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Thursday, 24th June, 1886. . Statement by the Hon. J. B. A. Acland, M.L.C. Hon. Mr. Acland: Mr. Chairman, I should like to make a statement showing how the rabbits are spreading over the unoccupied Crown lands. Last year I was informed that some shepherds who had crossed from the Mackenzie country to Mesopotamia, which is situate in the upper part of the Eangitata Valley, had seen some rabbits on the high land situate between the two abovenamed places. -This country was not included in any run. I wrote up to the Government stating this, and requesting that measures might be taken to ascertain if there were rabbits there ; and, if so, that they might be destroyed. In consequence of these representations, orders were sent to the Inspector to visit the place, and he went up there and found there were rabbits. He sent up men to destroy them, and also turned out a number of stoats and weasels. The rabbits had congregated in a warm, sheltered corner, where there was a quantity of small scrub and large snowgrass tussocks, amongst which, although covered with snow m winter, they were quite comfortable. The men killed fourteen hundred, and their presence had been utterly unsuspected. If not discovered and destroyed they would have overflowed all over the Eangitata country. I may add that I have receivedjthe following letter from a gentleman living in the Mackenzie country : " Glenmore, Tekapo, 14th June, 1886. —Dear Sir, —At Mr. Hope's request for information re Otago rabbits, I beg to inform you the Otago rabbits, all colours, are already on the western shores of Lake Pukaki, right along to the foot of Mount Cook. How long the Tasman Eiver will stop them from coming north is not easy to decide. They will naturally enough get on to the islands in this river-bed, and a fresh might leave them on the northern bank at any time. There are myriads of them in the Ohau Gorge, and, as there is only the dividing-range between there and Pukaki between us and the pest, we may any fine morning get up and see the country alive. This is the route the rabbits already have come over. The range, of course, keeps them back in winter, but is no boundary in summer, when clear of snow. I think we have got our own rabbits fairly under if only proper vigilance is used to keep them so.—l have, &c, J. McGeegoe." Statement by the Hon. M. Holmes, M.L.C. Hon. Mr. Holmes : Mr. Chairman, I should like to state that one of the most efficient men in the Eabbit Department (Mr. Sutton) made it his business to ride over part of the Mackenzie country and the dividing-range; and he said he found rabbits all the way from the interior of the district, where we know the country is badly infested, to Lake Tekapo, and on to the foot of Mount Cook. He found more or less rabbits the whole of the way, and there is no doubt that the Provincial] District of Canterbury is now in for a dose of rabbits, like every other part of the colony. Inspector Douglas, of the Wallace District, examined. 1622. Hon. the Chairman.] Is your district much infested with rabbits ? —Tes. It has been much more than it is now. Southland was the first district that the rabbit got a footing in. I have only known itjthere for nine years personally, but the rabbits have been bad there for the past twelve or thirteen years. Now they are not nearly so bad as they were. I attribute this state of things to the poisoned grain, and the steps taken generally to destroy the rabbit. 1623. Would you state to the Committee what steps have been taken in your district ?— Poisoned grain during the winter, while after September various steps are adopted, such as dogs, trapping, fumigating, and ferrets. 1624. What do you think is the most effectual method of killing?—Phosphorized grain is the main thing. 1625. Are you an advocate of dogs and rabbiters ? —To a very limited extent. On certain country I believe a few dogs would be useful in the spring of the year. 1626. Describe your method of destroying rabbits ? —The first week in June, directly the frost sets in, we start the poison and get it on the ground as quickly as possible. The quicker the ground is poisoned the better the effect. Then I like to leave it for six weeks. What rabbits are left congregate into little colonies, and these are dealt with by a second poisoning in August or September. I would like to see a little fresh poison laid every three weeks at the edge of bushes, because there are always rabbits coming out of the bush. Generally speaking, I think the country should be poisoned twice. 1627. Would you continue poisoning in the summer months?—On a limited scale, by picking a wet afternoon or evening. I think where the poison is exposed to a hot sun it does more harm than good. 1628. You have had considerable experience in the use of phosphorus ? —Yes; I have been using it since it first started, and seen it used in every way. 1629. Would you describe how you recommend poisoned grain to be mixed ? —I use lib. of phosphorus to 801b. of dry oats. 1630. How do you mix it ?—You soak the oats first in boiling water for a short time, or you can boil the oats —it does not matter, so long as you get the oats thoroughly heated. Ten minutes' soaking would be sufficient. Then, just mix the phosphorus in a little " billy "in boiling water. It does equally well, I think, to put the sticks in as they are. 1631. One witness says the phosphorus should not be melted in water above 120° or 125°; otherwise it leads to a deposit of crystals, which have the effect of causing fires when the grain is laid ? —I have nothing to say on that point. I put this into a cask or churn, and revolve it for a few minutes; then leave it—giving it a few turns now and again—and let it cool, after which you can take it out. There is no necessity to leave it soaking. I have seen poisoned oats given to fowls after having been mixed for some days and laid in the sun, without killing them. 1632. Are oats better than wheat?— They are more generally used. I think rabbits take oats in preference to wheat; but I generally mix a little wheat for second poisoning.