wairarapa Rabbit Board was held in the County Council chambers yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon, there being present Messrs Maunsell, (in the chair), Murray, and Groves. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. remission of bates. A letter was read from Messrs Handyside, Roberts and Co. requesting that tbe amount of their rates be reduced, as six months ago the firm had disposed of 8,500 sheep. The clerk informed the Board that he had replied to Mr Handyside pointing out that under the Act tbe Board had to i go by the stockowners' list.

Mr Groves said it would be more satisfactory if they could regulate their year so as to take up the new list as soon as it was ready when striking rates.

The Chairman considered there was no help for it but to make the claim according to the Act.

After further disjussion the Chairman moved, and Mr Groves seconded, that as the Board had no discretionary power to remit rates where sheep had buen sold after the list was made up, they were nnable to grant Messrs Handysido Roberts and Co's request. —Carried. Inspector Dkummond.

Mr Groves said he had a matter to bring before the Boardj A fe" days ago an article appeared in the Wairarapa Star reflecting on Inspector Drummond, and the way in which Crown land poisoning was carried on. People had read the article and all sorts of comments had been made. He should like to hear what Inspector Drummond had to say on the matter, as he was present. Inspector Drummond, in reply, said that the statem«nts made by the Star 'were not correct. Some of them were absolutely untrue. How the ed'tor could say such things he did not know. The article was very damag - ing to him, as from it it would appear that he had favored some person in tbe matter. On the whole the poisoning was very well done. He did jot dispute the figures in the article, because he had not gone into that part of it. They were mixed up. The other charges were not true. He had never let any poisoning contracts except with the approval of the Minister under whose instructions he acted. The insinuation that ho had favoured a relation was a deliberate falsehood. > The Chairman said that it was certainly a matter of public interest and the Board was. perfectly justified in taking cognizance of it. If the charge of letting contracts to his relation were true Mr Drummond was not fit to be Inspector, but if not then a great wrong was dune to Mr DrumI mond by the article. The matter had been now brought np and made clear to the publio. Mr Drummond denied the charges and the public could judge for themselves.

Mr Groves pointed out that in a certain sense Mr Drummond's hands were tied. Being a Government servant he could not reply to attacks of this kind, Mr Drummond said that if the Crown Lands Block referred to were visited very few rabbits would be found. Inspectors Smith and Harvey had both recently visited, and their reports were favourable as to the way the work was being carried out. Mr Bennett was first employed by Inspector Sutton, afterwards Mr Orbell. He (Mr Drummond) was not the first to engage him for the work. It was absolutely necessary to have goed men. Careless men might empty half a bag of poisoned grain in a gully and do no good. The Chairman said that they could go no further into the matter. Mr Murray considered that Inspector Drummond's explanation was qaite satisfactory.

Mr Groves said that the article led people to infer that it was a case of bribery and corruption. People would think that Inspector Drummond bad shown favouritism towards a relation.

I Inspector Drummond replied that Mr Bennett was no relation in any way at all, and no favoritism was shown to kim as all tenders for the poisoning contracts had been sent to the Minister. He might sa/ further that he had seen Mr Marchant 3everal times, urging the department to get rid of this block as it was so troublesome. U was too bad that they should have to look after the Crown Lands. A more satisfactory way to everyone would be to serve the Commissioners with a notice just as if the lands were owned by a private individual.

The patter was then allowed to drop,

FINANCE. The clerk informed the Board that the bank debit was £324, £124 subsidy was due and .£l3O of outstanding rates. With the subsidy on these lates this would leave a credit balance Of £6O.

Accounts as submitted were passed I for payment. The Chairman said it had b«en suggested that a statement of receipts and expenditure be sent to each ratepayer. Mr Murray said the matter kid been discussed at last meeting, and members present at that meeting and who were absent at this had agreed to this course, it appeared to be the desire of ratepayers to know what the Board had done.

After further discussion it was proposed by Mr Murray and seconded by Mr Groves that the Secretary be instructed to make out a statement ot receipts and expenditure shewing items up to the 7th October, 1891, copies to be sent to each ratepayer. It waß also decided that a footnote be appended stating tfaap the present Board if re-elected considered that it was probable they would be able to carry on with a rate of not more than pnp fa;ibing on sheep and one penny ,on oatthj for ttyg ensuing y?ar. It wajs resplved that tije |dvjrtisements of election be published $s issued.

Tha report of the Inspector was read and adopted by Mr A,Murray, and seconded by Mr Maunsell, that the oversseers be paid for Sunday work as —*n«nded by the Inspector, recoiu.*- "hanceiler and Messrs H. Winser, •• o Gayfer 6 days each, and Mr Orbeu o days.—Carried. Moved by Mr Groves and seconded by Mr Murray that one overseer be retained by the Board for one month longer.—Carried. This conclude! the business and the meeting adjourned.