5

H.—lB

From Eabbit Inspector Obbell, Masterton. (1.) Phosphorized grain, carrots arsenicized, bisulphide of carbon, working tame ferrets with nets, warrens and watercourses broken up, in some places trapping, shooting and hunting with dogs, ferrets and cats turned out, and the cover of bush and scrub have been cleared. (2.) The natural enemies to be turned out in as large numbers as possible in the early spring. (3.) Satisfactory progress has been made. (4.) Five. (5.) £40 10s. (6.) Three; description principally bush, and the approximate area for grazing purposes 8,000 acres. (7.) Nil (contractors find phosphorus). (8.) Nil. (9.) 1401b. (10.), " (11.) Thirteen, South Wairarapa. (12.), (13.) Nil. (14.) Five. (15.) Yes, forty. (16.) Yes, nine hundred, with very satisfactory results. General Bemarks. —Native infested land to be individualized, rabbit-proof fences in badly infested parts of a district to be declared a legal fence. In South Wairarapa the rabbits are considerably reduced. Wild ferrets are fast increasing, and their good work is perceptible. I have great faith in the phosphorized grain and the natural enemies doing the work of extermination upon the pastoral country. Stoats and weasels are spreading over the district; 300 have been turned out on the Te Awaiti Estate by E. J. Eiddiford, Esq., with excellent results. Ferrets require to be turned out in large numbers, and the ground worked systematically before they become effective, and the supply kept up annually, and as many as possible turned out in the spring. The excessive dry weather of the last six months has been very favourable for the increase of the rabbit pest, but still it is with much satisfaction I am able to report that the rabbits in South Wairarapa are on the decrease.

From Eabbit Inspector Dbummond, Masterton. (1.) Poisoned grain and carrots, shooting, killing with dogs, hunting with tame ferrets and nets, trapping, snaring, turning out ferrets and cats, digging out burrows and watercourses, fumigating with bisulphide of carbon, rabbit-proof fencing, clearing bush and scrub land, burning, &c. (2.) The turning out the natural enemies in as large numbers as possible on Crown lands. (3.) Oil the whole there has been satisfactory progress made. (4.) Nine. (5.) £184 Is. Bd. (6.) None in my district. (7.) About 351b. (8.) 31b. (9.) 1401b. (10.), (11.) Thirteen. (12.), (13.) Nil. (14.) Four.' (15.) Yes, forty, but not in such numbers yet to do much good. (16.) Yes, a good number, but cannot say definitely how many, with fair results. General Bemarks. —The majority of the stockowners in the district are becoming alive to the necessity of adopting strong and. continuous measures for the destruction of the pest, and I am in hopes that if those enumerated under the first question are maintained that the result will eventually be eminently satisfactory.

From Eabbit Inspector Hull, Blenheim and Awatere. (1.) Phosphorized oats and wheat, carrots and arsenic, trapping and shooting, after general poisoning. (2.) That the erection of wire-netting be encouraged where practicable, and that simultaneous poisoning be made compulsory. (3.) There is a marked decrease in numbers from previous years, but the area of infested country is somewhat extended. (4.) One. (5.) £12. (6.) Four hundred acres of river-bed is being dealt with. There are also about 145,450 acres of Crown lands (which are more or less infested with rabbits), but which are within the proclaimed boundaries of the Awatere Eabbit Board. (7.) None. (8.) 2351b5. (9.) 631bs. (10.), (11.) One. (12.), (13.) None. (14.) Ten. (15.) No ferrets have been turned out during the year. (16.) 2,350 with marked beneficial results.

From Eabbit Inspector Clifton, Kaikoura. (1.) Poisoning, and the natural enemy. (2.) That the breeding of ferrets be encouraged. (3.) Satisfactory. (4.), (5.) Nil. (6.) Native and river reserves, and unsold lands, 4,C00 acres. (7.) 105. (8.) 123. "(9.) 100. (10.) 12. (11.) Two; adjourned, three. (12.) Three; withdrawn, four. (13.) Kaikoura Eiver lands. (14.) One. (15.) 102 ; not yet time to state result. (16.) 600; fair result. General Bemarks. —That the nataal enemy be bred or introduced in large numbers.

FrJirn Eabbit Inspector Blundell, Nelson. (1.) Phosphorized grain/hunting, shooting, and trapping; and, owing to the dryness of the autumn, an unusually large extent of country has been burnt, which has not only destroyed a great number of rabbits, but will materially assist in the poisoning during tiie winter months. (2.) No. (3.) Very satisfactory; there being a marked reduction in the number of rabbits when compared with tins time last year. (4.) Three. (5.) £28 6s. Od. (6.) None. (7.) 301b. (8.) 311b. by the Government Agent. Cannot ascertain the amount sold by other individuals. (9.) 551b. (10.) (II.J Two. (12.), (13.), (14.), (15.), (16.) None. General Bemarks. —ln addition-to the contracts let, men were employed, from time to time, to' burn the cover and lay phosphorized grain on Crown lands, at a cost of £30 4s. 7d.

From Eabbit Inspector Boulton, Christchurch. (1.) Shooting, dogs, ferreting, turning out ferrets and cats, laying poisoned grain, and digging out. (2.) None. (3.) Decided decrease of rabbits in country dealt with. (4.), (5.) Nil. (6.) About 2,500 acres unoccupied islands and river-beds, about 750 acres of which is available for grazing purposes. (7.) Phosphorized grain was prepared at Timaru. (8.) Nil. (9.) Three cases. (10.), (11.), (12.), (13.) Nil. (14.) Not known. (15.) Twenty turned out, with apparently good results (16.) About sixty or seventy, with apparently good results. Gener&l Bemarks. —Decided decrease of rabbits on country dealt with on Waimakariri and islands therein. Good work done up the north bank of Rakaia and Selwyn ; also on peninsula. Islands in Eakaia poisoned rather too late.