THE RABBIT NUISANCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1350, 24 February 1881, Page 3

THE RABBIT NUISANCE.

A gentleman who ha-i just returned from a few days' journey in the Narrapoit and Morton Plains district, informs us (St. Arnaud Times, Victoria), that what he saw of the rabbit nuisance there far exceeds anything in his previous experience, and ecliphes the wor^t that he could have expected from anything he had heard or read concerning the numbers and de*tructivenesB of rabbits on our northern plains. As a rule co-operation is about the last thing that the enquirer will hear of as recognised or carried out amongst Victorian farmers (mores the pity, we think), but in the quarters mentioned the selectors have been compelled to band together for mutual protection against rabbits, to pave themselves from utter ruin. They have found, to their co^t, that no si<'gte individual, eveu with the aid of a good stripper and tho ordinary number of hands to harvest his crop by that economical method, can hope to compete I with the rabbits in the matter of speed J in clearing: his paddock. Hundreds of acres of wheat have been completely destroyed by the rabbit pest within the last few weeks, the quantity in different cases varying from 20 to 150 acres. Hence the plan of harvesting which is now generally followed, and which is simply the cooperation of several persons whose farms adjoin to cut down each others' crops as they become fit for the process — a battle with the bunnies on a large scale. The concluding scene in every instance is something like the following : — A small area of the paddock having been agreed on to bo left untouched aa a rendezvous for the thousands of rabbits driven away by the constantly advancing strippers, this patch of crop is found to be literally alive — two rabbits or more for every stalk. A general onslaught is then made, and the animals are killed in hundreds by means of dogs., cudgels, &c, and not a few are disposed of in football fashion, a good kicker scoring one for every effort as long as his legs will hold out. The same style of procedure to Rape the iemnants of the crops is adopted on every selection, and in each case the number of the pest seems absolutely limitles*. The struggle is truly but a hopeless one, notwithstanding the common-sense plan of co-operation which we have sketched from the occurences of the last few days. The nuisance is spreading in^ every direction where the soil i« sufficiently frinble to hllow of burrowing, or where there are brush or log fences to afford ohelter for the common enemy. From north to south the invading millions direct their defametire course with all the deadly cci *ainty of the Egyptian plagues of old, leaving ruin and desolation in their track.

Cboxkbbs proclaim that the advent of crinoline is close at hand, but this calamity, Ion? dreaa* d and deeply apprehended, may yet be averted by firmness and zealous opposition/ A novelty, in the shape of a jabot of genuine violets, was recently worn in Paris. The violets were mingled with lace. aDd descended from the neck to the waißt. The dress worn with this ornament wan white and draped with dark green scarves. Bracelets of black tulle and barberry wreaths were worn above the elbow, where the blaok buttonless glove terminated. ' Buttonlesa gloves, white as well as blaok, and at times of undressed kid, are in vogue here and are known ac tlit Eerciwdo glove.