EAST COAST RABBIT BOARD,

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3465, 4 March 1912, Page 2

EAST COAST RABBIT BOARD,

ORDINARY MEETINU. The East Coast Rabbit Board mot on Saturday. Present —Messrs H. M. Hutchinson, T. Holden, \\\ Ross, d. C. Field and W. J. Hoiuiessv (secretary). In his' report dated February 20th. Inspector McGill, of Opotiki, stated- — “I have just” made a thorough inspection right through my district, and fine 1 things very satisfactory. The men in Opotiki have ‘caught nothing more s : not* my last report. I had a good look round myself, but could find uothng. The Whakatane men are getting very few just now, about two a wecit. They w ili soon have the last of them caught, in that part between Whakatane and Matata. The Te Toko and Ruatokei men are averaging about i hie a week, and they have them thinned pretty well considering the amount vf •■over there is for them to get through, and after it has been poisoned there will be very few left in that part. Waihou aud Galatea are also very clean, and there has been good work done here considering the amount of ground the two men have to get over. I am going to start poisoning at the Tarawera end at the '"beginning of March with three gangs of men. I am doing all the poisoning this vear with our own permanent men, so ‘t will not be much expense on the Board, with the exception of two months, where I will have to have an extra gang will we get over the greater hulk of the back country.

The Board decided to pay a bonus to Inspector McGill and his men up to the time they reported the pest had been completely exterminated in the Op-otiki district. Inspector McGill wrote stating that when Mr Lysnar was visiting Galatea he had mentioned to that gentleman that Messrs 0. H. Osmond (land agent. Wellington) and J, Grace (Tokaanu) held a large amount of country on the Rangitikei river. The former held 4-5,000 acres and the latter 19,000 acres. He had in, accordance, with Mr Lysnar’s instructions, given them notice to lay poison. They could do it themselves or the Board would do it at their expense. Mr Osmond wanted to Enow the cost, which lie had been supplied. Mr Grace had not replied and a nothe,r notice had been forwarded, stating that- if he did not lay poison the Board would do so at his expense. There was no stock on the land. It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Inspector and to instruct him to carry out the work of poisoning provided the owners were agreeable to such course. Inspector Turner reported that the situation was much better than during the previous month. In answer 1 to the Board's enquiry as to whether it was “over-exertion on the part of the men or want of execution in former months thpt producied isuch a largo number of kills’”? lie stated that during the months of November and December he gained permission from most of the sheepfarmers to burn as much country as possible, and in place.? where it was almost impossible to catch rabbits. He had had splendid burns,' and, it being the breeding season, the fires had a wonderfully good effect, especially in regard to the young ones in the burrows. It was difficult to find burrows in the thick fern and manuka. Again he had been trying to get as much out of the men as possible and in his attempt three of the best were leaving at the end of February. It had to be understood that good reliable men were very hard to procure, and he wished the Board to understand that he was doing his very best in its interests and in that of the ratepayers. He had gone in more for traps as some of the country was not suitable for using dogs. Trapping was effective in some of the country. The alteration of the day of meeting had given him time to inspect the greater part ohis district, and he found matters generally greatly improved. In Wairoai there were It kills and Ta rawer a 13 kills, and this should: speak for itself, .'Splendid work had been done at Tarawera. With reference to what as these were necessary in the winter, but not so much in the summer. He considered that they were wanted at the following places:— Nuhaka.' Tutaekun, Wailii and Putere. Mr T. F. Walker would give him his two whares on Ruapapa for the use of the men. He did not think £2O was sufficient for erecting awh are. The cost would be at least £3O. He asked permission to appoint a sub-inspector at £175 He pointed out that the people at Tarawera were not paying any rates and they were having their rabbiting done. Members of the Board thought that burning country was too risky and it was decided to instruct the Inspector not to continue the practice.