MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD

Feilding Star, Volume 3, Issue 552, 29 December 1925, Page 5

MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD

THE MONTHLY meeting. The monthly meeting of the Rabbit Board was presided over bv Chairman B. G. Gower. Also present: Trustees J- F. McKelvie, W. E. Burlier, F. C. Raikes, Grammar, Roswell, Gloyn and the secretary uvTr R- Rangiheuea). Mr D. R. Barron (Board Inspector) was also in attendance. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. During Hie month I was engaged in the general inspection of properties in the Board area. The district is in lair condition as regards the rabbit pest, hut a number of young rabbits are in evidence, and on several portions more attention is required at this important time of the year.

Owing to the continued winds and dry weather and the consequent drying up of pasture*-in-the'higher nr where rabbits are more predominant, poisoning is having the desired effect. .Fumigation and filling in of burrows, with consequent trapping of opened holes, is being carried out i n most cases with, good results.

In one portion of the district where LYRiiido fumigation has been in progress, results were not satisfactory, and 1 have carried out an expei.idient on a certain area in ordc,- to test results.

An aea. of gores was enclosed with rabbit proof wire-netting placed in the. ground to a depth of six inqhes. The enclosed area was treated 'with cyanide and out of a total of 208 holes treated, lb, or 7.2 'per cent, of the total, were opened Worn the inside, within a space of three days.

This I consider unsatisfactory, gs special care was taken, more so than would he-taken in general work. The opened holes have since been treated with grandular cyanide, -a dessertspoonful placed in each, and the following day some of these have been opened. In other parts of the distrite highly satisfactory results have obtained in the use of the cyanide dust. 1 would strongly advise all farmers to take advantage of the present suitable weather, and® put all the energy possible into the eradication of the pest. If work of destruction i s . delayed the present fair conditions obtaining will cease and any good work previously done will be nullified, and redoubled efforts will have to be made.

Owing to insufficient work being done I have had to send final notices and warnings to several landowner; during the past month, and unless these notices are complied with, prosecutions will follow.

The following are a number of properties inspected during the month on which good work has, or is, being done: Messrs Hamlin Bros., Gloyn’s. Cemmill’s, Powell’s, Pedersen’s, S. Graham’s, W. E. Barber’s, R. McKenzie’s, J. W. NViton’s, >1 H. Drummond’s, Beard’s, Fergusson’s, Hartley and Son’s, F. $. Easton’s; while the worst conditioned places are those of Messrs Algar, Prebble. M. Heliir, Foster and Drusdale’s, .Pukolowskj, W. H. Smith and Wood roof--. it was resolved to carry out a further experiment at the expense of the Board with cyanide poisoning, on Mr Foster’s property, at Taikorea, under Mr Foster’s instructions. The action of the sub-committee in purchasing wire-fietting for experimental purposes at Taikorea was endorsed.— Adopted.