WELLINGTON.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIII, Issue 9456, 23 July 1881, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

July 22. The following report was brough 1 up amended in the House to-day:—"Ke-port of the Committee of the House of Eepresentatives appointed to consider the rabbit nuisance. — Your Committee has conferred with a Committee of the Legislative Couacil' appointed for a similar purpose, and, acting as a joint Committee with it, has taken the evidence of a number of individuals, and obtained, by circular, an expression of opinion from a large number of others, all of which is appended, and has also agreed with the Committee of the Legislative Council on the following report : — Your Committee having, in concert with a Committee of the Legislative Council, obtained a great amount of information on the subject of the rabbit nuisance from many persons and from various parts of the colony, has agreed that a measure calculated to deal more effectively with the nuisance is urgently required, and therefore recommend that a Bill be introduced in this session to deal with the question, which shall provide that its administration shall be conducted by officers of the Government on a principle similar to that by which the provisions of the Sheep Act 1878 are enforced, and that all unoccupied Crown land, also Native and reserved land, as well as private land, should bear their proportionate share of the cost of destroying rabbits and the expenses of administering the Act, and that provision should be made therein for the protection of the natural enemies of the rabbit at present in the colony. The Committee desire to impress upon the House its conviction that immediate and energetic action is essential in order to arrest the further extension of, and to suppress, this pest, otherwise the result will be ruinous. — George Beetham, Chairman." The Maggie Paterson lies in the same position. She is not much damaged. The southerly gale is still blowing, and the sea at the Heads has slightly increased The Detached Squadron will remain at Auckland five days. No damage as yet is reported as having been done by the southerly gale. The amount of the fine inflicted on Whitelaw is being subscribed in town. Steps are being taken to form another Kowing Club here. Nothing has yet been heard of the steamer Mohaka, which left Blenheim for Wellington on Monday last, but itis surmised that she has sought shelter in one of the neighbouring Sounds.