HAWKE'S BAY BOARD OF RABBIT TRUSTEES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10482, 11 December 1896, Page 4

HAWKE'S BAY BOARD OF RABBIT TRUSTEES.

Thursday, December 10. Present— Messrs T. Crosse (chairman), A. W. Hardy, F. S. Waterhonso, and J, N. Williams. luspeotorsDrummond and Amyes were also preeeut. ACCOUNTS, Payment of £214 3a 4d, amonnt of laßt month's pay-sheet which had been disbursed wlthont formally passing the Board owing to there being no meeting, was approved. MISCELLANEOUS. A letter was received from Mr Clifton (Inspector for Auokland distrlot) acknowledging with thanks the Board's report In refereuce to rabbits about Taupo. The Chairman's action In sending Inspector Campbell to make a special report as to Porangabau County was approved. The Chairman stated that the Board of Agriculture had rendered the Board every assistance In dealing with the forest reserve on the boundary of the Howke'a Bay dlstriot, and that be had learned that the Government were quite satisfied ac to the aotlon taken by tbe Board. Ha took

the opporlunit.y of thanking the Government! (nßpfiOtor (Mr D.-umrnond) for his ready and oourteouß aaslntance. A letter was received from Mr S. Brubazon, complaining of the hardship Inflicted upon small settlers by the Babbit Act. He stated that a voluntary rate ot 2d per acre hßd been atrni k, but having no meanu to enforce payment some would not pay and others had to nuffor, — The Chairman recognised the hardship, but pointed ont th'sti so far from doing thorn any good tbe Boird were actually losers from proseouliooM drought by them, A special Act dealing with the matter had been refused, but he felt Bure bhuo sooner or later an Aot would bo passed, A letter was received from Mr Ander-

son, Kweru, stating that) Inspector Woof only paid a flying visit to his diatrlot, arid took no stepa to destroy the rabbits.-- -Mr J. N. Williams said that tbe duty of

destroying the post lay with the owners ; the Inspectors had simply to point oat tho fact that tho pest existed.— Thß secretary was Instructed to point out to Mr Anderson the Insp«ctor'g position. —Id was generally understood that Mr Auderuon need erery effort to assist the Board, The Chairman explained, relative to an expression of opinion by Mr A. Tnrnbnll, S.M., that the natives were treated harshly by repeated prosecution, that the Board were nnable to deal properly with the diabiiot unless prosecutions were instituted.

The month's pay-sheet, amounting to • £171 ss, was passed for payment. Tad Board wenii iato committee, when applications froaa Inspectors Amyes and Campbell for an increase In salary were considered, An Increase wan granted, making the stipend hi each caoe £235 per annnm. RBPOETS. fieporta for tha months of October tnd November were received :— From Inspector Campbell : To Waipukuiau: Out on Mangamairl hunting fence, Manf>amalrl aud Whanjjsehu, saw several soratchinga ou Mr Baker'a side, none on WhaDgaehn. Killed two half grown on top of range and doe with nix young on rear block ; several old barrows on top of range. Sixty one killed here since August. Hunted up Porangahau and Mangaeapa riverß ; no traces, and no rabbiter employed ; Mr Baker does all work. On -Tlpeno Matua's killed doe with Bis in gully- ney sandhills, one runner, saw another half grown, and several traces ; rahbttter to go on again at once. To Tautana ; Saw no tracer nu Cape Turnagain or on coast ; killed rabbit at mouth of Tantane oreek. Along coast to Walnui river, through raoecourse, Franklin's range and down to Tantano, no signs. With Inspector Harvey hunting Wbangaebu baok range t| Mann" ri f fence, slight traces. OjfrV*^ Kuru a run. Ovet Herbert's, L/San » l Knru s, Ward's, Md Cripps/onn' r y- F'esh trscepDear Vjltema;// Hunted wether par'o'ck, CoiKjk's^fsJ, and lower coast oddocks and JK Wwpur. Slight traces near Cook's Toot 'Saw rabbit on Upjier Home Hills an-i new stop ; killed two In rocks near Ml. Pleasant, and two more on lower part o' hide, one doe with six, and two yonnp bucks. No signs on Shop herd's hil! or wether country. Killed two on M'l^an's, saw another, and traces. Trace? also on adjoining Tantane. Ont on C, Fflrbert'B, saw rabbio near boundary. Traces on Te Ohu Hill ; two just killed \ij rabbitter. Killed buck and doe, with five young, on Bullock Hill. Hunted Ben Cruacban Mil an,l flute, Oukbarn, Kuaton's, and Tttvthlae apurn and Mr Baker's paddocks ; rio trac i here or on surrounding country. H.^h winds had prevented more com dU ie losDectlon.