1.— 6,

1881. NEW ZEALAND.

RABBIT NUISANCE COMMITTEE (REPORT OF THE), TOGETHER WITH THE MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS, EVIDENCE, AND CORRESPONDENCE.

Report Irought up 22nd July, 1881, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OE REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the Legislative Council. Thursday, the 23kd Day op June, 1881. Ordered, "That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into all circumstances connected with the increase of the rabbit nuisance, and to consider and report on any measures that may be deemed advisable to eradicate the pest; with, power to confer with any similar committee appointed by the House of Representatives ; with power to call for persons and papers; three to be a quorum, and to report within thirty days. The Committee to consist of Hon. Mr. G. R. Johnson, Hon. Mr. Menzies, Hon. Mr. Peter, Hon. Mr. Waterhouse, Hon. Captain Eraser, Hon. Mr. Martin, and the mover."— (Hon. Mr. Holmes.)

Friday, the 24th Day op June, 1881. Ordered, " That the name of the Hon. Mr. Nurse be added to the Rabbit Nuisance Committee."— (Hon. Mr. Holmes.)

Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Wednesday, the 29th Day of June, 1881. Ordered, "That a Select Committee bo appointed to inquire into all circumstances connected with the increase of the rabbit nuisance, and to consider and report on any measure that may bo deemed advisable to eradicate the pest; to confer with any Committee appointed by the Legislative Council; with power to call for persons and papers; three to be the quorum, and to report within thirty days. The Committee to consist of Mr. Bain, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Collins, Mr. DeLautour, Mr. H. Hirst, Captain Kenny, Mr. Pyke, Mr. Thomson, Captain Eussell, and the mover."— {Mr. Beetliam)

Wkdnesday, tub 13th Day <w July, 1881. Ordered, " That the name of Mr. H. Hirst be discharged from the Rabbit Nuisance Committee, and the name of Sir. Shanks be added thereto."— (Mr. Beetham.)

KEPOET. Yotjr Committee has conferred with a Committee of the other branch of the Legislature appointed for a similar purpose; and, acting as a joint Committee with it, has taken the evidence of a number of individuals, and obtained, by circular, an expression of opinion from a large number of others, part of which is appended, and has also agreed with the aforesaid Committee on the following report: — Your Committee having, in concert with a Committee of the other branch of the Legislature, obtained a great amount of information on the subject of the rabbit nuisance, from manypersons and from various parts of the colony, has agreed that a measure calculated to deal more effectively with the nuisance is urgently required, and therefore recommends that a Bill be introduced in this session to deal with the question, which shall provide that its administration shall be conducted by officers of the Government on a principle similar to that by which the provisions of " The Sheep Act, 1878," are enforced, and that all unoccupied Crown land, also native or reserved land, as well as private land, should bear their proportionate share of the cost of destroying rabbits and expenses of administering the Act; and that provision should be made therein for the protection of the natural enemies of the rabbit at present in the colony The Committee desires to impress upon the Legislature its conviction that immediate and energetic action is essential in order to arrest the further extension of, and to suppress, this pest; otherwise the result will be ruinous. I.—l. 6.