THE PROPOSED RABBIT FENCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1698, 14 February 1888, Page 2

THE PROPOSED RABBIT FENCE.

A special correspondent of the Press who interviewed the Hon. Mr Richardson after his tour of inspection through the Mackenzie Country, as to the decision he had arrived at, says; —“The definite conclusion he had arrived at was that a fence on the Otago side was impracticable, besides ho was of opinion that there were few rabbits on that side of the Tasman river, and no immediate danger was to be apprehended of their crossing the river into South Canterbury, or of their making their way round the head of the river over the immense fields of ice at that point. There was, however, a good level line for fencing on the east or’ Canterbury side of the Tasman river, starting from the head of Lake Pukaki, and terminating at some high bluffs, which rise out of the Tasman river bed, about four miles north of the Junction of the Jolly river and near the Mount Cook Station that is Mr Burnett’s property, A s the head of the Tasman river was absolutely devoid of vegetation from its source to some three or four miles below its junction with the Jolly, and some three miles in width, with numerous deep and rapid channels intersecting it, the river might be regarded at least for this distance as a first-class barrier to any advance of rabbits. The Minister considers that a fence if erected for a length of about twenty miles on the east side of the Tasman will remove all danger of the rabbits coming into South Canterbury by making a flank movement over the ice fields, and round by the head of the Tasman. The difficulty of dealing with the rabbits on the high country adjoining the ice fields where no fencing can be done must be met by turning out the natural enemy, so that when the rabbits make an advance they would immediately find themselves entering an enemy’s country. The only other point of danger, and one to which due attention will be given, appeared to be on the banks of the Tekapo river, and mainly on the east side of that river, and above its junction with the Pukaki generally. While recognising the great importance of protecting Canterbury, and for which purpose ail necessary steps will be taken forthwith, the Minister is of opinion that the danger and urgency of the rabbit business has been much exaggerated, and that with the exception of a portion of Mueller’s country on the Waitaki, the whole of this part of South Canterbury is much more free of rabbits now than it has been for some time past, Mr Lance is fully in accord with the Minister that the Canterbury side is the only practicable site for a fence to he erected and maintained with any degree of efficiency, He says he quite mistook the nature of the country on the Otago side, and after seeing it for himself he unhesitatingly came to the conclusion that the east side was the proper side for the fence to go up. There are severaj other small lengths of fencing that will probably h 0 erected,

The Auckland Law Society intend to take steps against three ’ defaulting solicitors. A motion is shortly toi be lab'ed requesting that tbei,i;. names be struck off the rol!^