1.-5

VII

Mr. McDonald, Inspector of Sheep and Babbits, attended and gave evidence, and, being thanked, withdrew. Mr. Fraser attended and gave evidence, and, being thanked, withdrew. The Committee deliberated, and adjourned till to-morrow, Friday, the 18th June, at 10.30 a.m.

Fjjiday, 18th June, 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. Acland, Hon. Mr. Holmes, Hon. Mr. Menzies, Hon. Mr. Peter, Hon. Mr. Bobinson, Hon. Mr. Walker, Hon. Mr. Williamson. House of Eepresentatives—Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Cowan, Mr. Dodson, Mr. Kerr, Mr. Mr. Lance, Hon. Mr. Larnach, C.M.G., Mr. McMillan, Captain Eussell. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed, Mr. Orbell, Inspector of Sheep and Babbits, from Wairarapa, attended and gave evidence. On the motion of Mr. Buchanan, Besolved, That Mr. Orbell be then examined on the administration of the Sheep Act. Mr. Orbell was examined accordingly, and, being thanked, withdrew. Mr. Drummond, Inspector of Sheep and Babbits, also from Wairarapa, attended and gave evidence. Mr. Drummond was also examined on the Sheep Act, and, being thanked, withdrew. The Committee deliberated, and then adjourned till Tuesday, the 22nd June, at 10.30 a.m.

Tuesday, 22nd June, 1886. The Joint Eabbit Nuisance Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10.30 a.m. Present: Legislative Council —Hon. Mr. G. E. Johnson (Chairman), Hon. Mr. Acland, Hon. Mr. Peter, Hon. Mr. Walker, Hon. Mr. Williamson. House of Eepresentatives—Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Cowan, Mr. Dodson, Mr. J. McKenzie. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Buckland, M.H.E., was examined, and, being thanked, withdrew. A letter from the Chairman of the Wyndham Boad Board, re the rabbit nuisance, was laid before the Committee. Besolved, That Mr. Grace, Mr. Douglas, Inspector for Southland, and Mr. Bailey, Chief Inspector of the Sheep Department, be requested to attend the next meeting of the Committee. The Committee deliberated, and then adjourned till to-morrow, Wednesday, the 23rd June, at 10.30 a.m.

Wednesday, 23rd 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. Menzies, Hon. Mr. Peter, Hon. Mr. Eobinson, Hon. Mr. Walker, Hon. Mr. Williamson. House of Eepresentatives—Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Cowan, Mr. Kerr, Mr. J. McKenzie, Captain Eussell. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. N. Grace, of Wairarapa, attended and gave evidence, and, being thanked, withdrew. Mr. Inspector Bailey was further examined, and, being thanked, withdrew. The Committee deliberated, and then adjourned till to-morrow, Thursday, the 24th- June, at 10.30 a.m.

Thubsday, 24th June, 1883. The Joint Eabbit Nuisance Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10.30 a.m. Present: Legislative Council —Hon. Mr. G. E. Johnson (Chairman), Hon. Mr. Acland, Hon. Mr. Holmes, Hon. Mr. Menzies, Hon. Mr. Peter, Hon. Mr. Walker, Hon. Mr. Williamson. House of Eepresentatives —Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Cowan, Mr. Kerr, Mr. McMillan, Captain Eussell. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Inspector Douglas was examined, and, being thanked, withdrew. A telegram from Mr. Pool, of Dunedin, re his method for destruction of rabbits, was laid before the Committee. A return, furnished by Mr. Inspector Bailey, of the number of natural enemies turned out by the Government and by private individuals during the years 1884-86 was laid before the Committee. Deliberation ensued. The Committee then adjourned till Wednesday, the 30th June, at 10.30 a.m.

Wednesday, 30th June, 1886. The Joint Eabbit Nuisance Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10.30 a.m. Present: Legislative Council —Hon. Mr. G. E. Johnson (Chairman), Hon. Mr. Acland, Hon. Mr. Buckley, Hon. Mr. Holmes, Hon. Mr. Menzies, Hon. Mr. Bobinson, Hon. Mr. Walker, Hon. Mr. Williamson. House of Eepresentatives—Mr. Dodson, Mr. Kerr, Mr. Lance, Mr. McMillan, Captain Bussell. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. A petition from Peter Eobinson, on the subject of the rabbit nuisance, which was referred from the Public Petitions Committee of the House of Eepresentatives to the Joint Eabbit Nuisance Committee, was laid before the Committee, and read.