H.—lB.

arsenic, and a material called steeline, made by a person named Steele. (2.) Yes; County Councils should be responsible for commonages and reserves. I would also recommend that duty should be taken off shot, or otherwise duty reduced on both powder and shot. (3.) Great progress has been made, but it will take another season to show the benefit from the continual destruction of the pest. (4.) Six. (5.) £153 10s. (6.) 23,192 acres. (7.) About 47,800 acres. (8.) 1,350 lb. (9.) £287. (10.) 17 lb. (11.) About 850 lb. (12.) About 180 lb. (13.) Not aware of number; twelve persons sent away, 526 bales, averaging 4^ cwt. each. (14.) Thirteen. (15.) Eleven. (16.) Two. (17.) None. General Remarks. —l may state that I have seven men employed on weekly wages, who make good work. I move them about on small reserves, or lands which are too small to let by contract, or on large blocks on which there are not many rabbits. This plan I find works well. Two of these are in the Lawrence District—one at the Teviot, one at Tapanui—and three between Bae's Junction and the Beaumont.

Statement of the Number of Ferrets imported by the Government. Number of shipments made by Agent-General: Number at Masterton Depot at this date : 49. 32. Sexes: 17 males, 32 females. Date of first shipment: March, 1882. Number sold : 54. Number shipped up to date : 1,217. Total receipts for same : £55 10s. Total cost: £953. Natural increase up to date : 46. Number landed alive in New Zealand : 178. Number shipped from Melbourne : 241. Number at Christchurch Depot at this date : 28. Dates of shipment: March and April, 1882. Sexes : 6 males, 22 females. Total cost: £224. Number sold: 22. Number landed alive in New Zealand : 198. Total receipts for same: £12 ss. Natural increase up to date : 13. Number at Waimata Depot at this date: 59. Sexes : 25 males, 34 females. Number sold : 30. Number distributed to private individuals : 76. Total receipts for same : £22 10s. In Otago : 41. Number turned loose at Waimata: 2. -In Wellington : 26. Natural increase up to date; 63. In Marlborough :9. From the above it will be seen that 376 ferrets have been landed alive in New Zealand; to this number must be added 122, the natural increase at the three depots. It must also be stated that 157 died through distemper attacking them. 30th June, 1883.

By Authority: Gborgb Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB3.

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