INVASION THREAT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22276, 11 March 1947, Page 6

INVASION THREAT

SOUTHERN RABBITS

MOHAKA RIVER LOW

SEVERAL CROSSINGS

“The threat of an invasion of rabbits from tlie northern Hawke’s Bay Rabbit. Board’s area is serious. The Mohaka River is dangerously low and if we do not have rain this month in the hack country to raise the river level the threat to this hoard will be disastrous.”

This is the text of a supplementary report, of Mr. H. F. Bennison, a subinspector. to the recent, meeting of the East Coast Rabbit Board. "Rabbits are crossing the river now in several places, notably Mohaka, Raupunga, and as far up as Run 38. Until trie position improves work on Waireka and Ngamahunga will have to be suspended,” continues the report, which concluded with a warning tliat there was likely to be an increase in the number of rabbits in southern Wairoa if the Mokaha level remained low.

In a detailed report, Mr. H. Drysdale, a Wairoa sub-inspector, stated that four new men were started on the work this month. At Papanui he caught two rabbits above trie school and found signs on the high range at the back. At Nuhaka poison was laid on four different occasions on Mr. Hughes’ property. but there were still signs. A permanent rabbiter would be located there.

He reported Ihe following rabbits killed: —Waihi, 51: Mangaruhe. 54: Sommcrville’s. 4; Okarc, 5: Hunt’s, 2: Jackson's, 3; Brownlie's, 6: Mill road, 2; Frasertown, 1; Nolan's. 1; Burns’, 1; Riverina, 2: Spooner's. 5; Preston's, 2: Glassford's, 6: Begg's, 5: Mitchell's, 1: Knox's, 3: Opoiti. 10: Riversdale. 2: Glvnan’s. 2: Tauwharetoi. 12; Te Reinga Native, 1; Highfield, 13; Law's, 5: Papuni, 2: total. 197. Rabbits at Cemetery In his February report Mr. Bennison said there were traces at Putere and he was having the patches poisoned. The cemetery at Wairoa was fairly clear of rabbits, but was being watched closely. Last month two rabbits had been killed there. Mr. Bennison blamed the gorse and blackberry in the vicinity of the cemetery as forming a harbour for t.he rabbits . Poison and fumigation were being used to clear rabbits from Woodlands.

Special attention had been paid to Mr. J. Mulcastcr's property on Kiwi road. Three rabbits were caught. The Kiwi slalion was not free of rabbits, but it was incorrect to say (hat there were hundreds of them running about the properly as reported recently. He asked for the co-operation of the farmers in the affected districts.

Following is a summary of kills in

the southern Wairoa area last month:— Mahaka Native. 110; Putere Crown, 5; pihanui Ration. 22; J. O'Grady. 8: A. Pittar. 9; Ngamahanga station. 179: Wairoa cemetery. 3: J. McCurdy, fi: Huramua Native Scheme. 3: F. RlcArdle. 3; A. Black, 2: A. Shcppcrd, 4: Torbett’s, 1: E. Powdrell. 2: Wairoa Borough, 2: H. J. Walker. 2; Kiwi station, 3: It. E. Jefferson. 1: Cricklewood station. 81: Ruapapa station. 112: P. Hemming. 10: H. IT. Lvall. 5: Otoi station. 98: Waihua Native Lands 10: Waihua station. 4: N. McKay. 1: Poututu station, 3: Patanamu station, 5: E Eriksen. 15; A. McKinnon. 4; Phillips. 12: Lane's, 81: H. G. Gibson. 10: F. Mogford. 5: W. Mogford, 21: N. McKinnon. IS: J. Duthic. 5; B Tumataroa 4- D Glvnan. 7: J. Spooner. 9; Woodlands station. 116: Waireka station. 50: Mathieson's. 10: Sharron s, 3: C. Matches'. 3: total 1079.