7

H.—2

adjoining, about 8,000 acres; Hawea Hundreds, about 12,000 acre 3; Black's Commonage, about 1,700 acres; Mining Eeserve, Cardrona Eiver, about 300 acres; Mining Eeserve, Molyneux Eiver, about 200 acres. In all these cases contracts have been let this year for keeping rabbits clear for twelve months—see answer to (4.). (7.) None ; but about 501b. have been lost by taking fire. (8.) 6401b. (9.) 8201b. (10.) 1,664,168 skins. (11.) Two. (12.) Two. (13.), (14.), None. (15.) To the best of my knowledge, two, at Wanaka and Kawarau Stations. (16.) Some have been turned out on one or two "stations; results not known. General Remarks. —l entertain great hopes that next year I shall have a most satisfactory report to give, owing to the united and simultaneous action at present being taken to destroy the pest; this being the result of meetings convened by me throughout the Vincent County, and which were exceedingly well attended, and the spirit of the business thoroughly entered into by all interested, I must also mention that a few rabbits in the county have been found, on being opened, to have a disease of the liver, which, however, I do not consider to be tuberculosis, but the subsequent effects of half-spent poisoned grain, the liver being charged with matter. Not many, to my knowledge, have been picked up dead from this disease, but have been found to be so affected on being caught and opened.

From Babbit Inspector Hickson, Tapanui. (1.) The means that have been adopted are : Poisoning with phosphorized grain in the proper season, the remainder of the year trapping and snaring Burt's and Watson's exterminators, bisulphate of carbon, shooting, ferreting, dogs, and digging-out. (2.) Yes; that all lands as mentioned in my memorandum (No. 31/84) of the 26th March should be dealt with as mentioned by me. I find, however well I attend to reserves in keeping the pest under, they are always brought forward as an excuse if you take proceedings against any person who has land near them. (3.) Very good progress has been made; and, as I mentioned in my reply last year that it would take another season to show the benefit to be derived from the continual destruction of the pest, the country now shows for itself that what I then stated to be correct. (4.) Eleven. (5.) £349 10s. (6.) Bush reserves, Taupeka West, 2,801 acres, part suitable for grazing; Ettrick domain, Benger District, 420 acres; Tapanui bush reserve, Glenkenich District, 911 acres, could be leased with timber right reserved. (7.) 251b. (8.) 4651b. (9.) 4601b. (10.) Not aware of number of skins exported. (11.) Eleven. (12.) Eleven. (13.), (14.) None. (15.) Four; know of several who are starting establishments. (16.) Know of five persons having turned ferrets out, and as far as known they are thriving. General Remarks. —As an idea of the number of men employed, and skins sent away, I mention the following : The number of bales sent away from Messrs. Cargill and Anderson's Teviot Station for year ending the 31st March, 123; number of skins, 374,976; average number of men employed, 56. Mr. D. P. Keogh, Moa Flat Station, from the Ist January to the 30th April—number of skins sent away, 206,015 ; average number of men employed, 55. I may also state that at the present time I have seven men employed on wages, whom I move from one place to another as required, which I find answers well.

From Babbit Inspector Mackay, Balclutha. (1.) Phosphorus, dogs, guns, exterminators, traps, and ferrets. (2.) That Inspectors have the power to compel landowners to keep gorse hedges and all other sorts of hedges within certain limits, as they afford great harbour in winter and breeding-places in the summer months. (3.) I have not been in the district long enough to form an opinion. (4.) Two. (5.) £89. (6.) Bruce, thirty-eight reserves (bush, mining, and quarry), 17,484 acres; 8,746 acres available to let for grazing purposes. Clutha, sixty-eight reserves, 105,617 acres, Crown lands, bush, coal, quarry, and ferry reserves; none available for grazing purposes. (7.) 721b. (8.) 3401b. (9.) 2881b. (10.) None. (11.) One. (12.) One. (13.), (14.) None. (15.) Seven. (16.) Ferrets have been turned out with very good results. General Remarks. —The Act as it stands at present works satisfactorily.

From Babbit Inspector Macdonald, Gore. (1.) Poisoning chiefly to October, from that to January trapping and hunting; fumigators and bisulphide of carbon have been of great value in low ground, as has also been digging-out burrows in the nesting season. (2.) In any amendment of the existing law I would give landowners power to sue for damages, but would limit its application to injury to cereals and root crops : this would go a long way to clear the country—would act like magic. (3.) Very satisfactory, more than was thought possible in the time, sufficiently showing that with attention and firmness the rabbit can be so kept down as to cease to be little more than a cry. (4.) Fourteen, besides weekly work. (5.) £598 6s. 9d. on Crown lands. (6.) 22,000 acres open land, comprising hundreds, special blocks for settlement, mining reserves, and commonages, in addition to 137,780 acres of forest surrounded by settlement. (7.) 2341b. (8.) 5561b., by local agents. (9.) 1,0501b., at various agencies. (10.) No return procurable. (11.) Five under sections 11 and 13. (12.) Summary convictions none. (13.) None. (14.) School Commissioners of Otago, Bluff Harbour Board, University Council, and twelve others—absentees, bankrupts, &c. (15.) None special. (16.) Forty, where none were known to be. Wild ferrets are numerous in Southland. I have no opinion of them as an enemy. They would be as numerous as rabbits before their effect was felt. They now cover a large area. They are destroyed by fumigating. General Remarks. —The summer-killing is what tells, but it must be general and on a uniform scale. The system of paying for skins must cease if landowners would clear their holdings. This is what leads to rabbit-farming.