THE RABBIT NUISANCE IN WAIPA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2139, 25 March 1886, Page 2

THE RABBIT NUISANCE IN WAIPA.

The inspector has been round the upper Waipa district recently with a view of seeing whether it would be necessary to bring the Act into force. Although the rabbits are pretty numerous in some places it is nut thought necc<s:iry or advisable to bring the provisions of the Act into operation here. In winter there is usually a crusade against the pests, and so many are killed for sport and for the market, that it takes a whole summer to bring their numbers up again, bo that save in a few cases there is really no increase in their numbers. It would be a great hardship if farmers were fined for having rabbits on their place*. In many instances the farms are situated beside large belts of tea tree or unoccupied fern land, and it would be impossible to clear them out without cleaving this land, and no one would feel disposed to clear his neighbours' land, more especially if the neighbour is an absentee. In nome caies clearing the ten tree would mean destroying valuable fencing material or firewood. Of course absentees can be got at in the same manner as for rates, but it is easier to come on the resident. Apropos of rabbits, we were told by a settler who was on the Dunstan in the early days that he was fined £3 for shooting two rabbits. This was when they were first brought to the colony. It was on the station belonging to Sir F. D. Bell, and the hardened poacher was told that if ho committed the offence again he would get three months' imprisonment. We wonder how much it has cost Sir Francis since that time to try and gat rid of them.