RABBIT CONTROL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19861, 11 February 1939, Page 6

RABBIT CONTROL

EAST COAST BOARD FIRST MEETING OF YEAR REPORTS FOR TWO MONTHS The East Coast Rabbit Board held its first meeting for 1939 in Gisborne yesterday afternoon, when there were present Messrs. E. M. Hutchinson, chairman, C. G. Holdsworth, E. M. Monckton and F. R. Bould, of the Department of Agriculture. Payments over the past two months totalling £937. were confirmed. It was reported that the inspector, Mr. H. A. Burgess, commenced his annual inspection of the Wairoa area last week.

Reporting on the country he had inspected in the Whakatane district during December ' and January, Mr. Burgess stated that on the sandhills, Opotiki-Tiriohanga, no signs of rabbits could be found, only hares being in, evidence. Inquiries at Waimana and Nukuhou showed that rabbits had not been seen there. Ruatoki, Owhakatora and Rewarewa country was clean. No traces were found on Kiwinui or on portions of Te Teko block. There was an odd sign at Waiohau and that country would be worked during February. Odd signs of rabbits were found also on Kopuriki and Te Houhi estates.

Along the banks of the Horomanga River the country was clean, except on one of the high ridges near the mouth of the gorge. An odd sign was found on Ohuta, but otherwise the Galatea estate was clean. On Murupara estate a rabbit was caught near the Rangitaiki River. Ngahuinga, Heruiwi and Tengira country carried no traces.

The inspector added that he considered the country where rabbits were usually found to be in a most satisfactory condition. Kills in December and January were: —December, Galatea 1 and Te Houhi 1; January, Galatea 2 and Murupara 1; total 5. Southern Area In his report on the Wairoa district the sub-inspector, Mr. T. R. England stated. "During December the following places were worked. —Waihua native country, Waihua station, Messrs. N. Mackay, McKinnon Bros., and J. O'Grady's properties, all being fefcnd clean. Mohaka Crown and native lands were free of the pest. Parts of Waihi station were worked and found clean, but one rabbit was caught on Mr. R. Neale's property. There were no signs on Mr. Thomas' place, or on the whole of Putere. "A rabbit was killed on Otoi, while another was caught on the bald hills, and two on the edge of the bush, Waireka block. No indications were seen on Ngatapa station, or on Mr. R. Andrews' estate. "In January the places worked were those of Messrs. A. Kirk, J. O'Grady and McKinnon Brothers, and Waihua station, where no signs were found. Putere Crown lands, Mohaka Crown and native lands were found clean. Putere and Ferndale carried no traces, nor did Mr, R. Andrews' estate, but fresh signs were found on the Ngatapa station.

"No further fresh signs have been found in Mr. R. Neale's country, and no indications have been seen on Messrs. C. deLautour, Sainsbury, Jackson, and S. Mitchell's. Nothing further has been seen on Otoi. Four more rabbits have been caught on Waireka and there are still signs on the bald hills. "In December I looked over the Waihi-Ruapapa boundary and also inspected portions of Waihi block, finding the country clean. I covered parts of Mohaka Crown and native lands and could see no signs there. During the past month I looked over parts of the Putere block and then proceeded on to Waireka. There were no signs in the clearings of the rough block, but on the bald hills there were indications. A few traces were seen in the Whinaunui block towards- the river. In my inspection of Otoi I did not see any indications and there was nothing around the Mohaka pa and along the riverbanks.

"Rabbits were killed at the following places during the two months:— December, Mr. R. Neale's property 1; Otoi 1, Waireka 3; January, Waireka 4; total. 9."