The Babbit Act. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2360, 18 May 1899, Page 15

The Babbit Act. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — In last issue of the Witness there appears a speech which Mr Dynes delivered at the last meeting of the Gore Farmers' Club, re rabbits. The inconsistent position the speaker took up in heaping praise on the administrators of the Babbit Act caused some surprise to those present. Mr Dynes seemed to rejoice that he was not in the position that some of his neighbours are in, who are getting fined for having rabbits on their land. He stated that he killed- all the rabbits he could find on his land in the year 1896, when' he took the rabbit inspector over the land, and after travelling for three hours they did not' seen one single rabbit. Mr Dynes goes on to a»y the next step ha took was to invite Mr Gilruth to go on the land and administer a dose of chicken cholera, which operation was to be the final extermination, of poor bunny. Note the result, as Mr Dynes gives it. He says, " Fifty per cent, of the rabbits at present caught on the land are not up to weight, being bo pooi in condition." What a misfortune for. Mr Dynes at the price rabbits are fetching at present, besides being a reflection on Mr Gilruth's treatment. Moreover, the fact of the rabbits being fenced in must militate against their health. As Mr Dynes only refers to the inspector being on the ground in 1896, it must leave a doubt in the minds of his neighbours, even allowing for the land being of poor quality. ■ The object the club has in view is to get the Rabbit Act amended to suit the present circu/nstances, -which have altered since it became law. If all those interested in the rabbit question would make it their businesr to vote for members of Parliament at the next election who would support such a measure, the object sought for would be attained. — I am, etc.. May 12. " MEMBER.

Mr A. Siegfried, son of the ex-Minister of Commerce of France, it at present visiting Dunedin.

Not one single application has' been made at Feilding for enrolment under the Municipal Franchise Reform Act.

The Tuapeka Times states that there is a strong probability of Mr James Bennet, chairman Tuapeka County Council, being a candidate for the Tuapeka' seat at the general election, in the Governmeat interest. "Empire and Freedom!" So said one of the greatest of Romans when asked what were his politics. Britons, let the motto be your watchword throughout the ages. But no less notable was the saying of one of tho greatest of New Zealand public men when asked what he took for a cough or cold, " Woods'g Great Peppermint Cure," he exclaimed. He was as right as the old Roman statesman. Give it a trial ; it is sold everywhere and nover foil*