H.—l9.

during the year ending 31st March, 1892. This is an increase of 21,469; but of this one-half may be put down to more general work being done by the Maoris. The area infested in the King-country is increasing but very slowing. Auckland, 31st March, 1892. E. Clifton, Inspector.

Napiee Disteict. Babbits in one or two parts of the district are increasing slightly, but there is no cause for alarm. The general methods of destruction are hunting with dogs, shooting, trapping, and, in the proper season, poisoning. The natural enemy is a very valuable aid in their destruction. I think we must rely on rabbit-netting as the great mainstay of the future. B. C. Pasley, Inspector.

Wellington—West Coast. A thied season of sparse rainfall and abundance of food has been in the favour of the spread of rabbits. Notwithstanding this, I am glad to be able to report that, so far as the portion of this district which has remained under the absolute charge of the Stock Department is concerned, the efforts of the settlers have been attended with success; and lam satisfied that in this portion there has been a considerable reduction in the number of the pest. In the district which was placed under the control of the North Wairarapa Babbit Board, and especially in the centre portion thereof, rabbits are still numerous. The Board did excellent work during poisoning season, and for some time after they continued to compel owners to destroy; but during the early summer months the Board, having achieved the introduction of a considerable number of the natural enemy (which was the avowed object of the constitution of the district), reduced its staff of Inspectors, and has,now been abolished. During this period rabbits were afforded an opportunity of again making headway, especially in that portion of the district more seriously affected. I trust, however, that next year I may be able to report more favourably on this particular part of the district. The usual remedies have been adopted by landowners; but a noticeble feature in the methods of destruction has been the unusually large use made of carbon bisulphide for fumigating. I cannot, however, urge too strongly the necessity of exercising the greatest care in the selection of men for working with this substance, and for trapping. In careless or ignorant hands these methods may prove extremely disastrous in injuring or destroying the natural enemy; therefore none but the most expert and competent hands should be intrusted with this work. In addition to the number of the natural enemies previously reported by me as having been introduced by the Babbit Board, there have since been imported to the district 237 stoats, 610 weasels, and 699 ferrets. I am satisfied these are increasing and doing good work, and will ultimately, provided no serious epidemic occurs, prove of immense service in controlling the pest. Wellington, April, 1892. John Deummond, Inspector.

Wanganui Disteict. The rabbits in this district are confined to the coast-line between the Turakina and Manawatu Bivers (with the exception of a very few further north). They are very thinly scattered over the ground, and the chief mode in use for destroying them is by dog, gun, and digging out burrows, which is very easily done, the ground being of such a sandy nature. The Manawatu Babbit Extermination Society are doing very useful work. They have paid for 1,719 skins since last December; they are at present paying 4d. per skin, and hope shortly to raise the price to 6d., and will continue so to increase the price till the rabbits are almost extinct. With the exception of a block on the coast-line between the Bangitikei Bivers, there is a marked diminution in the number of rabbits. It is very difficult in this district to make the settlers realise the danger arising from the presence of rabbits, as they declare they are no more numerous than they were twenty years ago. On the whole, I think, the work of destroying rabbits has been fairly satisfactory, although, as in every district, there are a few landowners who require constant looking up. The laying of poisoned grain is not practised here, and, with the exception of one or two places, would, I think, be of very little service. Stoats and weasels are frequently reported as making their appearance on this coast, and I much fear they are promptly despatched when they do so. Wanganui, 6th June, 1892. Bichaed Hull, Inspector.

Maelboeough— Nelson Disteict. Neaely all the rabbit-infested country is in the Marlborough District, and under the jurisdiction of the Awatere Babbit Board. They issue notices to the ratepayers to destroy rabbits, and are satisfied with whatever means are taken. Fairly good work has been done throughout the district by the settlers —poisoning, trapping, shooting, digging out, &c.—and something like three hundred miles of wire-netting fencing has been erected, or is in course of erection ; and from my own knowledge and general information, rabbits are not so numerous as last year, and have been greatly reduced on what were badly infested blocks three years ago. The natural enemy, stoats, weasels, ferrets, and cats, have been liberated on several runs, but so far have not made much impression on the rabbits. Not until the settlers took vigorous steps by poisoning, trapping, shooting, digging out fumigating, and erecting wire-netting fencing were the rabbits reduced in numbers. 30th May, 1892. T. G. Bichaedson, Inspector,

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