H.—l6

4

(11.) Number of prosecutions ? (12.) Number of convictions ? (13.) Number of dismissals ? (14.) Names of owners of properties dealt with under section 11 ? (15.) Number of ferret-breeders ? (16.) Have any ferrets been turned out; and, if so, with what results ? General Bemarhs :

From Eabbit Inspector Lewis, Napier. (1.) Shooting, poisoning, ferreting, and hunting with dogs. (2.) None. (3.) A few dozen rabbits have been destroyed. (4.) None, to my knowledge. (5.) Nil. (6.) No reserves. A block of land (about 13,000 acres, situated near Waimata, nearly all bush, and not reserved) has a Government Eabbit Agent stationed on or near the block to keep it free from rabbits. (7.) 51b. (8.) None. (9.) 51b. (10.), (11.), (12.), (13.) None. (14.) None reported. (15.) One, the Government Sheep Inspector at Waimata. (16.) Forty-four have been turned out upon the land referred to in query No. 6, with good results. General Bemarhs. —In the Napier District a few rabbits are known to exist upon several runs ; but since my arrival in Napier no complaint has been lodged in this office regarding those rabbits.

From Babbie Inspector Deummond, Masterton. (1.) Poisoning, shooting, trapping, killing with dogs and ferrets, snaring, digging out, and the turning-out of ferrets ; clearing bush and scrub land, and rabbit-proof fencing. (2.) I have no special recommendation to make. (3.) On the whole there has been, during the period mentioned, a material decrease in the number of rabbits in the district under my charge. (4.) Four. (5.) £30 10s. (6.) None in my district. (7.) 41b. (8.) 41b. (9.) None. (10.) Cannot say without making further inquiries. (H-)> (12.), (13.) None. (14.) None. (15.) A good number, but cannot say definitely how many. (16 ) A considerable number have been turned out, with excellent result. General Bemarhs. —l think that stock-owners in this district are becoming alive to the necessity for 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 the results will eventually be eminently satisfactory.

From Eabbit Inspector Obbell, Masterton. (1.) Phosphorized grain during the winter months, fumigation with bisulphide of carbon and chemicals, hunting with dogs, shooting, ferreting, trapping, burrows broken up, cover cleared and destroyed. (2.) Ferrets to be turned out on the waste lando of the Crown. (3.) Good progress; the diminution of the pest very satisfactory. (4.) Thirteen. (5.) £171 15s. (6.) Ten, including Crown lands ; about two-thirds bush, remainder pastoral; approximate area, 25,000 acres. (7.) 181b. (8.) 1301b. (9.) 321b. (10.J Unknown. (11.) Three. (12.) Three; fines, total, £71. (13.) None. (14.) John Wyett Lee. (15.) Unknown. (16.) Yes, with very satisfactory results. General Bemarhs. —Eabbits considerably reduced. The mode now chiefly adopted for their destruction is by establishing ferrets and other natural enemies, and by the use of phosphorized grain. Dogging, trapping, and fumigating are not now resorted to except on small holdings. Wild ferrets are fast increasing, and their work is perceptible, with very satisfactory results. I have great faith in the phosphorized grain and the ferrets doing the work of extermination upon the pastoral country. Other modes of destruction may be resorted to upon small cultivated holdings near the townships. Energy and perseverance are essential for the successful coping with the pest, and I may say the settlers generally have done good work.

From Eabbit Inspector Pbice, Nelson. (1.) Poison, guns, traps, and dogs. (2.) None. (3.) Satisfactory. (4.) One —viz., G. HKidson. (5.) £25. (6.) I shall not have to deal with any this year, the rabbits upon them being very scarce, and for grazing purposes they are comparatively useless. (7.) 61b. (8.) 351b. (9.) 411b. (10.), (11.), (12.), (13.), (14.), (15.), (16.) None. General Bemarhs.— -The pest, as a rule, has been well kept down. I have no fear of the rabbits ever becoming a nuisance, as the nature of the soil in most places prevents them burrowing.

From Eabbit Inspector Eichaedson, Blenheim. (1.) Turning out ferrets, laying phosphorized oats, and occasionally carrots poisoned with arsenic, trapping, and shooting. (2.) None, with the exception that the Government phosphorus be sold at as low a rate as it can be obtained by private individuals. (3.) Very satisfactory, where poisoning has been done systematically and ferrets turned out afterwards. The chief difficulty is to get the smaller runholders to work in unison. (4.) One. (5.) £65. (6.) None. (7.) 351b. (8.) None. (9.) 1981b. (10.) Cannot ascertain. (11.), (12.), (13.), (14.) None. (15.) Seven. (16.) 1,679 have been turned out, with very good results, principally on Starboro', Vernon, Bichmond Brook, and Flaxbourne Euns.

From Eabbit Inspector Clifton, Kaikoura. (1.) The turning-out of large numbers of ferrets, poisoning, feireting with nets, shooting. (2.) That the breeding of ferrets for turning out be encouraged; that the wild ferret be further protected ; that trapping be made illegal; that poisoning be continued where ferrets are not sufficiently numerous. (3.) Satisfactory, above all where ferrets are numerous. (4.) One; none now existing.