THE RABBIT NUISANCE (ANNUAL REPORT ON), BY THE SUPERINTENDING INSPECTOR.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1887 Session I, H-18

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1887. NEW ZEALAND.

THE RABBIT NUISANCE (ANNUAL REPORT ON), BY THE SUPERINTENDING INSPECTOR.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Mr. B. P. Bayly to the Hon. the Colonial Sbcbbtaey. Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office (Stock Branch), Wellington, 13th May, 1887. I have the honour to furnish you with my annual report upon the rabbit question for the year 1886-87. I may say I can only recapitulate what I stated last year. The position this year is, on the whole, but* slightly altered, and the remarks I made on the first page of my report for the year 1885-86 are equally applicable this season. Another dry summer has not tended to decrease the pest, and unfortunately a mild winter last season on a large portion of the infested country rendered the poisoning operations in many localities comparatively ineffective, with the result that in a part of Otago, especially on the Waitaki Eiver, the rabbits are more numerous than they have been before ; but, at the same time, this influx is confined to the low-lying lands on river frontages, the higher country being, so to speak, clear. Together with this increase, the infested area is gradually becoming more extensive, and they are reported to have been seen this year as far back as the junction of the Clark with the Haast Eiver on the western side of the Haast Saddle. It is questionable whether their advance in this direction will be either rapid or in great numbers ; the extent of timbered country, together with the rivers, must afford a considerable check ; the climate is wet, the natural enemy has been seen along with them, and the distance to the nearest pastoral country they endanger considerable. Although Canterbury as a whole cannot be considered infested, yet there are three points where the utmost care and vigilance is required to prevent a serious outbreak. On the east of the Waitaki River, at Akaterawa Station in Waimate County, they are established, and a frontage of several miles along the river, and from one to two miles back, is infested, the whole area comprising about three thousand acres. It is reported at the present time that they are not as numerous aa they have been, but, when the great danger is taken into consideration, would it not be better at once to wire-net in this block securely than run the risk of their spreading over a larger area by the means used to destroy them ? If this country was so enclosed at once the rabbits might almost be exterminated, and the danger averted. No further spread of the pest has yet occurred, on the east side of the Dobson River, and a vigilant supervision is being exercised at this point, which is the key to the Mackenzie country. On the west side of the Ohau Lake, and towards the Hopkins River, they are getting decidedly more numerous. Poisoning will ba again resorted to this winter. During the summer ferrets were released on the back country, and this is the place of all others where the natural enemy should be made available. lam still of opinion that, the bush and glacierarea on either slope of Mount Cook will afford a barrier to the advance of the pest in numbers at one time in that direction. In central Canterbury, about two.years since, a considerable colony of. rabbits were discovered at the head of the Rangitata River on the Mesopotamia country ; last season, about four thousand were destroyed there. Two men have been employed again this year, -with the result that about 1,250 had been killed up to January. This country is difficult to work, being inaccessible except during the summer months, owing to the depth of snow lying on the intervening ranges. Further north in the Amuri, where an influx threatened last season ; steps were at once taken to check their progress. Two Rabbit Boards have been formed, their intention being to raise funds for the purpose of staying the advance of the rabbits by fencing them off the still uninfested country. A Board has also been formed in Marlborough, and is now in full work; here, I believe, the object in view is principally the introduction of the natural enemy. These Boards are of too recent formation to as yet show results. In the North Island matters are fairly satisfactory ; the dry season has unfortunately rendered the work of destruction more difficult. At Auckland, in the King Country, the pest has also obtained a footing. These were released at Kihikihi over twenty years ago, and subsequently some were put across the Puniu River; here they are only in places where Maori settlements have been, or are, or where there are swampy lands ; and an experienced trapper has been sent up to instruct the Natives in trapping, netting, &c. Owing to the comparative absence of grass and clear ground, I do not think they can ever become I—H. 18.

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the curse they have been elsewhere, and if the Maoris were given powder and shot in exchange for skins I believe they would very soon reduce them to a minimum. In my last year's report I referred to and suggested the advisability, if possible, of endeavouring to procure a bait that would be as efficacious in summer as the phosphorized oats in winter ; this was attempted, but I regret to say attended with no success. Professor Ivey, who conducted the series of experiments, furnishes papers on the subject. Natural Enemy. The utility of these as an active factor in rabbit destruction is unquestionable, and the evidence to this effect conclusive; for the inaccessible portions of the colony no other means are at present available. These remarks are specially applicable to the Wallace and Southland Districts, and where the great utility of the ferret is undeniable, the rabbit rapidly disappearing, and the ferret found in considerable numbers. This method, especially in Wallace, has been carefully and systematically carried out. During the year the following number of ferrets have been purchased and released by the department on Crown lands, principally on rough back country in the following districts : Wairarapa, 40 ; Canterbury, 20 ; Waitaki, 160 ; Wallace, 616 ; Southland, 800 ; Lakes, 286 : or a total of 1,922 during the year. At the same time 7,580 have been released by private owners. In Marlborough, 2,350; Wairarapa, 900; Canterbury, 70; Waitaki, 130; Vincent, 1,300; Tapanui, 1,000; Southland, 1,000 ; Wallace, 700; besides others of which no record could be procured. Although rarely seen, both the stoat and weasel are believed to be doing good work at the head of Lakes Wakatipu and Wanaka; rabbits evidently killed by them are constantly being found, and they have been seen at the furthest point back from Lake Wanaka that sheep are mustered from; the Wanaka Peninsula has been remarkably free from rabbits since the weasels were released there, although little work has been done on it otherwise. Whilst dealing with the natural enemy as a rabbit exterminator, it must be patent to any practical man that, so long as the present want of unanimity of action on the part of those most interested in rabbit destruction exists, so long will no decided results be obtained. As at present conducted, one owner perhaps poisons thoroughly in the winter, and then leaves off or tries to avoid further destruction until the next winter again ; another perhaps follows up the poisoning by destroying all he possibly can by other means, and then releases the ferret; his neighbour perhaps believes in traps and dogs, by both of which means the natural enemy is destroyed, and the rabbits thoroughly scattered. Fumigation again, where the natural enemy are, means their destruction as well as that of the pest; owners using these means to obtain temporary relief completely nullify the efforts of those whose aim is permanent suppression of the evil. Granting that the ferret is proving fairly successful, and that it is obtainable in the colony, would it not be as well to encourage the breeding of these animals on a large scale, and thus ensure a large annual supply being obtained ? To effect this it could be generally notified that, say, 7s. 6d. per head, or 15s. per pair, would be given for ferrets, and 15s. each for all females in young in October and November; the ferrets to be bred under the supervision and required conditions of the department, and every one intending to breed and sell to the Government to be registered at the nearest Inspector's office to which the breeder resides. When taken delivery of, the animals to be marked; any bearing such mark and subsequently found in possession of any one to be seized by the Inspector. By these means many thousands would be bred annually, and I believe the expense incurred in their purchase would soon be compensated for in the saving of expenditure entailed in rabbit destruction on Crown lands; a constant supply would always be available for turning out on the extreme verge of the pest, and on lands otherwise impossible to deal with. Crown Lands. When the vast extent of these, that have again to be dealt with by the department, is taken into consideration, and the burden of which falls solely upon them, I trust that liberal provision will be made by Parliament to meet their requirements. Here I would like to point out that in reality the duties of the Babbit Department should only be to see that rabbits are destroyed, whereas, under present conditions, the department has really to become the qtiasi-ov/nei of huge areas, and destroy the rabbits thereon, whilst another department administers these lands and receives any revenues that accrue. This state of affairs is unsatisfactory, as the sums expended upon these lands go to swell the expenditure of the Rabbit Department, while those who should be responsible for them are free from either expenditure or responsibility. Were the Crown Lands Department debited with the outlay, a keener perception of the position would be produced, and would often tend to expedite the disposal of areas which otherwise remain unoccupied, and consequently become overrun before the Rabbit Depaj tment can deal with them, a course of inaction being compelled through circumstances over which they have no control. During the year a number of prosecutions have been instituted in the several districts; but in many cases the sympathies of the Magistrates are so pronounced in favour of the landowner, that prosecutions as a deterrent are useless ; generally speaking, merely nominal fines are inflicted, and this is viewed by defendants as a less expensive mode of dealing with the pest than complying with the Act. I fear that in the Lake County more lauds will be abandoned owing to the fact that this high country which, at its best, never carried many sheep to the acre and, being difficult to muster, could not, at the late prices obtained for wool and sheep, together with the annual expenditure for rabbit destruction and other drawbacks, be worked otherwise than that at a loss. Means of Destruction. No fresh methods have been added to those already known, phosphorized grain being still the most effectual means adopted. The different opinions as to its utility in summer are very con-

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flicting; given certain conditions it may be employed to advantage, but the evidence available does not show that it can be depended upon in all cases. Fencing, where the country is adapted to it, must afford a valuable check ; and when erected upon private properties the rabbits can be destroyed without the danger of their being again suddenly overrun, as frequently occurs where no obstacle to their advance exists ; and it is a question whether the expenditure incurred in continuous destruction would not become eventually far in excess of what the first outlay would be in protection against the plague. Were wire-net fencing included in the schedule to the Fencing Act, many would avail themselves of this protection which the fact of it not being a legal fence precludes. With the view to retrenchment and to meet present requirements, a considerable number of agents and some Inspectors have been dispensed with; for this object an amendment to the present Act is proposed, which, by simplifying proceedings, will render it more workable with a much smaller staff, save time in dealing with delinquents, and leave more money available for other purposes, such as the purchase of natural enemy, &c. The results of the past year's proceedings show that, although the pest is still slowly making fresh headway, yet their numbers on the previously-infested country are, as a rule, less, and the increase of sheep, good lambing and clip, speaks for itself; but yet, the fact remains that the pest is still, and must be, an annual tax upon the owners of properties as well as on the State, and that some inexpensive factor, in the shape of disease or natural enemy, is required as a destroyer to abate this continual drain on the principal industry of the colony. A statement of expenditure, &c, is attached hereto. I have, &c, Benj. P. Bayly, Superintending Inspector. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington.

4 APPENDICES.

APPENDIX A. Statement of Expenditure, &c., for the Year ended 31st March, 1887.

Geuebal Remarks.—Payments to agents, labour, material purchased, and other contingencies not included in this expenditure. It is impossible to give the number of skins from each district; but the total export for the whole colony from the Ist April, 1886, to the 31st March, 1887, is shown herein, as exported from the different ports. The number of rabbit-skins exported during year ended 31st March, 188G, was 8,892,372, of the value of £81,847. The number of ferrets released on Crown lands by Government during last financial year was 1,922, and over 8,000 ferrets are known to have been released by private owners,

District. CJ O •> r^ U O O w Amounting to if Bo . CD I'M hi ! Quantity sold. tfl U) M " d tH *m p Mfsq « o o m t=S M O fl 00 -g CD O CD iH Value. H ffl'H • H M (D Auckland ... Napier Wellington Wairarapa North Wairarapa South Nelson Blenheim ... Kaikoura ... Lyttelton ... Damara Palmerston Dunedin ... ISfaseby 31yde fuapeka ... Balclutha ... [nvercargill Southland ... £ ib. 3 lb. 14 lb. 33 £ Acres. 10,000 9 5 3 1 184 41 28 12 35 3 140 140 55 63 100 544,712 4,325 30 31 235 123 105 3,689,982 17,170 24,544 163 4,'000 1 3 2 1 5 1 46 114 108 7 794 72 4 10 86 10 io 7 4,376,228 35,375 17,'COO 26,000 640 75,260 50,000 15,000 432,000 64,000 270,000 9 9 25 177 200 532 20 124 214 97 217 70 20 130 10 69 400 63 405 299 272,'600 1,839 Totals 74 2,315 849 901 1,635 8,900,692 66,246 963,900

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APPENDIX B. Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office (Stock Branch), Wellington, 22nd March, 1887. I have to request that you will be good enough to furnish replies to the following questions with as little delay as possible. The period to which these questions refer is between the Ist April, 1886, and the 31st March, 1887. I have, &c, B. P. Bayly, Eabbit Inspector, Superintending Inspector. (1.) What means have been adopted for destroying Rabbits'? (2.), Have you any recommendations to make? (3.) What progress has there been made ? (4.) How many tenders have been accepted ? (5.) What did the whole of them amount to ? (6.) Number and description of reserves you will require to deal with, and the approximate area of such available for grazing purposes ? (7.) What quantity of phosphorus was used for Government purposes'? (8.) What quantity was sold to private individuals ? (9.) What was the quantity on hand on the 31st March last? (10.) Number of prosecutions ? (11.) Number of convictions ? (12.) Number of dismissals ? (13.) Names of owners of properties dealt with under section 11 ? (14.) Number of ferret-breeders ? (15.) Have any ferrets been turned out by Government; if so, how many, and with what results ? (16.) Have any ferrets been turned out by private owners ; if so, about how many, and with what results ? General Remarks:

4 From Eabbit Inspector Mawee, Waimate North. (1.) Dogs and gun, with the help of ferrets ; I have also used phosphorus with oats and wheat. (2.) None. (3.) The rabbits on both farms and runs are much reduced in numbers: with care they will be completely destroyed. (4.) None. (5.), (6.) Nil. (7.) lib. (8.) None. (9.) Jib. (10.), (11.), (12.), (13.), (14.), (15.), (16.) None. General Remarks. —The rabbits have moved from one place to another, through continually hunting them, but they have been so closely followed up that they have not been able to get any strong hold.

From Eabbit Inspector Lewis, Auckland. (1.) Shooting, ferreting, and poisoning. (2.) None. (3.) Steady progress has been made in destroying rabbits in the parts of the district occupied by Europeans, in which there was danger of the rabbits gaining the mastery ; the Government reserves about Te Awamutu and Alexandra have, within the past year, been carefully and systematically attended to by an agent, and the work of destruction upon private lands is now being carried on vigorously by owners and agents. (4.), (5.), (6.) None. (7.) 31b., in Waikato. (8.) 13-flb., in Waikato. (9.) One case and 91b., including some in Waikato. (10.), (11.), (12.), (13.) None. (14.) Five, hi Waikato. (15.), (16.) None. General Remarks.— The Natives' land known as the King Country, in Waikato, is the only part of the district in which there is danger. At the present time the work of trapping is being carried on on a small scale; but, when the titles to the land have been granted by the. Natives' Land Courts, the individual owners should be induced or compelled to carry on more vigorously the work of destroying the rabbits wherever they exist. In the King Country about 600 rabbits have been trapped within the last four weeks; but, unfortunately, the rabbits' worst enemy in Auckland —cats —are also caught, twenty-one having been trapped (and liberated) within the time stated.

Prom Inspector Oldham, Hamilton. (1.) Shooting, ferreting, and poisoned grain. (2.) None. (3.) Eeserves and Native lands have been well attended to, fern and scrub having been burnt off and a great number of rabbits destroyed ; a quantity of private land has been cleared, thereby enabling rabbit-killing to b:-; carried on with more vigour. (4.), (5.) Nil. (6.) Eleven, including Native reserves varying from 15 to 800 acres; none available for grazing. (7.) 31bs. (8.) ISflbs. (9.) 3£Lbs. (10.), (11.), (12.), (13.) Nil. (14.) Five. (15.) None. (16.) None to my knowledge. General Remarks. —l have tried bisulphide of carbon in a small way, and partially succeeded. I have purchased another small quantity (41b.), which I intend experimenting with as soon as there has been enough rain to soak the ground.

From Eabbit Inspector Eobson, Tauranga. (1.) None. (2.) That wild cats be strictly protected. (8..), (4.) None. (5.), (G.) Nil. (7.), (8.), (9.) None. (10.), (11.), (12.), (13.), (14.) Nil. (15.), (16.) None. General Remarks.— Babbits have existed in various parts of the Bay of Plenty for more than twenty years, but for the last ten years they have been decreasing in number. In no place are they increasing. This decrease I attribute entirely to the wild cats, which are very numerous. The country suits them, and I think that they are quite competent to deal with the pest. The rabbits here belong to the tame variety, and do not burrow. Settlers find no anxiety, and would object to ferrets or weasels being turned out.

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From Eabbit Inspector Obbell, Masterton. (1.) Phosphorized grain, carrots arsenicized, bisulphide of carbon, working tame ferrets with nets, warrens and watercourses broken up, in some places trapping, shooting and hunting with dogs, ferrets and cats turned out, and the cover of bush and scrub have been cleared. (2.) The natural enemies to be turned out in as large numbers as possible in the early spring. (3.) Satisfactory progress has been made. (4.) Five. (5.) £40 10s. (6.) Three; description principally bush, and the approximate area for grazing purposes 8,000 acres. (7.) Nil (contractors find phosphorus). (8.) Nil. (9.) 1401b. (10.), " (11.) Thirteen, South Wairarapa. (12.), (13.) Nil. (14.) Five. (15.) Yes, forty. (16.) Yes, nine hundred, with very satisfactory results. General Bemarks. —Native infested land to be individualized, rabbit-proof fences in badly infested parts of a district to be declared a legal fence. In South Wairarapa the rabbits are considerably reduced. Wild ferrets are fast increasing, and their good work is perceptible. I have great faith in the phosphorized grain and the natural enemies doing the work of extermination upon the pastoral country. Stoats and weasels are spreading over the district; 300 have been turned out on the Te Awaiti Estate by E. J. Eiddiford, Esq., with excellent results. Ferrets require to be turned out in large numbers, and the ground worked systematically before they become effective, and the supply kept up annually, and as many as possible turned out in the spring. The excessive dry weather of the last six months has been very favourable for the increase of the rabbit pest, but still it is with much satisfaction I am able to report that the rabbits in South Wairarapa are on the decrease.

From Eabbit Inspector Dbummond, Masterton. (1.) Poisoned grain and carrots, shooting, killing with dogs, hunting with tame ferrets and nets, trapping, snaring, turning out ferrets and cats, digging out burrows and watercourses, fumigating with bisulphide of carbon, rabbit-proof fencing, clearing bush and scrub land, burning, &c. (2.) The turning out the natural enemies in as large numbers as possible on Crown lands. (3.) Oil the whole there has been satisfactory progress made. (4.) Nine. (5.) £184 Is. Bd. (6.) None in my district. (7.) About 351b. (8.) 31b. (9.) 1401b. (10.), (11.) Thirteen. (12.), (13.) Nil. (14.) Four.' (15.) Yes, forty, but not in such numbers yet to do much good. (16.) Yes, a good number, but cannot say definitely how many, with fair results. General Bemarks. —The majority of the stockowners in the district are becoming alive to the necessity of adopting strong and. continuous measures for the destruction of the pest, and I am in hopes that if those enumerated under the first question are maintained that the result will eventually be eminently satisfactory.

From Eabbit Inspector Hull, Blenheim and Awatere. (1.) Phosphorized oats and wheat, carrots and arsenic, trapping and shooting, after general poisoning. (2.) That the erection of wire-netting be encouraged where practicable, and that simultaneous poisoning be made compulsory. (3.) There is a marked decrease in numbers from previous years, but the area of infested country is somewhat extended. (4.) One. (5.) £12. (6.) Four hundred acres of river-bed is being dealt with. There are also about 145,450 acres of Crown lands (which are more or less infested with rabbits), but which are within the proclaimed boundaries of the Awatere Eabbit Board. (7.) None. (8.) 2351b5. (9.) 631bs. (10.), (11.) One. (12.), (13.) None. (14.) Ten. (15.) No ferrets have been turned out during the year. (16.) 2,350 with marked beneficial results.

From Eabbit Inspector Clifton, Kaikoura. (1.) Poisoning, and the natural enemy. (2.) That the breeding of ferrets be encouraged. (3.) Satisfactory. (4.), (5.) Nil. (6.) Native and river reserves, and unsold lands, 4,C00 acres. (7.) 105. (8.) 123. "(9.) 100. (10.) 12. (11.) Two; adjourned, three. (12.) Three; withdrawn, four. (13.) Kaikoura Eiver lands. (14.) One. (15.) 102 ; not yet time to state result. (16.) 600; fair result. General Bemarks. —That the nataal enemy be bred or introduced in large numbers.

FrJirn Eabbit Inspector Blundell, Nelson. (1.) Phosphorized grain/hunting, shooting, and trapping; and, owing to the dryness of the autumn, an unusually large extent of country has been burnt, which has not only destroyed a great number of rabbits, but will materially assist in the poisoning during tiie winter months. (2.) No. (3.) Very satisfactory; there being a marked reduction in the number of rabbits when compared with tins time last year. (4.) Three. (5.) £28 6s. Od. (6.) None. (7.) 301b. (8.) 311b. by the Government Agent. Cannot ascertain the amount sold by other individuals. (9.) 551b. (10.) (II.J Two. (12.), (13.), (14.), (15.), (16.) None. General Bemarks. —ln addition-to the contracts let, men were employed, from time to time, to' burn the cover and lay phosphorized grain on Crown lands, at a cost of £30 4s. 7d.

From Eabbit Inspector Boulton, Christchurch. (1.) Shooting, dogs, ferreting, turning out ferrets and cats, laying poisoned grain, and digging out. (2.) None. (3.) Decided decrease of rabbits in country dealt with. (4.), (5.) Nil. (6.) About 2,500 acres unoccupied islands and river-beds, about 750 acres of which is available for grazing purposes. (7.) Phosphorized grain was prepared at Timaru. (8.) Nil. (9.) Three cases. (10.), (11.), (12.), (13.) Nil. (14.) Not known. (15.) Twenty turned out, with apparently good results (16.) About sixty or seventy, with apparently good results. Gener&l Bemarks. —Decided decrease of rabbits on country dealt with on Waimakariri and islands therein. Good work done up the north bank of Rakaia and Selwyn ; also on peninsula. Islands in Eakaia poisoned rather too late.

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From Babbit Inspector Foster, Amberley. (1.), (2.), (3.), (4.), (5.), (6.), (7.), (8.), (9.), (10.), (11.), (12.), (13.), (14.), (15.), (16.) Nil. General Remarks. —There are practically no rabbits south of the Waiau, that is in the northern subdivision of the Canterbury District; and no special means are adopted for killing the few that do exist. These, however, are not increasing.

From Babbit Inspector Sutton, Ashburton. (1.) Shooting, dogs, ferrets, and poisoned grain. (2.) As rabbits are coming into the high country in this subdivision from the South (re my report to Colonial Secretary of the 28th April, 1886) I would strongly recommend that a fence should be erected from the dividing range to the sea either north or south of the Eangitata Eises. (3.) Not as much as is desirable in the low country, last winter being the first year anything like general work has been done; it was not carried out very effectually. (4.), (5.) None. (6.) Three: Crown lands—No. 1, Eangitata Island, about 400 acres; No. 2, Mesopotamia, 5,000 acres; No. 3, Turton's County, 5,000 acres. No. 1, all available for grazing; No. 2, 2,000; and No. 3, 5,000. The last two blocks only available in the summer months. (7.), (8.), (9.), (10.), (11.), (12.), (13.), (14.) None. (15.) I believe forty were turned out at back of Mesopotamia last autumn. No results. (16.) None.

From Eabbit Inspector Bees, Timaru. (1.) Shooting and dogging, with occasional use of ferrets, and digging out. Poisoned grain has been employed on the only run badly infested, but it entirely failed owing to great quantity of grass. (Te Akatarawa Bun). (2.) The turning out of ferrets and cats where rabbits show in numbers, and the stringent protection of the weka, as the best natural enemy to the rabbit we possess. (3.) Babbits have disappeared in a marked degree from the bulk of the Timaru District, excepting the Te Akatarawa Bun, where over about 3,000 acres they are very thick. Babbits too are showing on the Pukaki. (See General Bemarks.) (4.) None. (5.) Nil. (6.) The unoccupied Crown lands between the Pukaki and Tasman on one side, and the Dobson and Ohou on the other may require going over by a man or men on Government pay. Area large. Country generally under snow for six months in the year. (7.) 101b. was employed in preparing poisoned grain at the request of Chief-Inspector Boulton, partly for Government, partly for private individuals. (8.) None. (9.) 61b. (10.) One. (11.) One. (12.), (13.) None. (14.) Three. (15.) None. (16.) Not known. General Bemarks. —The Timaru Babbit District is now freer from rabbits than it has been for years, two portions only excepted : one, the Te Akatarawa Bun of 30,000 acres —on the Waitaki; the other, the Glentanna Bun—on the Pakaki and Tasman. On Te Akatarawa Bun 3,000 acres are still badly infested. On Glentanna one or two colonies of rabbits have been found, and the owner has put a man on to kill, whilst I should recommend a Government man also to be employed on the Crown lands adjoining.

From Eabbit Inspector Fullaeton, Oamaru. (1.) Poisoned grain, killing with dogs, shooting, trapping, digging out, ferreting, and fumigating. (2.) In my opinion an Inspector should be able to summons at once under the Eabbit Nuisance Act when he finds an owner neglecting or not taking efficient means to destroy rabbits on his land, without having first to serve a notice upon him, causing a great deal of delay before being able to bring a case into Court. (3.) Fair progress has been made, and rabbits are not so numerous, except on a portion of frontage on Ahuriri and Waitaki. (4.) One. (5.) £45 19s. lOd. (6.) Two; rough pastoral land; about 5,000 acres available for grazing. (7.) None. (8.) 101b. (9.) 201b. (10.) Eight. (11.) Eight. (12.), (13.) None. (14.) One. (15.) 160. Not time to show results. (16.) 130. Owners satisfied, they do good work. General Bemarks. — Poisoning last winter in portions of my district, especially up Waitaki, was not at all successful, which I attribute to continuous wet weather in the beginning of winter, causing abundance of grass up country; and the hot, dry summer has been very favourable for the increase of rabbits.

From Babbit Inspector Boukchiee, Naseby. (1.) Phosphorized grain daring the winter months; dogging, trapping, and shooting in the summer. (2.) That the Government should, if able, turn out large numbers of stoats and weasels, as the natural enemy is the most efficient to keep the rabbits in check. (3.) Good: except a few places on the low lying countries, there is a marked decrease. In a few instances the rabbits appear as numerous as ever. (4.) One. (5.) £7. (6.) The one referred to is the Hyde Reserve : total acreage, 640, including roads, houses, &c, in Hyde Township. The balance of the reserves are let for grazing, subject to clearance of rabbits. (7.) Nil. (8.) Not known. (9.) Nil. (10.) Two. (11.) One. (12.) One. (13.) Nil. (14.) Five. (15.) None during my stay here. (16.) From time to time a few are turned out, some say with good results. I cannot, however, find out number. General Bemarks. —l would still advocate, as I have from the start, the turning out of the natural enemies of the rabbit, especially stoats and weasels; simultaneous poisoning in the winter where possible, and dogging, &c, in spring and summer. Last spring, in this district, being exceedingly dry, the rabbits appeared to leave the high ground and swarmed the low ground; so that, in one month, it would appear that nothing had been done on same.

From Rabbit Inspector Shaw, Clyde. (1.) Phosphorized grain during the winter; trapping, dogging, shooting, and bisulphide of carbon through the summer. Poisoned grain was tried this summer with success. (2.) The Government should continue to turn out stoats and weasels in the back-country, where it is impossible to poison. (3.) There was good progress made during the winter; but, owing to the dry

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Summer, the rabbits increased greatly on the low country, but the high country is very clear. (4.) Five. (5.) £794 6s. Bd. (6.) Cromwell Commonage, 8,000 acres ; Clyde Commonage, 6,000 acres; Black's Commonage and Tiger Hill Beserves, 1,800 acres; Hunter Valley, 35,000 acres; Hawea Hundred, 12,000 acres ; Cairn Hill, Block 11., 2,000 acres. Possibly Ben Wyvis Bun, 39,660, and Timaru Bun, 35,600 acres. (7.) 201b. (8.) 701b. (9.) 1301b. (10.) Fourteen. (11.) Thirteen. (12.) One. (13.) None. (14.) Six. (15.) None. (16.) 1,300; they are doing very good work. General Remarks. —I am of opinion that if the natural enemy is to be of real service, trapping will have to be stopped, as a number of ferrets are being trapped all over the country. Some of the runholders in this district are prepared to turn out over a thousand ferrets each in the spring, on the condition that they are not to trap during the summer months ; they will shoot or poison, but not trap. I think this is a very fair proposal.

From Rabbit Inspector Miller, Queenstown. (1.) By the use of poisoned grain laid during the winter months, and at times during summer ; trapping and ferreting; and a number of ferrets have been set at liberty. (2.) Would recommend that the importation of the natural enemy of the rabbit be continued, and the breeding of ferrets ; and that they be turned out in rough and inaccessible districts in as large numbers as possible. (3.) Fair progress made, taking into consideration that the last season has been an exceptionally favourable one for the increase of the pest. (4.) Nine. (5.) £177. (6.) Reserves, mining, agricultural, and bush, 23,450 acres, 20,000 acres of which is fit for grazing ; Crown runs, 408,500 acres, all of which are fit for grazing. (7.) 2141b. (8.) Nil. (9.) 4001b. (10.) Thirty-four. (11.) Thirtyfour. (12.) Nil. (13.) John Smith, Margaret Ashworth, R. Pritchard, John Butement, Matthew Dwyer, P. B. Boult. (14.) Five. (15.) Two hundred and eighty-six ferrets turned out by Government, and doing well. (16.) Nil. General Bemarks. —This last season has been very favourable to the pest, and they increased during the spring at a very rapid rate. Taking into consideration the inaccessible nature of the Lake Country, I consider the rabbits have been well kept under. Grass is abundant everywhere, and stock looking well. I find that ferrets do a great deal towards keeping down the pest during the breeding season, and where ferrets are located on any particular piece of country young rabbits are exceedingly scarce during summer.

From Rabbit Inspector Pbice, Palmerston South. (1.) Poison, bisulphate, guns, traps, and dogs. (2.), (3.) None. (4.) Three. (5.) £114--(6.) Ono mining reserve of about twenty-five acres. (7.) None. (8.) 861b. (9.) None. (10.) Four' (11.) Four. (12.), (13.) None. (14.) Three. (15.) None. (16.) None that lam aware of.

From Rabbit Inspector Maokay, Balclutha. (1.) Trapping, dogging, digging out burrows, bisulphide of carbon, exterminators, phosphorized grain both summer and winter. (2.) I would recommend that Inspectors should have the power to sue without serving notice as it is under the present Act. It would save a great deal of time and more direct power to compel landowners to keep their hedges within bounds. (3.) On all large holdings the rabbits have been considerably reduced, but not such a marked difference on low ground. (4.) None. (5.) Nil. (6.) 106: Bush, quarry, mining, coal, ferry, village, and unsold, 15,000 acres. (7.) 124pt>. (8.) 20Jlb. (9.) 691b. (10.) Two. (11.) Two. (12.), (13.) None. (14.) Eight; none breed more than twenty in the year. (15.) The ferrets that were turned out last year are spreading rapidly. (16.) None. General Remarks. —l find the rabbits have decreased on the high country, but on low ground not such a marked difference. There has not been any complaints laid with me of crops being eaten this year. The rabbits have congregated about the gorse hedges, and do not show so much on open country as they have done in former years.

From Rabbit Inspector Miles, Tapanui. (1.) During winter months, phosphorized grain ; remainder of year, trapping, bisulphide of carbon ignited, shooting, dogging, digging out, and destroying sod fences, cutting gorse, &c.; a few owners breed and turn out ferrets. (2.) That notices be done away with, and that we have power to summons a man or put on men and do the work for him if we find rabbits on his land, and no steps being taken to destro3 r them; also that depots for ferret-breeding be established, and the surplus be sold to the public. (3.) I only took charge of this district on 15th October last, and therefore cannot speak as to the state of the district prior to that date. (4.) As far as I can ascertain, one. (5.) £71 15s. (6.) About 50,000 acres; mining, bush, and unsold sections; about one-half only available for grazing purposes. (7.) Nothing in the office to show. (8.) Nil. (9.) lOlbs. (10.) None since the 15th October. (11.), (12.) None. (13.) Since I took charge, three. (14.) Four. (15.) Nil. (16.) Yes, I think about 1,000; they are frequently seen on the high country, and rabbits in that locality very scarce. General Remarks. —The rabbits are principally confined to the low country, and I intend serving notices on all owners after the dates are fixed at meetings which take place next week, so as to ensure simultaneous action.

From Babbit Inspector Macdonald, Gore. (1.) All means hitherto known to experts for extermination; universal poisoning in winter, other practical methods involving much labour and expense ; spotting poisoning in January has been found very successful. (2.) Yes, see General Remarks. (3.) On the whole satisfactory; rabbits are less numerous year by year ; as the ferret becomes established I anticipate more marked results; private landowners should give more attention to propagate the ferret. (4.) Twentyfive. (5.) £531 16s. 2d. (6.) 270,000 acres, chiefly bush; reserves for various purposes;

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commonage and mining reserve at Waikaia; two runs, Nos. 214 and 423, fair grazing summer pasturage ; runs out of lease —these are a serious charge on the department. (7.) 2171b5. (8.) 2991b5. (9.) 4051b5. (10.) Four. (11.) Four. (12.) None. (13.) School Commissioners (4), W. Saunders, J. Lee, Sew Hoy, W. Stewart, W. B. Carruthers, Scottish and New Zealand Investment Company, F. W. Chapman, Invercargill Waterworks Company, C. Kettle, Bank of Australasia, W. Aim, W. McMichael, H. Driver, D. Sutherland, J. Hackworth. (14.) Thirteen ; this is becoming quite an industry. (15.) 800; good results in favourable localities, and where protected from rabbiters. (18.) Yes; about 1,000 by one firm, and they are hopeful of results. General Remarks. —In view of any possible alteration in the Act I would alter section 98, so that no notice was necessary. This would expedite proceedings and tend to keep dilatory and careless owners on the alert, reduce the expenditure, and work no more hardship on defaulters than at present. Regarding the ferret as an auxiliary power in aid of other known means of dealing with the rabbit nuisance, although at first I was doubtful of their merits as active factors in the work of extermination, the last two years' experience fully convinces me of their vast importance to landowners in Southland. Ferret-breeding has become an industry in my district. Private landowners are beginning to realize that, in order to assist other practical methods in dealing with rabbit nuisance, they must also foster the natural enemy, and the sooner the better. For this reason I would recommend that ferret-breeders be licensed, paying a nominal fee. It would give Inspectors and others security that the ferrets so bred were the bond fide property of such breeders, and reduce the temptations to illegal traffic in Government stock or the property of private owners. It is objected that ferrets will shortly become a greater nuisance than rabbits. Ido not agree with that. As long as there are rabbits to live on there is little danger to anything else. Those bred in boxes and reared by hand might perchance come near a homestead, and make a raid on the fowlhouse, but even this rarely happens. lam fully impressed with the importance of the ferret, and this year I was able to get owners of property adjoining Crown lands to contribute to the expense of releasing ferrets on such lands. There is nothing new in all this, and lam aware it was patent to you from the very first, but the general public require the same education in ferrets as they did in rabbit-poisoning five years ago.

From Babbit Inspector Hickson, Outram. (1.) All known means; poisoning with phosphorized grain in the proper season; the remainder of the year trapping, snaring, fumigating, shooting, ferreting, dogs, and digging out with spade. (2.) In rabbit-infested, districts, in erecting new fences, it should be compulsory to erect same with wire netting. (3.) Very fair progress has been made in the district; the country and stock show the result. (4.) Two. (5.) £108. (6.) Eight, consisting of hundreds, Native and mining; 26,288 acres; the whole available for leasing if such could be done. (7.) 41b. (8.) 101b. (9.) 71b. (10.) One. (11.) One. (12.), (13.) None. (14.) Six. (15.) None. (16.) I am aware of Gladbrook Estate having turned ferrets out; result I do not know. General Remarks. —The working of the Act has been very satisfactory, the benefit of which is apparent every year. I have called meetings of the settlers with the object of getting them to take combined action, which has answered. There are three hundreds known as the Hindon, Traquair, and West Taieri; the acreage of the three combined would amount to about 20,000 acres; if the land could be leased it would be a great saving of expense to the Government.

From Babbit Inspector Douglass, Invercargill. (1.) Careful poisoning with phosporized grain ; dogs and digging out burrows on runs; trapping and fumigating with charcoal whore there are no ferrets ; and a little shooting. (2.) None ; believe Act is giving general satisfaction. (3.) There is a steady decrease in number of rabbits throughout the district, and not so much summer work required. (4.) One, for poisoning Run No. 415; and eight subsidies given on account of bush frontages. (5.) £200. (6.) There are a good many small reserves along the rivers; unsold portions of townships; bush reserves and railway-banks not available for grazing. Also Bun No. 415, Marora, containing 84,000 acres; about 10,000 acres low country. (7.) 401b. sent to Mr. J. Miller, and 971b. (including 181b. lost by defective tins) used by Mr. Bridge, and accounted for. (8.) None. (9.) 631b. (10.) Two. (11.) Two. (12.) None. (13). D. Carmichael and Co., Bun No. 415. (14.) Four for Government and four private breeders, besides several small lots. (15.) One hundred and fifty-four last autumn and six hundred and sixteen this summer. Those turned out in previous years have increased and done much good, as shown in the reduced expenditure required in summer. (16.) About seven hundred, the greater portion on Mr. Holmes' properties. The experiment was only commenced last season, and heavy floods in New River must have destroyed numbers ; but the hills are cleaner. General Remarks. — Bach winter the quantity of poisoned grain required to be laid is much less, and not so many rabbiters required during the summer. Without doubt this is owing in a great measure to the work of the ferrets, which are now getting pretty numerous on most of the runs. About the farming districts, where I cannot turn out ferrets, I notice a far greater increase of rabbits during the breeding season.

APPENDIX C. The Directoe, Canterbury College, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Canterbury College (School of Agriculture), Lincoln, 28th April, 1887. Having been requested to undertake some experiments with all available kinds of food, aromatics, &c, in order to ascertain whether it was possible to discover a bait that the rabbit would

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take during the summer months, when more or less green food was attainable, and which might be made the medium for the administration of poison, I have now the honour to submit my report of the steps I took in order to carry out the object in view. The case, as submitted to me by Mr. Superintending Inspector Bayly, was as follows : (1.) Phosphorized oats is an excellent winter poison, but is rarely touched by the rabbit in summer. (2.) During the summer months the rabbits multiply very rapidly—so much so that the effects of a successful winter poisoning is often neutralized by the rapidity with which those rabbits that are left breed. (3.) If a summer poison could be introduced this great increase could be checked and the rabbit more easily kept down. (4.) It is essential that the poisoned material be not expensive. I may at once say that the anticipated difficulty—viz., to find a food that the rabbit would prefer to grass—has not been met. Whatever course may in the future be pursued with respect to the rabbit, I think our experiments here are fairly conclusive that the work of keeping the animal within bounds will not be done by means of a poisonous bait that will compete with the animal's natural food where that is in supply. I attach the record of Mr. Gabites, a passed student of this institution, and one well qualified, from his training here in practical, chemical, and other work, to superintend the experiments. Every kind of grain, pulse, oil-seeds, and cakes were used, and also every kind of aromatic obtainable. On looking at the record it is noticeable that aromatics had no attractive effect whatever, the rabbit even preferring the food-material in its natural state, and that none of the substances were taken freely, although latterly the quantity consumed was much larger—a result that might be due to either the drier state of the grass, or, possibly, to the rabbits being more likely to take these artificial foods after being confined to a small area for some time. I, early in March, spent four or five days with Mr. Bayly in the Upper Waitaki District, taking with me a supply of the foods that the rabbits in confinement had eaten most freely. These foods were laid by us as baits on country thickly infested with rabbits, and under the most favourable circumstances with respect to absence of natural foods and to weather. None of our baits were eaten; and, as our experiments were fairly exhaustive, I think this result conclusive that, as far as ordinary foods are concerned, the rabbit is not to be induced to take food other than grass in summer so long as a supply —even a very small one —of that natural food is obtainable. ' As phosphorized grain had not been tried in our experiments, I latterly tried this with other substances. The results tend to show that oats are preferred by the rabbit to linseed-cakes, &c, and that oats were taken as well without phosphorus as with it. A few experiments were made in inoculating from diseased rabbits, but the results did not call for their continuation. During the course of the food-experiments it waa found necessary to ascertain what is, for a rabbit, the smallest fatal dose of strychnine. This was ascertained to be -004 gram, or about onesixteenth of a grain. I left with Mr. Inspector Fullarton at Oarnaru some baits similar to those used at Waitaki, that officer promising to try them in the winter in competition with phosphorized oats. Ido not anticipate that they will prove more enticing than the oats ; but, as Lam told phosphorus is not at all times fatal, it may be a question whether small quantities of strychnine could not be advantageously used. Ido not think the dose sufficient to produce a fatal result in a rabbit need cause alarm as to the effect on other animals. In conclusion, I may be allowed to add that my visit to infested country somewhat altered my opinion as to the value of the natural enemy of the rabbit as a means of keeping the plague under. Of course I still hold that on our cultivated plains stoats and weasels would prove an unmitigated nuisance, and that any proposition for their introduction should be fought by the farmer located on rich agricultural areas ; but on pastoral country infested with rabbits I now feel sure that the recommendations of Mr. Bayly, as set forth in his reports, are founded on good grounds. Whether the protection of the pastoral country is worth trying at the cost of the introduction of an undoubted pest is one question; but, as a Rabbit Inspector, I should certainly recommend the importation of the stoat in large numbers, and should reiterate my recommendation. It also struck me that something might possibly be done towards checking the summer increase of the rabbit by the use of areas of lucerne, or other succulent crop, grown in the rabbits' favourite localities, and surrounded with wire net, one side of the area being so netted that the rabbits could easily enter, but not readily get out again. Babbits frequent certain localities very thickly—for instance, such spots as where a piece of somewhat superior land exists at the mouth of a gully, which offers good cover for them to retire to. I think it possible that such areas, even half to one acre, or larger, in extent, might be made to serve as large traps to collect the rabbits, which might then be easily killed by being driven into a cul-de-sac, or otherwise. Such a summer check, if successful, would aid winter 'poisoning, and be much cheaper than the present practices of shooting, dogging, and trapping. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. W. E. Ivey, Director. [Apiiroximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, nil; printing (1,475 copies), £6 7s.]

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