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estimated at 300,000 acres. (7.), (8.) Nil. (9.) 81b. HO.), (11.), (12.) Nil. (13.) Three—in Waikato. (14.), (15.), (16.) Nil. General Remarks. —The bonus of 3d. per skin to Natives in Kingcountry is answering fairly well, but the purchase and settlement of these lands is most desirable.

Prom Sub-Inspector G. S. Cooke, Whangarei. (1.) to (16.) Nil. General Remarks. —lt is only lately that rabbits have shown up, in small numbers, over the Kaipara Parish and Matakana. Being of the large grey sort, once tame, they do not increase fast; however, I have served notices to destroy them on all owners of land where I saw rabbits.

From Sub-Inspector H. Oldham, Hamilton. (1.) Trapping, shooting, digging out, and fumigating burrows. (2.) No. (3.) Crown lands have been well attended to, and rabbits well kept under ; private properties have also been well attended to, with the exception of two or three cases which have just come under my notice, and will have my immediate attention. (4.), (5.) Nil. (6.) Fifteen, including Native reserves, varying from 15 to 800 acres; none available for grazing. (7.), (8.) Nil. (9.) 1 jar and 2 tins. (10.), (11.), (12.) Nil. (13.) Jackson and Russell, Dr. Willis, and James Allen. (14.), (15.), (16.) Nil. General Remarks. —The destruction of rabbits has been carried on vigorously during the last twelve months, and is still being continued, by which rabbits have been greatly reduced in numbers in tho Alexandra district. There has been a slight increase on the Hamilton, Ngaruawahia, Taupiri, and Oxford-Cambridge Roads, which is now being attended to.

Napier District. Sir, — Sheep Inspector's Office, Napier, Ist May, 1890. I have the honour to forward herewith the annual rabbit report of the Napier District for the year ended tho 31st March, 1890, together with my replies to the queries referred to in circular. Tho Hawke's Bay Rabbit Board have during the year continued the rabbit-fence, which will be completed in about a month's time, ending at the Tiraumea River, above its junction with the Manawatu. The Board is making inquiries as to the work done by stoats and weasels, with a viewto getting a shipment if it is thought advisable. I regret to say that rabbits have made their appearance in several places north of the fence. Mr. Crosse, the southern Inspector, reports that he has seen traces of rabbits at Maharahara. At Mangatoro, between Danevirke and Wainui, over 200 rabbits have been killed ; and about Wainui, Tautane, and Wangaehu, 160. The ferrets turned out along the rabbit-line are spreading, and lately a stoat was found on the west side of the Manawatu River, though none have been turned out in this district. Mr. Sheath, the northern Inspector, reports that the settlers are working satisfactorily. I have, &c, R. C. Pasley, The Hon. the Minister of Lands (Stock Department), Wellington. Inspector.

(1.) Rabbiting, fencing on southern boundary, shooting, hunting with dogs, poison. (2.) No. (3.) The Inspectors of the Rabbit Boad report that the settlers have worked fairly satisfactorily, but that in the southern portion of the district rabbits have made their appearance in several places. (4.), (5.), (6.), (7.), (8.), (9.) Nil. (10.), Two. (11.) Two. (12.), (13.), (14.), (15.), (16.) Nil. General Remarks. —This district, or rather that part of it where there are rabbits, is under a Rabbit Board, which has done good work, having continued the rabbit-fence through to the Tiraumea River. It is unfortunate that the country was so heavily timbered, as otherwise the fence would have been erected in a much shorter time.

Wellington-West Coast District. Sir, — Sheep Inspector's Office, Wellington, 6th May, 1890. I have the honour to forward herewith the annual rabbit report of the Wellington-West Coast District for the year ended the 31st March, 1890, together with replies from myself and SubInspectors to the queries referred to in circular. The past winter and summer have been unusually favourable to the increase of tho pest, as, owing to the extremely light rainfall, no sharp floods have occurred, with the result that the destruction of the rabbits has bee:: dependent entirely on human energy and agency. I believe a sharp flood or two during the spring is a most material assistance in preventing any heavy increase during the year. Rabbits arc still numerous in places throughout the district; but, taken as a whole, lam of opinion that the numbers have decreased considerably since last year. I consider every encouragement and assistance should bo given to the introduction of natural enemies, that rabbitproof netting should be made a legal fence, and that the import duties on all material and plant used in getting rid of the pest should be reduced to a minimum. I have, &c, J. Drlmmond, Inspector. The Hon. the Minister of Lands (Stock Department), Wellington.

(1.) Phosphorized grain, shooting, killing with dogs, trapping, digging out, breaking up warrens and holes, ferreting out burrows, fumigating the warrens with bisulphide of carbon, burning and clearing the bush and scrub, &c, erecting rabbit-proof fencing. (2.) To encourage the introduction of the natural enemies in large numbers. (3.) Very good, taking the district on the whole ;on some properties they have increased a good deal since poisoning, more especially in the northern portion of the district, in spite of the great number of prosecutions, as the mild winter, with exceptionally low rainfall, and dry spring and summer, have been greatly in favour of the pest breeding. (1.)

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