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1886. NEW ZEALAND.

JOINT COMMITTEE ON RABBIT AND SHEEP ACTS (REPORT OF).

Beport brought up 20th July, 1886, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the Legislative Council. Wednesday, the 26th Day op May, 1886. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the best means of dealing with the rabbit pest, with power to confer or sit with any similar Committee appointed by the House of Representatives, and to agree to a joint or separate report; to have'power to send for persons, papers, and records, to report within one month. The Committee to consist of the Hon. Mr. Aclancl, the Hon. Mr. Holmes, the Hon. Mr. G. R. Johnson, the Hon. Mr. Menzies, the Hon. Mr. Peter, the Hon. Mr. Robinson, the Hon. Mr. Walker, the Hon. Mr. Williamson, the Hon. Mr. Wilson, and the mover." — {Son. Mr. P. A. Buckley.)

Fbiday, the 11th Day of June, 1886. Ordered, " That it be an instruction to the Rabbit Nuisance Committee to consider also the administration of the Sheep Act." — (Hon. Mr. G. B. Johnson.)

Fbiday, the 25th Day of June, 1886. Ordered, " That the time for bringing up the report of the Rabbit Nuisance Committee be extended for a fortnight."— (Hon. Mr. G. B. Johnson.)

Friday, the 9th Day of July, 1886. Ordered, " That the time for bringing up the report of the Rabbit Nuisance Committee be extended for a fortnight."— (Hon. Mr. O. B. Johnson.)

Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives, Thursday, the 20th Day of May, 1886. Ordered, "That a Committee be appointed to inquire into the best means of dealing with the rabbit pest, with power to confer or sit together with any similar Committee which may be appointed by the Legislative Council, and to agree to a joint or separate report; to have power to send for persons, papers, and records; three to be a quorum ; to report in a month. The Committee to consist of Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Cowan, Mr. Dodson, Mr. Fulton, Mr. Kerr, Mr. Lance, Mr. J. McKenzie, Captain Russell, Mr. McMillan, and the mover."— (Hon. Mr. Larnach.)

Wednesday, the 9th Day of June, 1886. Ordered, "That it be an instruction to the Committee appointed on the rabbit question to also consider the administration of the Sheep Act."— (Mr. Buchanan.)

Fbiday, the 18th Day of June, 1886. Ordered, " That the Rabbit Nuisance Committee have leave to postpone bringing up their report for a fortnight."— (Captain Bussell.)

Thursday, the Ist Day of July, 1886. Ordered, "That the Rabbit Nuisance Committee have leave to postpone bringing up their report for a week."— (Captain Bussell.)

BEPOBT. The Joint Committee appointed to inquire into the best means of dealing with the rabbit nuisance, and also to consider the administration of the Sheep Act, has the honour to report as follows: — The Eabbit Nuisance. 1. It has examined eighteen witnesses possessed of much practical experience, and also obtained information from more than sixty persons resident in various parts of the colony, as well as from such of the County Councils as were able and willing to reply to the questions submitted to them, regarding the rabbit nuisance and the working of " The Eabbit Nuisance Act, 1882." 2. From information thus obtained the Committee is reluctantly forced to the conclusion that, although the rabbits have in some districts materially diminished in numbers, and can be permanently kept down at moderate Cost in those districts in which strenuous and combined efforts

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