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Mr. George M. Bell, runholder from Southland, attended to give evidence, which was duly taken down by reporter in attendance. Resolved, That the Committee be adjourned until to-morrow at 11 a.m.

Feiday, 25th August, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to notice at 11 o'clock a.m. Peesent : Mr. Andrew, Mr. Manders, Mr. Hodgkinson, Mr. Seymour. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Andrew, That Mr. Seymour and the mover communicate with the Government, the Hon Dr. Menzies, or other member of the Upper House, respecting the introduction into the Legislative Council of a Bill for the abatement of the Rabbit Nuisance. Resolved, That the Committee be adjourned until Monday at 10 a.m.

Monday, 28th August, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to notice at 10 o'clock a.m. Peesent : Mr. Andrew, Mr. Seymour. Mr. Hodgkinson, The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Captain Campbell Walker, Conservator of State Forests, attended and gave evidence, which was duly taken down fey reporter in attendance. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Andrew, That the following report be adopted and brought up to the House to-morrow : — The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the Rabbit Nuisance have the honor to report that they have carefully studied the reports of inquiries into the subject in the Australian colonies, in New Zealand, and elsewhere. They have also examined a sufficient number of witnesses to confirm beyond doubt the facts of the case. The mischief already done is most serious, is increasing, and, unless some effectual remedy be adopted, is likely to increase. The Committee recommend that a Bill should be introduced into the Legislature, without delay, to establish an inexpensive machinery, by which the owners or occupiers of land may be compelled to keep in check the increase of rabbits on their holdings. The Committee are of opinion that such a Bill might be extended so as to include pigs and probably other noxious animals. They further think that a grant of money for the purpose of introducing weasels, as a natural check, into the country, would (if the object were attained) be of very great service. The Committee call the attention of the House especially to the evidence of Captain Walker, Conservator of the State Forests, showing that forest-planting by the Government will be useless expense if rabbits are allowed to multiply uncontrolled in the neighbourhood of plantations. The Committee then adjourned.

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE. Tuesday, Ist August, 1876. Mr. William Beetham being in attendance, was examined as follows: — 1. Mr. Andrew.] Tou have been a settler for some years in New Zealand? —Tes. 2. How many years ?—About twenty years. 3. Tou are tolerably well acquainted with the District of the Wairarapa?—Tes. 4. When you first knew that district were there any rabbits on it ?—There were a few when I first went up there. 5. What sort of rabbits?— The ordinary domesticated fancy lop-eared rabbit. I think there were a few of those at Manaia. 6. Did these increase to a detrimental extent?— No. 7. Have rabbits increased to a detrimental extent during the past few years. lam speaking of the Wairarapa District ?—Tes, within the past four or five years they have very greatly increased till they have now become a pest and a nuisance, and occasion a serious loss by destroying feed on the runs. 8. The Chairman.'] I presume the rabbits you are now speaking of are a different variety to the domesticated animals of which you spoke a minute ago? —Tes. 9. Mr. Andrew.] By whom were these rabbits introduced ? —By a Mr. Carter. 10. These are the grey rabbits ?—Tes.