8

1,-6

Tuesday, 19th Jcxy, 1881. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m. Present: Legislative Council—Hon. Mr. Holmes, Hon. Mr. Martin, Hon. Mr. Nurse, Hon. Mr. Peter. House of Representatives—-Mr. Bastings, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Collins, Mr. De Lautour, Captain Eussell, Mr. Thompson. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Order of reference of the House of Representatives read. On motion of Mr. Beetham, Hon. Mr. Holmes took the chair. Mr. J Ward, Wairau, being in attendance, was examined (See Appendix B). He then received the thanks of the Committee, and withdrew Besolved, That Mr. Hankinson be requested to attend the next meeting of the Committee. The following correspondence was read relative to the proposed amendment of the Act: Telegrams from W Quin, Tapanui; A. Baldey, Chairman, County Council, Southland. Letters from Thomas Mackay, Te Nui; R. Cuthbertson, Southland (Appendix No. 1) ;D. Sutherland, Oamaru ; J H. Perkins, Mataura; F G. Moore, Masterton; R. S. Hawkins, Bowlands, Wairarapa; A. Baldey, Chairman, County Council, Southland; A. Mcllutcheson, Castlepoint; C. Pharazyn, Longwood. Letters were alao read from T Mackay, Te Nui, relative to wire-netting for Crown lands ; G-. Tolhurst, Wellington, introduction of foxes (Appendix No. 5) ; ~W" Fletcher, Kaikoura, stating Mr Bullen too ill to attend Committee ; Secretary of Customs, export of rabbitskins for past three years (Appendix No. 10) ; and James Gall, of Dunedin, destruction of rabbits on Crown lands (Appendix No. 6) ; A. Douglass, Inspector, West Oreti Rabbit District (Appendix No. 4) ; D. S. Laulor, Invercargill (Appendix No. 3) ; G. P Bullen, Kaikoura (Appendix No. 2) Mesolved, That the Chairman and Mr. Beetham are requested to select such portions of the correspondence for printing as they think desirable. Besolved, That the evidence now taken, and the letter from Mr. Cuthbertson, be printed. The Committee then adjourned till Thursday, 21st instant, at 10.30. a.m.

Thubsday, 21st July, 1881. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m. Present: Legislative Council —Hon. Mr. Holmes, Hon. Mr. Martin, Hon. Mr. Menzies, Hon. Mr. Nurse. House of Representatives —Mr. Bain, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Beetham, Mr. De Lautour. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Mr. Thomas Hankinson, of Te Anau, Otago, being in attendance, was examined {See Appendix F). He then received the thanks of the Committee, and withdrew The following correspondence was read : (1.) From the Under-Secretary for Crown Lands, forwarding list of runs abandoned in consequence of the ravages of the pest (Appendix No. 11). Ordered, That the Under-Secretary for Crown Lands be requested to supplement the return by stating what amount of rent per annum was obtained by the Government previous to the abandonment of the runs, or to the date of their being re-let. (2.) Prom Burton Boyes, Taratahi, replying to the questions framed by the Committee. (3.) Prom F P C. Huddlestone, Secretary to Lake Babbit Board, Queenstown, forwarding copy of letter received by C. C. Boyes, Esq., Chairman of the Board, from one of the Trustees. (4.) From F G. Moore, Secretary, Masterton Rabbit District Trustees, enclosing resolutions of the Trustees as to amendment in the Act (Appendix JNo. 7). (5.) Prom D. A. Cameron, Southland (Appendix No. 8). On motion of Hon. Mr. Menzies, Besolved, That the Chairman be authorized to draw up a report embodying the opinion of this Committee, That, in order to insure uniformity and efficiency of action in securing the extermination of rabbits, it is expedient that the administration be conducted by officers of the Government, on a principle similar to that in which the Diseased Sheep Act is enforced ; such report to be submitted to the consideration of the Committee at the next meeting: and that the Hon. Mr. Menzies and Mr. Beetham do assist the Chairman in preparing the said report. Ordered, That notice be given to each member of the Committee that this resolution would be considered at the next meeting. Mr. Beetham gave notice that at the next meeting of the Committee he would move, " That, in any amending Act to be introduced during this session, provision should be made to include within the operations of the Act all private, Crown, and Native lands and reserves; also that provision should be made for the protection of the natural enemies of the rabbit." Ordered, That the Government Printer be requested to state whether the evidence and other printing required by the Committee could be undertaken at once. The Committee then adjourned until 11.30 a.m. to-morrow

Fbiday, 22nd July, 1881. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m. Present: Legislative Council—Hon. Captain Eraser, Hon. Mr. Holmes, Hon. Mr. G. R. Johnson, Hon. Mr. Martin, Hon. Mr. Menzies, Hon. Mr. Nurse, Hon. Mr. Peter. House of Representatives— Mr. Bain, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Collins, Captain Kenny, Mr. Thomson. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. The Chairman informed the Committee that the Government Printer had undertaken to proceed with the printing without delay The Chairman laid the draft of a report before the Committee, which was read by the Clerk, as follows: — Beport of the Committee appointed to consider the Babbit Nuisance. Tour 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, all of which is appended, and has also agreed with the said Committee on the following report;—