CORRESPONDENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 4255, 4 June 1888, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THB PROPOSED RABBIT FENCE IN THE MACKENZIE COUNTRY. TO THE EDITOR OF TUE TIMAIUJ HERALD, i Sib, — As my last letter on this question remains unanswered cither by you, Mr Editor, or Mr Tripp, I concludo that you are both satisfied that my views aro correct. In 1 your paper of tho 28th ult., appears a letter from Mr Thornton attempting to show that Tarn mistaken as to the number of rabbits, also tho depth of snow m tho Mackenzie Country. As Mr Thornton introduces no argument m favour of tho fence or does ho , m any ehapo or form oxplain how this , proposed fence can possibly eavo the country, ' there is not much difficulty m replying to his lottor. Mr Thornton asks the question— have I ever lived on a high country? My answer s I havo lived under canvas for a month m tho Mackenzie Country during which time tho enow on tho flat was never leas thnn 12in. deep. This gives mo tho impression after reading Mr Thornton's letter that I have had more oxporienco m the snow than ho has had. Mr Thornton states that to cover tho fence ' the snow must I o 3ft. lOin. deep. In this he : leads peoplo astray and moke 3 a great 1 mistake. Not that aft. lOin. will not cover | tho fence ; that I admit, but ia the dopth of snow "ever a uniform depth ? Why after a enow storm tho enow m Bomo placeß along ' the lino of fenco will bo 6ft. deep (or ' perhaps 10ft.) and m other parts not even ' 2ft. For weoka m tho Maokenzio Country wo ! wcro not ablo to get near tho shoop. Wo inw dark spots where tho sheep woro huddlod together, with mow not lees than sft. round thorn. 1 Mr Thornton has evidently had very little ' spoil amongst tho rabliite. I never said that 1 a man should go hunting rabbits m 3ft lOin 1 of snow. I said that when Bnow is on tbo ground, then is tbo best timo for a man to kill rabbitp. Again, Mr Thornton ia undor a 1 wrong impression as to the number of rabbits 1 on tho oast side of tbio fence. Ho states that ho ha 3 Been, after being constantly np nnd down tho valley for over threo month*, " seven ' renl live rabbits" and 15 m one day when ' riding 12 miles on tho west »ido. As I have stated before, I had pood rabbit shooting ' yours ago on tho east eido of tho fence, i.c , ' north of tho Waitangi and m the Tokapo rivorbod. Tho rabbits were then rupidly increasing, but that ti not tho question. On which sido of the fenco are the greatest number of rabbits ? The rabbits aro on tho spurs ' of Mount Cook. They can cross tho Tasman ' glacier and appear on either side of tho fence. 1 But tho question ia — Is tho Government, by 1 erecting this fenco, adopting tho best moans ' of exterminating tho rabbits P Since writing my last letter I havo received 1 the opinion of a gentleman who knows tho 1 country a? well as any man m Canterbury. ' no says that, according to his ideas, the erection of this proposed fenco will be a grout ■ wnsto of money, and ono of tho greatest mintakcs that tho Government has over miide. 1 If thoro is not sufficient timo to flop tho [ orection of tho fpneo, by all menns stop the : houses being built for tho accommodation of men to tuko chargo of tho fonco and to keop the samo m repair. Wo all ngreo with Mr Thornton on ono point, and that is wo should bo eorry to boo i tho grandest country m Now Zealand turned i into a rabbit warren, but fail to boo that tho i proposed fonco will affect tho euro. May I ask which is tho country that Mr Thornton | alluded to as the grandost? Is it on tho cast or west aido of tho fonco? My ! opinion ia tho west eido of tho fonco is tho beat, and this fonco will cortninly havo a ton- , dency to turn tho country on tho west sido . intoarabliit warron. This proposed fonco reminds mo of a man wishing to subdivido his paddock. Ho runs a fonco up the middlo and leaves both ends opoti. Inni, &c, Wm. Upton Slaok. Woodsido, Gcraldino. [Mr Blnrk U mittnken In supposing that our opinion with regard tv tho rabbit fence is changed. Wo nro confident. Hint it will bo of very groat benefit, nnd wo trust thore will bo no delay m completing it. EwTon T-.H.~\ i