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Nelson Evening Mail, 18 April 1916, Page 6

"The Naval Reserve Volunteers in the different districts are to come under the National Reserve," announced Col. Porter, the Dominion Commandant, at the meeting of Wellington olficers of the National Reserve on Monday night, says the Post. "I have received a communication to-day, forwarded to the Defence Minister, urging that the Government shall approve of the whole of the voluntary reserve of yachtsmen in the different districts becoming, under their own commander, part of the National Reserve. That correspondence has been referred on to me by the Defence Minister to carry out their desire, and to communicate with His Excellency the Governor to get carried out as laid down in the regulations. When that is done the whole of the Volunteer Naval Reservo will become part ,of the Naval Reserve. It is necessary'to bear in mind that .every training unit of every kind, under the Act and the reculations, is de facto National Reserve first and foremost, retaining its special designation."

There has been a great increase in the number of rabbits in the country during the past two years (writes "Agricola," South Island correspondent of the Farmers' Union Advocate). The river beds axe full of the pest, and the bunnies rapidly spread to the adjoining farms, particularly if there is any shelter available. It is a very long time since rabbits were so plentiful. In fact, on the farm lands it is probable that there were never so many before. Some farmers, it is feared, are not taking proper steps to deal witli the pest, though the inspectors have been fairly active of late. A good deal may be done by shooting, dogging, and trapping, but the really leffective destroyer is poisoned pollard.