RABBIT BOARDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3872, 8 March 1915, Page 2

RABBIT BOARDS.

VIGILANT PIIEC'AUTJ.ONS TO KEEP BUNNY AT A DISTANCE. WAIIIOA DISTRICT REPORTED TO BE CLEAR OF THE PEST. 'Che monthly meeting of the East Coast Rabbit Board! was held on Saturday morning. There were present: Alessrs. E. Ai. Hutchinson (chairman), T. Holden, W. Ross, W. I). Lysnar, W. (Jr. Shemitt, and J. C. Field, inspector McGill was also in attendance. Inspector AicGdl was instructed to interview Air. Schafoon, the owner of Bates Island, near Opoti.ki, with a view to dealing with the rabbits on the island.

The Hawke’s Bay Rabbit Board wrote, stating that they were aware that there had been an increase of rabbits lately on their boundary with the East Coast district. This had been owing to the neglect of a settler. Measures were now being taken tor the reduction of the pest, which the Board confidently expected would prove effective. Satisfaction was expressed that the Hawke’s Bay Board had at last decided to do their share in keeping the borderland clear.

It was decided to instruct the Board’s solicitor to write tu the solicitor of the widow of the late Air. Brown, an employee of the Board, who was killed at Nuhaka on New Year’s Day, asking them to make a claim for compensation, which would be forwarded to the insurance company for settlement.

On the motion of Mr. Field, seconded bv the chairman, it was decided to vote'£2s to the widow to meet present requirements, pending settlement of tiie insurance.

Inspectors McKay and Bowles reported that 61 rabbits had been ’killed in the Wairoa district during January

and February. Inspector AicGill reported that 173 rabbits had been killed in the Opotiki district during tlio same months. Inspector McGill stated that one rabbit bad been caught between fliniroto and Ituakituri, and live caught on tvua kituri Station. In each place where rabbits had been caught the rabbitors had cleared out the colonies. The season had been a very favorable one for rabbit-breeding. The men employed wore making a clean sweep of the lluakituvi-Wakaretalioko country. Clydebank was clean, and there were no signs on the'Nuiuika block, and lie considered he could get clean country from the Tiniroto river to the Wai'ka retail eke river and the Wairoa (river. Nothing bad been caught at Gabriel’s Gully nor on the .Kuatoki side, 'i lie Opotiki side was clean, and everything was working satisfactorily. Mr. Sliorratt said that as far as Wairoa was concerned the rabbits were decreasing and the, country was getting cleaner. pne Chairman said 1 that the Board was hen? to see that the rabbits wore kept out of. Poverty Bay, and he thought they could! manage that all right. Mr. Lysnar remarked that if they succeeded in keeping the rabbits out of Poverty Bay they would have a lot to be thankful for." If they saw the rabbits in Palmerston North, they would realise what grass they must be •eatnur. He stated tlu\t lie had seen a rabbil on the Bluff Hid, within the bo:t.ugh of Napier. The Chairman remarked that the p: 0010 <i.own there did not seem. to care that the rabbits were multiplying at such a rate. The secretary (Mr. W. J. .Hennessey; stated that rates amounting to £aaß 12s 7d wore still outstanding, and they Lad lest the Govt rnment subsidy on tills amount. Instructions were issued that all outstanding rates should be immediately sued for.