WAITAHUNA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2299, 24 March 1898, Page 28

WAITAHUNA.

March 16. — Great indignation, has been j aroused in tins district by tho method adopted in the administrator! of the Rabbit Aci. A ' public meeting was held recently in connection with tho matter, at which all the representative farmers attended. Several farmers had been summoned lately, presumably for j emiiloying trappers instead of poisoning, and therefore, in the inspector » opinion, farming ' the rabbits. After some discussion, in which ' much argument was brought m favour of the ■ method of procedure of the farmers, the follow- j ing resolution was adopted to be sent to the Minister for Lands :— " That this meeting is of the opinion that it is a mistake to make poisoning compulsory at the present tune, and lhat the trapping and all other means by which the same result is attained should be ' allowed." In the opinion of the meeting six months' trapping and six months' poisoning was the most erxeccive means of keeping the rabbits under. There i 3 not one rabbit now to every ten. that were to be seen at this time of the year twelve months ago Mr Tonkin last season paid away in the Lawrence and Waitahuria districts alone £1700, and the wholesale destruction of rabbits during last winter 13 still evident throughout the district. AVith regard to poisoning, Messrs Martin and John Sutherland had two bullocks poisoned recently on the commons) ge, for the value of which. I ani informed, they intend to sue the inspector. 1 Presentation. — On the occasion of his mar- ,' riage, Mr W. Auld was presented by the Truo Blue Lodge (1.0. G.T.), of v.liich he is tbe District Deputy, with a Grand Lodge regalia, m recognition of bis valued services m connection with the lodge. Death. — Ar other of the fast decreasing band of old Waitahuna settlers has passed avray in tbe person of John Sto'ey. who was found dead in his bed on Wednesday last in Woolshed Gully. , Soiree. — A very successful soiree was held on Wednesday last io connection with the Presbyterian church. The pre-jcberi were the Ev. Jame, Reid, Dr Wndds-11. Mr Cbisholm, and Mr Fraser. A mo-t enjoyable Sa'»b<th school picnic ; was also held in the mjinse grounds on Saturday. >