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Tuesday, 20th August, 1889. Mr. W. H. Bbetham examined. 478. Hon. the Chairman I] What is your name ?—W. H. Beetham. 479. Will you be good enough to give the Committee any general information you know of in respect to the rabbits in your part of the country ?—Yes. I may say that we have a great many rabbits in the Wairarapa. Last year was exceptionally favourable for them ;in fact, more so than for several years. They have appeared to grow upon us again. I attribute this fact chiefly to the very mild winter, which had the effect of increasing the rabbits enormously. Our experience is this : that the poisoning we did during last autumn cleared them down considerably. We poisoned early, before the grass grew, and we found that answered extremely well. In Wairarapa North we have decided to form ourselves into a Eabbit Board, and introduce the stoat and weasel. Our object, I may say, ia forming this Board is for the purpose of introducing the natural enemy, not that w*e wished in any way to manage our own affairs, or, in the slightest manner possible, interfere with the Inspectors, because I consider they are worthy men, and have done a great deal of good in the cause. Our object was solely with the view of introducing the natural enemy, and, of course, getting the Government subsidy. I wish to be clearly understood that lam quite satisfied with the Inspectors. 480. Have you formed the Board ?—Yes, we have ; but it is not yet gazetted; but I expect it will be in a few days. 481. You say the rabbits are increasing?— Yes. 482. You, of course, poisoned during the winter? —Yes. We commenced earlier than most people, and in our case it proved very successful. 483. After poisoning, have you hunted with dogs ? —We do not use large packs of dogs ; we have abandoned the idea; we shoot a good many, and keep a few spaniels, but we do not approve of large packs of dogs. 484 Do you use traps?—We use traps in some parts, but only then to. a limited extent; we do not approve of trapping altogether. 485. If any of the natural enemy were turned out, in your opinion, should trapping be absolutely put a stop to? —If any Eabbit Board passed such a rule as that I consider it would be most unjust. I think it would be unwise for any Board to have the authority to say, " You must not trap," or dictate in any way. I firmly believe, and lam not alone in this, that the introduction of the natural enemy will, in the long run, overtake the pest. 486. Will not the trapping destroy a number of the natural enemy ? —Yes; trapping will never exterminate the rabb.its, or the natural enemy either. 487. You think the two are not connected—that is, trapping after the natural enemy is turned out ?—lt is quite possible that many farmers may trap with great success, and find they can keep the rabbits under by trapping alone ; but to use them in poor country does very little good. I think it would be unjust to pass an Act or lay down any rule prohibiting persons from using traps if they so wished. 488. Of course you know Mr. Phillips : what do you think of the fluke ? Do you think it will be of any use?—l am not prepared to give an opinion on the subject. 489. Has it been tried in your part of the Wairarapa ? —We have found diseased rabbits. They had enlarged livers, and have the appearance of being over-fed. The disease, however, has had no beneficial effect in our district. 490. What is your opinion as to wire netting: do you think it is serviceable or injurious ?—lt has been of very great service to us, situated as we are. We had a neighbour enclosed, as it were, in the middle of our place. We commenced poisoning six weeks or two months before him. Had it not been for the wire netting his rabbits would have spread, and our poisoning would have been of little use. This fence we erected at considerable expense by ourselves, but we have not begrudged the money, because we feel it has been of very great service. 491. Then, you consider the wire netting a reliable fence against the intrusion of rabbits ?— Yes ; most certainly I do. We had first-class grass inside the fence, which lam convinced we should not have had if we had not the fence there. 492. What is your opinion as regards making it a legal fence?—l would recommend that it be made a legal fence, but only under certain conditions. I do not think it would be right in every case. It would not be fair, for instance, that any one should have the power of calling on his neighbour and compelling him to erect it on all occasions. So that no injustice should be done, I would suggest that the question of fencing off one's neighbour's property should be left to two arbitrators to say whether it was necessary or not, and that the Resident Magistrate of the district should act as referee between them. Under those circumstances I think little harm could be done in making the fence a legal one. Ido not think the power should be left in any one man's hands to say, " You must erect this fence." 493. Mr. Lance.] What assistance have you had from the Government in regard to stoats and weasels? —I am not aware that we have had any assistance. 494. None at all?— No. 495. About this Eabbit Board : it is not yet formed, is it ?—Yes; it will bo gazetted, I hope, in a day or two. The requisite number of signatures have been obtained, so that we hope soon to get the Government subsidy, pound for pound from the rates, which we considered would be better then getting from Government £1 for a stoat and 10s. for a weasel. The object for which this Board is formed is solely to Introduce the natural enemy, and not in the slightest degree to interfere with the working of the Inspectors. I consider the Government should subsidise the Boards, and I also think the subsidies should be retrospective. Messrs. Eiddiford and Stuckey spent considerable sums in introducing stoats and weasels. 496. Are there no ferret-breeding establishments in your part of the country? —We have done a great deal in the way of breeding ferrets. I dare say we have bred a thousand; but our expe--s—l. 11.