TO THE EDITOR.

Western Star, Issue 31, 13 June 1874, Page 5

TO THE EDITOR.

Sik, —Knowing that your columns are always open to the discussion of matters of public interest, I take the liberty of submitting to you a few of my ideas on a subject which Ins lately been brought prominently before the public, viz., ■“The rabbit nuisance." The matter has been disused at public meetings, and lias boon bi'ou-Jf before the Provincial Council by Mr. Gumming, and the raising of funds for the destruction of poor bunny, by the levy of rates upon lands, seems to be the mode most in favour of coping with the evil. I>o doubt rabbits, like many other things are an evil under certain circumstances, but, I protest, not in a pie, and I fail to see the reasonableness of those individuals, who have for several years been looking with the utmost apathy and unconcern on the rapid encroachment and multiplication of the rabbit,, so long as their annual income was in no wise

decreased thereby, but as soon as that ceased to bo the case, make a great outcry and endeavour to saddle the expense of coping with their difficulties on the public shoulders. lam inclined to think that if tho truth was known, it would be found those who make tho most fuss about tho rabbits, are those who have hitherto spent tho least money or time in trying to keep them down. The plan I would recommend is the following. Ist. Lot the Provincial Council pass a law making the duty of every occupier of land to destroy and keep down the rabbits on the land in his occupation, and make him liable for any damage sustained by his neighbour from rabbits bred or harboured on his land. 2nd. Let the Government take steps to introduce ferrets and weasels, “to bo sold” to those individuals who may think it would bo to their interest to possess them. I believe tho above plan would be found far more effective than putting it into the hands of Road Boards, and there arc many farmers who would prefer killing their own rabbits to paying a rate to have them killed for them. When the land is divided into paddocks and cultivated, the rabbits will soon get below the point at which they become a nuisance. It is only where they are harboured by bush or natural herbage that they can hold their ground.— Yours. Ac.. Clodhopper. P.S.—Since writing tho above I have read “ Settler’s ” very sensible lottsr in your last issue, and I fully endorse every sentiment contained therein. In my last letter you somewhat altered tho sense by putting “more” for “none” in tho sentence, “Wo have none of these stiff chiy soils so common in England.” —O