RABBIT MENACE : INFILTRATION TO BE REDUCED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22730, 31 August 1948, Page 4

RABBIT MENACE : INFILTRATION TO BE REDUCED

Assistance in reducing the infiltration of rabbits from the area under the control of the Northern Hatvkc’s Bay Rabbit Board Into the East Coast Eabbit Board's area has been promised as a result of (the meeting: with members of the New Zealand Rabbit Destruction Conncil at Mohaka last month. This was reported at Friday's meeting of the East Coast Rabbit Board, members agreeing that this proposed assistance would be of very great help to the board. Poisoning and dogs were used to good effect by the rabbiters in the various parts of the board's district last month and a large number of kills were made. In the western Wairoa area 572 rabbits were killed. 343 of these being poisoned in the Tuai zone. In the Ruakituri zone 82 rabbits were poisoned, while in the Maori zone 147 rabbits were killed, mostly by dogs and traps. Last month had not been a particularly favourable one for poisoning, according to the report of the subinsoector. Mr. C. E. Morten. More dogs were needed by the rabbiters and he recommended the board to investigate this matter. Fifty-three rabbits were killed in the northern Wairoa area last month, the various areas worked being: Highfield, 12 killed; Ruakaka, 3: Mr. von Pein’s, 2; Mr. Hole’s property, 4; Tukemoki, 5; Terere, 2; Arnewa, 3; Flaxmill, 1; Mr. Trafford’s, 1; Ruakituri, 3; Te Tuki. 4; Mr. Tombleson’s, 2; Opoho, 2; East Coast Commission lands, 9. 1644 Kills In Southern Area In the southern Wairoa area 1644 rabbits were killed, the majority of these being poisoned. The inspector in charge of this area. Mr. H. F. Bennison, reported that he had found one bad patch of rabbits on Kiwi station, but the rest of the country he had been over was fairly free of rabbits.

Nine rabbits were caught on the Whakatane side of the board's area to the north of Gisborne, but 320 were caught on the Tarawera side, the majority of these at the Blockhouse and at the pa at Te Horoto. On the Gisborne side of this area seven rabbits were caught, two on the State Advance’s properly over Mr. Steele’s boundary, two on Mr. Bellerby's property and three on Mr. Hain’s property.

The rabbits in the Waerenga-o-kuri territory are scattered over such a big area that two men had been detailed off to patrol it. reported the inspector. The Whakatane end of the board's area was still fairly clear of rabbits, there being no increase in the number c&ught. Payments confirmed by the board totalled £2692 16s 2d.

Members present were Messrs. E. M. Monckton, chairman. G. M. Reynolds, H. C. Nolan. A. L. McKinnon, and E. B. Sm.vthe, of the Department of Agriculture.