TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2400, 26 November 1887, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU.

Cost or Woukixc thk Rabbit Ncisaxck Act in Wah’a.-Mi- H. K who has been in communication with Major Jack.■iiiii, M. H.R., as to cost of win kino this Act, received in reply to his enquiries the following returns. Accompanying tin: returns was the following letter from Major Jackson November 18th, 1887. “ 1 have the honour to forward herewith, as requeste I verbally by you, a statement showing the cost of administering the Rabbit Nuisance Act in the County of Waipa for the years 188.1, 1881! and 1887, up to the 31st October ultimo. It is not possible to so discriminate as to show the actual cost of Waipa County alone, because the adjoining counties also participate to a certain extent in the expenditure incurred in the said County. Sheep Inspector Oldham’s salary is not included, as the services of an Inspector are required in the Waikato to administer the Sheep Act,” Statement. 1881. During October and November R dibit Agent Oldham was employed burning and cutting fern, gone, etc., and destroying rabbits on Crown Linds Reserves, etc., killing on an average 110 rabbits monthly at 10s a day, €Bl 10s. 188(i. Rabbit Agent Oldham employed 18 months at Ids a day killing on an average 110 rabbits monthly, €lßl 10s ; Rabbit Agent Hargrave, employed from Bth May to 31st December, administering the Rabbit Act at 15s a day, €l7B 10s ; T. Darker, under contract clearing gone, etc., near Te Rare, €l7; 18 rab'-it traps bought, €8 His; ammunition, €3; total for 188(i, €3l(i His. 1887. Rabbit Agent Oldham, employed six months ended 30th June at 10s a day, killing on an average 110 rabbits monthly, €73 ; Rabbit Agent Hargrave, Ist January to 31st October at 11s a day, €BIO 11s; Trapper Sim, employed from Otir April to 31st Oct. on Crown Lands Reserves &c., at 10s a day, during which period he trapped 1,178 rabbits, €1)8. (His wages were reduced to 7s a day from Ist Nov. instant.) 118 rabbit traps brought., €1 Is 10i;l phosphoriser and stand, €1 10s; ammunition, €l. Total 1887, €lO3 10s It) I. The grand total for 1880 and 1887 to 3>st October, and two months of 18.81 is €7ll 10s 10,1. ami the total number of rabbits ac counted fur is 7178 for which the country p iid a trifle over two shillings a head. It is high time the admini.-tr.ition uf Uni Act was jihuod in the hands of locil governing hiidies, fur it is quite evident the present m<»de i» too expensive. Ti: Aw.uirir Cavalmv.— The troop assembled on Wednesday, puisnant to advertisement in Thk Waikato J'i.mks, for the |mi'pose electing a lieutenant. Captain li:rh !. l o:d h-tvimr read the notice the i:i.-etin o r , Senior-Sergeant (liC'lMm :i '-ni;i:itt*d Mr C. F. Storey to fill Lite \acmcy, and stated his conviction that lie was g.vi ig expression to the unanimous opinion of the troop, that no discredit whatevei attached to Mr Storey by reason of his having failed to pass his recent oxaminati n. Out of sixteen candidates from the various Auckland Corps only three were .successful, thus evidencing the extreme severity of the examination. It was apparent to all that in this respect the regulations hud been carried from urn; extreme to tile oilier. While it was unquestionable that anyone aspiring to be an oHicer should pass an examination, for many years no examination whatever had been held. Suddenly the authorities had decided to hold examinations, and the nature of the standard imposed was such that at the various hoaids of examiners many of the examiners themselves had ex pressed then-astonishment a. the severe nature of the test questions. The motion was seconded by Trooper Hawke, and earned without dissent. Captain Rutherford congratulated Mr Storey, who expressed his appreciation of the. honour conferred upon him. Captain Rutherford read a letter he had received from Major Murray at the Thames, witli reference to Captain Johnstone, of the Thames Scottish Volunteers. Mr Johnstone had seen luigso. vice ill the Imperial Army, and for years hj id held the captaincy in the above corps. He had recently been crippled for life in c msecpienc.: of a fall of earth in the Cambrian mine. He hoped that a fund would ha raised in the Waikato in aid of Mrs Johnstone and her six children, who were objects of sympathy. I’poii the motion of Sergeant Major II nul, it was resolved lhat each member of the troop subscribe the sum of 8s 0.1 out of the capitation. The local list was at once head, d by the Rev. Mr Roler, the honorary chaplain of the troop, who explained that as lie did not draw capitation it would be as well for him to contribute his donation at mice. Sergeant Major Rond considered lhat very great credit was due. to the Raglan members for the way in which they had turned out to the inspection. Willi the exception of the four men who had attended Colonel Lynns’ funeral on Sunday, ami who were thereby excused from attendance to-day, every man was at parade, one coming up by train from Auckland, and the others haring lidden over that morning from Raglan, a distance of over 41 miles. The number attending the inspection parade should have been stated as 14, and not as 31), as appeared in our issue of Thursday.