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C. G. Thurston. (14.) Eleven. (15.) Yes; 192. (16.) About 400; cannot say definitely, but have always found them of great service. General Remarks. —l should strongly favour a scheme of supplying proper poison to small landowners at a minimum cost; the further liberation of ferrets, or any natural enemy, in the most favourable season—namely, spring. Cats do grand work in suitable country; and I would like to see more attention paid to the liberation of them.

From Acting Sub-Tnspector Bree, Gore. (1.) The use of phosphorized grain in winter and systematic trapping in spring and summer are the two great factors in rabbit-destruction in this district; fumigating, and the use of dogs, ferrets, and bisulphide of carbon, are also resorted to as adjuncts in suitable localities. (2.) Continued attention to liberation of the natural enemy in suitable places, and greater inducements being given to use wire netting by making it a legal fence. (3.) Progress continues to be satisfactory, and, though the natural increase during the past breeding-season, owing to the exceptionally fine and drysummer, has been phenomenal, tho efforts of landowners generally has been attended with satisfactory results. In very few places is there cause for complaint, and the ensuing poisoning-season should remedy these. (4.) Nineteen. (5.) £179 3s. 6d. (6.) Roughly speaking, 124,000 acres bushcountry, which requires constant care as regards the frontage, and about 15,000 acres open land, the greater portion of which is fair pastoral country. (7.) 2251b. (8.) 1151b. (9.) 2981b. (10.) Eleven. (11.) Nine. (12.) One dismissed and one struck out. (13.) School Commissioners of Otago (four cases), the Colonial Investment and Agency Company, Thomas Edmonston, James Shears, the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. (14.) Twelve. (15.) None this season : those previously turned out in back country have done well. (16.) Very few; where suitable localities have been selected, I have found them to be of great service. General Remarks. —l am satisfied that the partial failure of the general poisoning is owing to the inferior quality of much of the poison laid. The small settler, as a rule, has very primitive appliances for mixing, and less knowledge of how to do it. I would suggest that depots be established in central positions, where landowners could obtain properly mixed poison at primary cost. 1 am strongly of opinion that the liberation of the ferret should be undertaken in the early spring and summer, instead of the autumn. In the former seasons there are many young rabbits about, and the doe ferrets would teach their young how to forage for themselves. It is in this season also, when skins are worthless, that I find the greatest difficulty in obtaining concerted action among landowners ; and the ferrets would prove a welcome aid to destruction. In the autumn season rabbits are strong and full grown; and lam afraid that a large percentage of the ferrets liberated then succumb to the severity of the climate before they learn to hunt for themselves.

From Sub-Inspector H. Hull, Thornbury. (1.) Phosphorized grain, working ferrets, shooting, a little trapping, and a few small packs of dogs, also fumigating along railway-lines. (2.) Legal authority to be given to Inspectors to order occupiers of land, when necessary, to cut and trim all line fences that are likely to harbour rabbits. (3.) This district continues in a very satisfactory state, though there has been a slight increase of rabbits in patches, owing to a large number of ferrets having died last winter. A careful poisoning this winter will, I think, keep them down. (4.), (5.) Nil. (6.) There are a large number of small reserves in Aparima Subdivision, none available for grazing licenses ; also extensive bush reserves. (7.) 241b. (8.) Nil. (9.) 1001b. (10.), (11.), (12.), (13.) Nil. (14.) Nine. (15.) Yes ; 165. Very satisfactory. (16.) Yes ; 1,089. Very satisfactory. General Remarks. —That poisoning can be carried on during the summer months by laying the poisoned oats on turned up sods during cold or showeryweather.

From Sub-Inspector J. McKellar, Invercargill. (1.) Phosphorized grain principally ; trapping, and working ferrets. (2.) Professional rabbiters to cease; power to be given to compel owners of gorse to keep same within certain limits. (3.) The season being favourable, the rabbits increased during spring, but have since been reduced. Good poisoning this season will reduce them to a minimum if weather favourable. (4.) Four. (5.) £53. (6.) Principally bush reserves; about 4,000 acres available for grazing purposes, principally in Campbelltown and Oteramika Hundreds. (7.) Contractors bought their phosphorus from outside the Government. (8.) None. (9.) 1301b. (10.) Two. (11.) Two. (12.), (13.), (14.) (15.) None. (16.) None, so far as lam aware. Ferrets previously turned out have done good work where not disturbed. General Remarks. —lf weather favourable in the month of January, I believe in poisoning with phosphorized grain, at a strength of lib. of phosphorus to 501b. of oats, and adding thereto lib. of sugar or 41b. of salt before taking out of the mixer, by laying in small quantities on a newly turned-up sod or plough furrow. lam also of opinion that the poisoned grain laid for the destruction of the small birds is the means of killing a good many ferrets and cats.

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