5

H.—l4

Prom Babbit Inspector Oldham, Hamilton

(1.) Trapping, ferreting, shooting, and digging out burrows. (2.) An Act passed to compel owners of land to clear their property of gorse and briar would be a very great assistance in getting rid of the rabbit nuisance. (3.) Government lands have been well attended to, and rabbit-killing has been gone on with on private lands during the summer up to the end of December. (4.) One. (5.) £11 18s. (6.) Eleven, including Native reserves, varying from 15 to 800 acres. None available for grazing. This does not include Alexander town lots. (7.), (8.) None. (9.) 31b. Also one case four tins, 251b., received from late Chief Inspector Lewis. (10.), (11.), (12.) None. (13.) Eight. (14.) Four. (15.), (16.) None. From Babbit Inspector Oebell, Masterton. (1.) Phosphorized grain, carrots arsenicized, working tame ferrets with nets; in some places trapping, shooting, and hunting; warrens and watercourses broken up, ferrets and cats turned out, boundaries of landed estates wire-netted, bush and scrub cleared. (2.) The natural enemies to be turned out in unlimited numbers in badly-infested country. The diseases that exist among the rabbits in the Wairarapa District to be propagated, provided that Professor Thomas reports that any of the rabbit diseases here are worthy of propagation. (3.) Good progress, and very satisfactory. (4.) Twenty-one. (5.) £311 3s. (6.) Three, principally bush; the approximate area for grazing purposes about 8,000 acres. (7.) 801b. (8.) 221b. (9.) 381b. (10.) Six. (11.) Six. (12.), (13.) None. (14.) Nine. (15.) None. (16.) Yes, about seven hundred, with excellent results. General lie-marks. —The rabbits in Wairarapa South are considerably reduced; the stoats, weasels, ferrets, and cats are increasing, spreading, and doing excellent work. The diseases that exist among the rabbits here do not appear to be virulent, although a number seem to die from the effects of the malady that they are affected with, viz., bladder-worm, rabbit-itch, coccidia (liver-disease), and a form of consumption; but I may state that the mortality has not reached to any great extent, to cause any great diminution of the plague ; but possibly one or two of the diseases may develop in time to a nature more destructive and fatal, as to be worth propagating and becoming a valuable agent in extirpating the pest. From Babbit Inspector Blundell, Nelson. (1.) Phosphorized grain, shooting, trapping, hunting, and digging out. (2.) None. (3.) Babbits have been kept in check, but I cannot report any decrease in numbers. (4.) None. (5.) Nil. (6.) There are no reserves; but I estimate that there are about 3,000 acres of unoccupied Crown lands and river-bed that will require poisoning during the coming winter. (7.) 101b. (8.) 291b. (9.) 161b. (10.) One. (11.) One. (12.), (13.), (14.), (15.), (16.) None. General Bemarhs.—l have noticed a greater number of young rabbits than are usually to be seen at this time of the year. From Babbit Inspector Hull, Blenheim. (1.) Phosphorized grain, shooting, and trapping. (2.) That every effort be made to introduce disease, all other things as yet discovered being only of a temporary nature, and a constantlyrecurring expense. (3.) Notwithstanding the excellent work done during last winter, when the rabbits were reduced to a smaller number than any time previously, they are now as thick as ever, and have increased more rapidly during the past summer than they have ever done before. (4.) None. (5.) Nil. (6.) About 8,000 to 10,000 acres; all high mountainous country, of little or no use for grazing purposes. (7.) 551b. (8.) None. (9.) 801b. (10.), (11.), (12.), (13.) None. (14.) One. (15.) None. (16.) About one hundred and fifty on Glenlee are doing pretty good work, there being plenty of water. General Remarks. —The larger part of the district is under the jurisdiction of the Awatere Babbit Board, and excellent work was done by them during the winter, but owing to the dryness of the season few of the " stops " were destroyed, consequently the young rabbits, which are generally destroyed by wet, have been left to breed, and there has been a more rapid increase during the summer months than has been known for years past. Most of the breeders of ferrets in this district have left off breeding them, counting on the introduction of the weasels and stoats to take their place. From Babbit Inspector Mooee, Kaikoura, (1.) Poisoning, turning out ferrets, ferreting with nets, and shooting. (2.) That the reserves at the Hapuku and Waimanararu be let or sold, the former (being unfitted for village settlement, and requiring constant attention. That poisoning be continued this winter when possible with safety to ferrets ; and ferrets on hand be turned out in spring, and their breeding be encouraged, (3.) Owing to the great mortality last season among the ferrets by distemper, which almost exterminated them in portions of district, rabbits have in places shown up in fair numbers; however, with exception of one or two spots, they are well in hand through the district; and, with ferrets turned out in spring, will, I consider, be reduced to a minimum. (4.) None. (5.) Nil. (6.) Mongama (Native), Hapuku, Waimanararu, South Bay, Peninsula, North and South Beach, and Crown lands unsold; about 4,000 acres; about 200 fit for grazing. (7.) 551b. (8.) 601b, (9.) 151b. (10.), (11.), (12.) Nil. (13.) None. (14.) Five. (15.) About 680; have been out short time, but doing excellent work. (16.) About 300, doing excellent work. General Remarks. —That facilities be given to persons willing to erect rabbit-proof fencing. Poison and the natural enemy the only sure means of permanently dealing with the pest. The work of poisoning, shooting, and ferreting on Crown lands and reserves has been most satisfactorily performed.