The Daily Telegraph THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1881.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3092, 26 May 1881, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1881.

Ik former years the one great fear of every eheepfarmer in this provincial district was the introduction of scab. Every precaution that could be taken was eagerly adopted for the preservation of the flocks from this dreaded disease. " There were no two opinions as to the disastrous consequences arising from scab. It was well enough known that, in the then rough condition of the runs, a contagious disease amongst the flocks would be certain ruin to tbe sheepfarmers, and would take years to eradicate. As the country became more occupied, and the lands fenced, and with the disappearance of fern and scrub, the fear Je9t scab could not be successfully cured died gradually away ; so that now, with every facility to cope with disease, the sheepfarmers are no longer afraid of being unable to secure the health of their flocks. But another plague ot a much more serious character threatens the vitality of the only one great industry that we poieess in Hawke's Bay. It pleases some sheepfarmers to pooh-ponh the idea that the foundation of their prosperity can be undermined, and they blindly refuse to take warning by the ruin that has come upon their fellows in other parts of the colony. But as surely as night succeeds day there will come upon the sheep industry of this province a blight as severe and as disastrous as has ever assailed the farmers of Wairarapa and elsewhere, if no precautions are taken to ward off the danger which is now almost at our very doors. We need hardly say that we allude to the rabbit pest. Slowly but sorely the plague is nearing our boundaries, and there never was a case in which the old axiom can be better applied, that a " stitch in time saves nine." But what is being done ? Absolutely nothiHg. The settlers nearest to the southern boundary of the province are fully alive to the threatened danger, but others, further afield, contemplate the approaching invasion of rabbits as only a possible contingency in the event of which their safety would be assured by the ruin of their neighbors. The rabbits once in the province would no doubt arouse the latent energies of the Rabbit Commissioners, but until the calamity ia upon them they will do nothing. A few weeks ago the Wainui settlers held a public meeting in order to discuss the best means for the preservation of their grass, and a copy of the resolutions that were carried were forwarded to the Kabbit Commissioners. Briefly explained, it was resolved to attack the pest before it made its appearance on this side of the Akitio river, but to do so money would be required. The funds would be cheerfully found by the settlers, provided they could get no assistance from the Commissioners. It was a case of self-preservation, and threy wisely resolved to depend upon selves. It is pretty certain that the Conw missioners are incapable of understanding) the duties undertaken by them, and unless the settlers rely upon their own energy they will get no help. All that the Commissioners have done is to impose a rate and to collect it, and then, like the foolish steward of the parable, they have wrapped the money in a napkin. They have done worse; for the steward, apparently, could not have avoided taking charge of the talents entrusted to his care, whereas the Commissioners, if they had no use for the money, need not have imposed and collected a rate. If what we hear be true it would appear that some £700 were collected ; about £200 have been expended in expenses attaching to the initiation of the Kabbit Nuisance Act, and the balance, it is reported, has been lodged in a bank as a fixed deposit! We can hardly believe that such an utterly idiotic proceeding has been perpetrated, but we have it on very good authority. If it be not true let the Commissioners deny the report without a moment's delay ; let them no longer than they can absolutely prevent remain under the suspicion of being unworthy of the position they hold, or of being so recklessly blind to the immediate necessity of taking steps to keep the rabbit plague from Hawke'e Bay.