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V

Thursday, 3rd Juke, 1886 The Joint Babbit Nuisance Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10.30 a.m. Present: Legislative Council—Hon. Mr. G. E. Johnson (Chairman), Hon. Mr. Buckley, Hon. Mr. Holmes, Hon. Mr. Menzies, Hon. Mr. Peter, Hon. Mr. Walker. House of Eepresentatives— Mr. Cowan, Mr. Dodson, Mr. Lance, Hon. Mr. Larnach, C.M.G., Mr. Kerr, Mr. McMillan, Captain Eussell. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Cooper, Under-Secretary, attended and gave evidence, and, being thanked, withdrew. Mr. Bailey, Chief Inspector, attended and gave further evidence, and, being thanked, withdrew. The report of the Chief Inspector of Otago was laid before the Committee. Besolved, That Mr. J. C. Buckland, M.H.E., and Mr. J. C. Brown, M.H.E., be requested to give evidence before the Committee at the next meeting. Then the Committee adjourned till to-morrow, Friday, the 4th June, at 11.30 a.m.

Feidat, 4th June, 1886. The Joint Babbit Nuisance Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 11.30 a.m. Present: Legislative Council—Hon. Mr. G. E. Johnson (Chairman), Hon. Mr. Buckley, Hon. Mr. Holmes, Hon. Mr. Menzies, Hon. Mr. Walker. House of Bepresentatives—Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Cowan, Mr. Lance, Mr. Kerr, Mr. McMillan, Captain Eussell. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Forster attended and gave evidence, and, being thanked, withdrew. Further papers laid before the Committee: (1.) Summary of payments made during the last financial year for destruction of rabbits on Crown lands, exclusive of agents' wages. (2.) A petition from pastoral tenants in Otago, referred to the Joint Babbit Nuisance Committee by Classification Committee of the House of Bepresentatives. The Committee deliberated, and then adjourned till Tuesday, the Bth June, at 10.30 a.m.

Tuesday, Bth June, 1886. The Joint Babbit Nuisance Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10.30. a.m. Present: Legislative Council—Hon. Mr. G. B. Johnson (Chairman), Hon. Mr. Acland, Hon. Mr. Buckley, Hon. Mr. Holmes, Hon. Mr. Menzies, Hon. Mr. Peter, Hon. Mr. Bobinson. House of Eepresentatives —Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Cowan, Mr. Dodson, Mr. Fulton, Mr. Kerr, Mr. J. McKenzie, Captain Eussell. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. ■ The Comittee deliberated. The Hon. the Chairman stated that copies of the " questions " had been posted to fifty-seven . private persons (a list of whom was laid on the table) and to the Chairman of each County Council. Mr. Cowan moved, That Mr. A. A. Macdonald be summoned to give evidence. The Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes, 9. —Hon. Mr. Acland, Mr. Buchanan, Hon. Mr. Buckley, Mr. Cowan, Mr. Dodson, Mr. J. McKenzie, Hon. Mr. Peter, Hon. Mr. Eobinson, Captain Bussell. Noes, 4.—Mr. Fulton, Hon. Mr. Holmes, Mr. Kerr, Hon. Mr. Menzies. So it was resolved in the affirmative. Mr. McKenzie moved, That Captain Baymond be summoned. The Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :, — Ayes, 6.—Hon. Mr. Acland, Mr. Buchanan, Hon. Mr. Buckley, Mr. Cowan, Mr. J. McKenzie, Hon. Mr. Menzies. Noes, 7. —Mr. Dodson, .Mr. Fulton, Hon. Mr. Holmes, Mr. Kerr, Hon. Mr. Peter, Hon. Mr. Eobinson, Captain Bussell. So it passed in the negative. Besolved, on the motion of Mr. J. McKenzie, That Mr. Bitchie, Palmerston South, be summoned. ■Besolved, on the motion of Mr. Buchanan, That Mr. Grace, of Gladstone, be summoned; also that the two Inspectors of Wairarapa District be summoned. Besolved, That Mr. Inspector Forster be requested to attend the next meeting of the Committee. Mr. Dodson mentioned that partially-malted oats had, in some cases, been found very effectual for the purpose of poisoning rabbits in the summer months ; and, on his motion, it was Besolved, That a letter be sent to Mr. Charles Bedwood, requesting information on this subject. The Hon. Mr. Holmes laid upon the table a price-list from Messrs. Burgoyne, Burbridge, Cyriax, and Fames, 19, Coleman Street, London, from which it appears that this company is prepared to deliver carbonis bisulphidum free on board the vessels (in iron drums) at £21 per ton, and phosphorus, in quantities of 501b., at 2s. Id. per lb. The petition of Thomas Brydone and others was read and considered, On the motion of Mr. Fulton, Besolved, That this petition be returned to the House of Eepresentatives, inasmuch as, in the opinion of this Committee, it refers to matters beyond the scope of the order of reference to this Committee. Then the Committee adjourned till to-morrow, Wednesday, the 9th June, at 10.30 a.m.

Wednesday, 9th June, 1886. The Joint Eabbit Nuisance Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10.30 a.m. Present: Legislative Council —Hon. Mr. G. B. Johnson (Chairman), Hon. Mr, Acland, Hon.