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rabbits are, and where the disease might be isolated until proved but slightly, or not at all, communicable to sheep also placed there. It must not be forgotten that it is now present in the flocks and herds of the Colony, and that numerous beasts suffering from it are slaughtered every day at the Sydney abattoirs. In addition to this experiment, a competent person or persons should be sent to Tasmania to inquire into the tuberculosis amongst rabbits said to be present on the Ellenthorpe Estate there. Two American gentlemen, now in Sydney, tell me that in California, where hares used to be excessively numerous, during the last ten years they have been almost extirpated by a disease which, from their description, I believe to be a form of tuberculosis, and it is believed in a few years there will not be one left. They also tell me that, notwithstanding it is so fatal, and apparently so easily communicable to hares, it attacks no other animal. I may say that there are no wild rabbits, such as we have, in California, but it is probable that they, if brought into contact with the- disease, would be equally susceptible to it, belonging as they do to so closely allied a species of the same genus. One of these gentlemen who leaves by the next mail for California, has promised to make every inquiry for me into this disease, will obtain preparations of its morbid manifestations in the animals, and will, if possible, bring with him on his return in March next, live specimens of hares infected, or rabbits innoculated from them, so that Mr. Willows, the Government Veterinarian, and myself may make inquiry into the pathology of the disease, with a view, if it is one that will be easily capable of being spread amongst rabbits, but difficult of communication to other animals, of utilizing it in their extirpation in the infected portions of the Colony. So serious a national evil, however, should not be left to the efforts of private individuals for its remedy, but those of the Australasian Colonies who are infested should take united action, and offer a very large bonus for the discovery of some remedy, which should, before it was paid for, be shown to be effective in absolutely extirpating rabbits in some large district where it should be tried. I think that it would be possible to cultivate a special disease, which, after a time, should possess the characteristic of being easily intercommunicable and positively fatal amongst rabbits, yet not infectious to any other animal. This being arrived at the problem is solved, and the most terrible peril to their prosperity to which the Australasian Colonies have ever been exposed will have been averted. That the cultivation of some disease having such special characteristics is no mere chimera is shown by the report of Mr. Willows on anthrax amongst sheep in the Lachlan district. This disease which, in its ordinary form, is easily communicable between and rapidly fatal amongst all graminivorous animals, has become so modified by continuous transmission through sheep only that it is now in that district strictly confined to them, cattle and horses grazing in the infected paddocks without serious risk, though sheep often die within one hour after infection. It would probably require men having a special aptitude for such research to bring the project to a successful issue, and therefore to induce such men as Pasteur of France, and Kohn of Germany, to devote themselves for a sufficiently long time to this object, the sum offered should be large—perhaps, but for the magnitude of the benefit to be obtained, an amount which would be considered excessive. The direct loss during last year from rabbits in New Zealand, Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and South Australia was .£2,800,000, and this loss is steadily increasing year by year under the present ineffective measures taken for their destruction. These Colonies should conjointly offer a bonus of £50,000 (less than 2 per cent, on the present annual loss) to the person or persons who should find out a means that, without unreasonable cost, shall, within a period of (say) three or five years from the time it is first commenced to be used, completely clear a given large district of the rabbits in it. The only means I think it possible by which this could be effected would be by the originating of some such disease as I have foreshadowed, the cost of destruction by which would when found out amount to only a few score pounds. The offering of such a sum as I suggest would enlist many of the best minds of the world in the inquiry, and would without doubt lead to good result. The expenditure would only be incurred if success were insured; and this being the case, £50,000 would be a very small sum as compared with the benefit received. In addition to this, I would suggest that the New South Wales Government make such arrangement as would enable some competent gentlemen —and I would especially name Professor Anderson Stuart and Mr. Willows—to conduct an inquiry and carry out experiments with a similar object in view. Should they be the first successful discoverers, they should receive the reward, the cost at which the Government have been in enabling them to carry out their researches being first deducted. Apologizing for the length of my letter, which I have found it impossible to make shorter, I am, <fee, Woollahra, December 3. JNO. M. CREED.

(16.) SELE-ACTING YEEMIN AND RABBIT EXTERMINATOR. Messrs. Stenhouse & Smith to The Secretary, Australasian Convention. Sir, Blenheim, N.Z., 15 November, 1883. We have the honor of forwarding by book-post photos of our Stenhouse & Smith's Self-acting Gaseous Vermin and Eabbit Exterminator, with directions for use on back, and the copy of circular sent to the Colonial Secretary of each of the respective Australasian Governments, and shall deem it a favour your laying the matter before the Conference in due course for their consideration, as the rabbit pest has assumed such enormous proportions and hourly increasing, that if not dealt with by the most approved method of extirpation the evil will develop into a national calamity. The main features of our invention are —their fatal effects, and adaptability to any position or circumstance where accessible ; their construction so suitable for transit; the costs connected with working them so small, being self-acting, and devoid of anything appertaining to machinery; no danger of getting out