The Threatened Invasion.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5295, 27 June 1895, Page 1

The Threatened Invasion.

Mr C. G. Tripp has handed to the Timaru Herald the particulars furnished by the Government of the Crown lands and reserves in Can terbury, threatened by the incursion of rabbits from the south. The total area specified in the return is 3,198,581 acres and the total annual rental £49,323. The following are the detaife :—

Area of lands leased by the Crown for pastoral purposes between the rivers Waimakariri and Rangitata :— Pastoral runs, Crown, 896,045 acres, annual rent £12,174; do Canterbury College, 144,194 acrea, rent £4144} small grazing runs, 4395 acres, rent £178; total, 1,044,634 acres, rent £16,496.

Area of lands leased by the Crown for pastoral purposes between fiangitata Biver and a boundary line formed by the river Godley, Lake Tekapo, the road to Burkes Pass and to Fairlie and the Fairlie railway line :— Pastoral runs> Crown 518,220 acres, annual rent £8014 ; do Canterbury College, 62,100 acres, rent £1240; perpetual leases, Waitohi Hills, 18,440 acres, rent £912: total 598,760 acres, rent £10,166. Area of Crown lands leased for pastoral purposes, between boundary line above described and the Waitaki River :—Pastoral rune, Crown, 1,406,848 acree, rent £15,650; do College, 70,000 acres, rent £2962; perpetual leases, Hunter's Hills, 14,832 acres, rent £764; small grazing runs, 64,007 acreß, rent £3285; total, 1,555,187 acres, rent £22,661.

It is thought by competent authorities that the fence recommended by Messrs M'Millan and Hope would save the first and second blocks from being overrun by rabbits, and that it would very mnoh simplify the work of extermination on the third block. The fence would b 6 about one hundred and eighty miles long, and would coat something, less, than £10,000, Mr Tripp believeß that if the country should be left unprotected any longer its grazing value -will entirely disappear.