H.—lo.

1876. NEW ZEALAND.

THE RABBIT NUISANCE IN SOUTHLAND, (REPORT ON, BY THE HON. SIR J. L. C. RICHARDSON AND MR. W. H. PEARSON.)

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

No. 1. His Honor the Supeeintendent, Otago, to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 25th May, 1876. Enclosed herewith, I have the honor to forward copy of report of the Hon. Sir John Bichardson and Mr. W. H. Pearson on the rabbit nuisance presently prevailing in the District of Southland; also sundry documents attached. The report has been obtained at my instance, with a view to the necessary legislative action being taken towards the abatement of an evil which, it will be seen from the report, has become very alarming, and which, unless checked, will daily become more so. As the Provincial Council cannot at present be convened, I hope the Colonial Government will deem the matter of sufficient public importance to make it the subject of legislation by the General Assembly. I have, &c, J. Macandbew, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, "Wellington. Superintendent of Otago.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. Eepoet of the Commission appointed by His Honor the Superintendent to inquire into the Extent of the Eabbit Nuisance in the District of Southland: 10th May, 1876. INDEX. Page. Reasons for appointment of Commission ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 Nature of duties ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 Eoute ... ... ... ... ... ... ...' ... ... ... ... 2 Division of report ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 I. First introduction of rabbits ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 11. .Extent of country affected by them, and evils attending their occupation ... ... ... ... 3 Expense attending destruction ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 Decrease in quantity and quality of wool ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 Decrease of percentage of lambs ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 Decrease of carrying capacity ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 Decrease of fattening capacity... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... •! Effect on State revenue ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 111. Difficulties in exterminating the rabbit ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 Extraordinary fecundity ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 Peculiar character of country ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 Absence of natural enemies ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 Want of unity and continuity of action ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 IV. Methods at present adopted towards extermination ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 V. Methods adopted in other colonies ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 Victoria ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 Tasmania ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 Report of Sheep Inspector, Tasmania ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 New South Wales ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 South Australia ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... fi VI. Suggestions made to Commissioners ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 Crown should share expense ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 Extension of leases, &c. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 Subdivision into smaller runs ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 Introduction of natural enemies ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 Establishment of curing and preserving machinery ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 Report of Select Committee of Provincial Council ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 Memorandum of Chief Sheep Inspector ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 Silver-grey rabbit ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 Land in Hundreds ... ... ~. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 Not kept down by population ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 I—H. 10.