THE RABBIT PEST.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 October 1924, Page 4

THE RABBIT PEST.

THREATENED INVASION OF TARANAKI. (By “Fifty-one.”) There is apparently some anxiety as to whether that scourge to most parts of New Zealand and Australia (the rabbit) has not at last made its appearance in Taranaki. Several writers in the Star recently have sounded a note of warning, and as it is always better to be sure than sorry, it would be wise to make short work ,of any of these undesirables seen about. It is rather-remarkable, however, that rabbits were liberated on various farms around New Plymouth at different times many years ago, but in every instance they disappeared; and it was generally believed that there was something in the Taranaki soil that disagreed with bunny. Whether the breed of the rabbits that infest New Zealand to-day is different to that of the early days is a matter that I am not conversant with; but let us hope that the soil of Taranaki still contains something that will have a checking influence. For years past rabbits have been very plentiful all around the borders of this province, and it does seem strange that so far we have been free of the pest. There is no doubt about it, as pointed out bv your Whareroa correspondent, if they do get a hold in our gullies and rough country they will take some shifting. The fact that Taranaki holdings are small will enable farmers to keep a better watch than is possible on some of the' large stations in both islands.