The Timaru Herald. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1886.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3584, 26 March 1886, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1886.

0* the 12th instant we published a letter from Mr C. G. Tripp relative to the rabbit nuisance. Since then we bave made inquiries, the result of which leads us to the conclusion that, ns far as regards South Canterbury, Mr Tripp was to some extent wrongly informed, and that the situation is not as bad as he described it. He says : — " The few statistics stated above are enough to convince anyone that the Rabbit Act is not working satisfactorily. I think the department is underpaid, and more inspectors are required, for it is quite impossible for two gentlemen m our district to be everywhere when required from tbe Waitangi to the Rangitata. In one email spot down m this district I am told 4000 rabbits were killed last year, and I hear they are now as numerous as ever, and alarmingly increasing m all parts of the district." It is true that -1000 rabbits were killed on Rangitata Island last winter, but m 1884 the slaughter was still greater, and there are certainly not nearly so many rabbits on the island now as there were before last year's destruction commenced. All the evidence that is available goes to show that the pest is, year by year, diminishing. The present season of the year is not very suitable for the destruction of rabbits on the island, but m the winter the inspectors will no doubt again go on with the work with spirit. Tbat particular part of the district is a favourite resort with sportsmen, and m the winter season they materially assist m the destruction. Our inquiries have satisfied ns that this year thero will not be nearly as many rabbits to be got rid of as there were last year. Mr Tripp has been wrongly informed with regard to the state of the island, and his information, that tho rabbits are " increasing alarmingly all over the district," is just as wide of the fact. The decrease which, during the last two years, has taken place through the whole of the Mackenzie and Hakateramea country is very marked. The change is so great that many owners of runs no longer think it necessary to keep packs of dogs. It is not to be implied from that fact that there is less anxiety to destroy. The pest is always attacked when it makes its appearance, but there is not nearly as much of itj as there formerly was. But we learn that there is an increase of the rabbits on a block of Crown land lying between the Mesopotamia and Richmond runs, and energetic measures are now being taken to put them down. The destruction during the last three years has no doubt caused the rabbits to appear m spots not previously infested. Their old haunts being disturbed, some of them make straight for new country ; but where tbat is the case they are followed up before long and again attacked. With regard to the pest generally, the figures given by Mr Tripp for the colony come down only to 1882, m wbich 9,198,837 skins were exported. We see by Mr Bayly's return, dated June Ist, 1885, that the number exported during the year ending on tbat date was 9,896,065, which, although a substantial increase, is not such an increase as had been going on up to the year 1882. But with regard to South Canterbury o*r inquiries enable us to say that there is a positive and very rapid diminution, as shown by tbe following figures : — In the year ended 31st March, 1884, there were 27,000 rabbits killed, whilst m the year ended on the corresponding date m 1885 the number was only 14,000. Even with tbe 4000 since killed on the Rangitata Island, the total number

killed up to the end of the present month will certainly be found to be smaller than the number reported last year. It is not to be accounted for by a charge of less attention being paid to the work of destruction. The fact is that there are actually fewer rabbits. In Mr Bayly's last year's report, to which we have already alluded, occurs the following sentence: —" In Canterbury the reduction of rabbits on what few stations they were known to exißt has proved satisfactory. Here they have been taken m time, and, by not allowing them to increase m numbers beyond control, they can be, and are being, kept well under." Are we to accept Buch a statement coming from a trustworthy source, or are we to give the preference to loose bear-say stories about an alarming increase ? We should be the very last to endeavour to lull either the rnnholders or the department into a state of fancied but ill-grounded security. The inspectors must push on the work of destruction briskly, and should be specially on the watch for the appearance of the pest m new spots. But no good purpose is served by raising the cry that rabbits are increasing and taking possession of the country, when there is every reason for believing that the department has got a good firm grip of its work, and is doing it m a manner which is already producing substantially beneficial results.