ERADICATION OF RABBITS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 216, 10 August 1940, Page 8

ERADICATION OF RABBITS.

MAXAWATU BOARD. Trustee B. C. Gower was in the chair at a meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit. Board on Thursday. A letter was received from the Department of Agriculture regarding the clearing of noxious weeds from Crown .Lands'and also the refund to the board in connection with the destruction of rabbits in the Tangimoana Forestry Reserve. 'Flic Department of .Agriculture returned the declaration of claim in connection with subsidy on ra-tos amounting to £5 18s 2d.

The inspector (Mr D. R. Barron) submitted a detailed statement in connection j with tho board’s area, as follows Area 1, bounded by the Shannon Road-Manawatu River- Foxton-Ilimatangi and HimatangiRangiotu highways: The clear country is still in' good order as stated in my previous report., and there has net been any great amount of work in keeping it in order. The “cover” area was all poisoned during the winter with the result that there has been a decrease in the numbers of the [test. There has not been quite the same amount of weed clearing carried out in this area during .the past season. Area 2. bounded by the main Iliinatangi-Ran-giotu hiigliway-Sanson highwav-Taikorea Road and Main Drain Read: The clear country in this area still remains in good order and fumigation has kept any breeding down to a minimum. This part of the district contains a lot of “cover” country and is the hardest part of the district to keep in order. In several parts a second poisoning will bo necessary. There arc still more rabbits in this, area than in any other. A large amount of clearing of noxious weeds has been carried out. Area 3, bounded by the Sanson Road-Taikorea Rcad-Rongotea Siding and Milner’s and Coupcr’s Lines: Only a small amount, of “cover” exists in this area, which has all been poisoned. This is a difficult class of country to deal with and will require a second poisoning. Further fumigation has been done since the last report on the clear country, which is in good order. More clearing of weeds has been carried out than when last reported on. Area 4, bounded by Beach Road-Coastline-Koputara Road and the Foxton-Himatangi highway: This area, to a great extent, is coastal and consists in the main part of “(tart cover” and sandhill country which, with the exception of one part, has been strychnine poisoned and is in good order at present. Tho clear country is in good order as weil and shows no increase in the pest. The weeds in this area consist mostly of lupin, which is holding the sand dritt. Area 5 bounded by Koputara Road-Sanson high-way-Coast and Campion’s Line: In small area there has been a slight increase in the number of burrows but these arc being dealt with at present. Poisoning has been completed in all the “edver” areas. As previously reported, there has been less clearing of weeds in this area than in others previously mentioned. Area 6. bounded by •Campion’s Linc-Rangitikei River, to Bulls bridge and Main Highway* This area, apart from the dry riverbed portion, consists of clear from “cover” country, and, apart from a small area, is in good order at present. On the small area mentioned I fumigation is needed. The noxious weed problem hardly exist.-, in this part of _ tho board’s district.,“To sum up the position, I would say that, excepting parts of Area 2, the board’s area, from a rabbit point of view, is in good order at present and has taken definitely-less trouble from a farmer’s point of view, to keep in order,” the inspector added. “Inspections have .shown that through the winter there, lias been no cessation of breeding and this will entail more work during the coming months ,to keep the pest down. In regard to noxious weeds, more road linos have been cleared and, on the whole, more work has boon done in this direction since mv last report, especially during the last month, when on two properties a large area of gorse has been cleared with a bull-dozer.”