I.—ll

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172. Are you not aware that over the Brancepeth Estate there is water in a great number of the gullies ?—Yes; in a great part of it there is, but obviously not where the dams are required. 173. Do you know the Glenburn Station, further up the coast? —Yes. 174. Can you give the Committee any idea, or suggest any reason, why the rabbits have not thrived in that part ?—They have had ferrets there. 175. Have you known that ferrets were turned out there ?—Yes ; I believe some were turned out there some years ago. 176. But, as a matter of fact, are there any rabbits there now?—No ; not many, I believe. 177. Have they turned out many ferrets in that district?—l do not know the number, but they and the stoats and weasels have probably spread up the coast. 178. Are you aware, going further north, that rabbits are numerous, notwithstanding the fact that ferrets have been turned out ?—Yes ; but they have either trapped or employed rabbiters w or both. 179. Now, as to the trapping: you have heard, perhaps, that I have been in the habit of trapping on my place ?—Yes. 180. Have you any idea as to what extent and under what circumstances? —No ; but no doubt you would have carried it out with care —you would not trust any strange men. I can say I tried trapping on the coast, and within a few days the report came in that the men got as many ferrets as rabbits. This was an honest man—one that I could rely upon—and we stopped trapping at once. If this man had been an ordinary rabbiter we should have known nothing about it. I am quite certain I should soon have found the rabbits increasing. 181. Are you personally aware whether trapping is being carried on to any extent in the Wairarapa now or not ? —They have been checking it this season, I believe; but last year there was a great deal of it done. 182. What we want is satisfactory information on this point?—l do not know any particular place where it is carried on to any great extent just now. During the last two or three years there was considerable trapping, and this goes far to explain the decrease of ferrets. 183. Speaking of poisoning: have you seen many dead birds about in consequence of this poisoning ?—Of which kind ? 184. Larks?—No, I do not think so. 185. Any dead cats or ferrets ?—No; but I notice pheasants and paradise ducks have disappeared; you do not see them now nearly so thick as before. These, no doubt, have been poisoned. 186. In some of the recommendations by the Inspectors, they recommend that rabbit-netting should be made a legal fence : do you know this to be so ?—Yes. 187. I have gathered from your remarks that this would be a bad course to adopt?— Yes; I think it would be almost useless, and most unjust. It would mean ruination to the small settler. It would suit me well enough if the power was given ; but I should be sorry for the small settler outside, who might be put to a great expense with no advantage to himself. 188. Mr. Dodson.] How far had the rabbits spread over this property where you told us some time ago a man could kill eighty a day ?—On the verge of the country they were as thick as I have described, and, more or less, all over it. 189. Just in small parts only ; not over any extent of country?—No ; very numerous in some parts, less so in others. 190. Were there many places on your property where the rabbits were so thick as the place you have referred to ? —No. 191. When they were so thick that a man could kill eighty a day was about twelve years ago? —Yes. 192. Did you at first begin by turning out ferrets in small numbers?— Yes. 193. And you have carried on that plan up to the present time?—No ; I have turned no ferrets out for the last two years; I have trusted to the natural increase, and have been entirely satisfied with the result. In fact, my mind is quite easy in regard to the rabbit-scare. 194. In addition to ferrets, have you turned out stoats and weasels? —No; but my neighbour has, and they have spread. 195. And you have a very decided opinion that wire netting is against the interests of the small settler ?—Quite so ; besides being, in most cases, an unnecessary expense to the large one. 196. And your opinion has been gathered from practical experience; but, on the other hand, the Inspectors recommend to the contrary ? —lt does not say much for their knowledge. 197. Hon. Mr. Bobinson.] Then, I understand from your remarks that the people in your district are better judges, and have a better knowledge as to the best mode of keeping down the rabbits; in fact, they act independently, and know best what to do?— Yes. 198. And that acting privately, altogether free from the interference of the Inspectors, is, in your opinion, more conducive to the destruction of rabbits ?—Yes ; though it generally takes time to learn what is really best. All the Inspector has to do is to compel negligent owners to act. 199. Mr. Anderson.] I should like to know more about the character of this land : you say its rough country? —The coast-run is rough and shingly, with loose stones—just the kind of land, in my opinion, that rabbits thrive upon. 200. What do you think of fluke in a colder climate, like the South, for instance ? Do you consider it could be applied thsre with success ? —lt might help to check the rabbit from spreading, but it is not, in my opinion, sufficient of itself. 201. Have you any knowledge of the disease that is said to have spread in some parts of Canada ?—All I know of it is that it is of the form of fluke. 202. Mr. Lawry.] Do you think in the course of time the increase of rabbits, in many parts of New Zealand, will render the increase of ferrets necessary ? —Yes; I should certainly say so, because the moment you get rid of the vermin the rabbit increases. As an instance of this, I may tell