H.—9

6

(15.) Four hundred; only turned out lately. (16.) About 2,500; they are spreading over the country, but are not in sufficient numbers for their work to be traced. General Remarks. —I should like to see every encouragement given towards the erection of rabbit-proof fences. The railway freight and cartage to this district is a great check to the use of wire netting. Rabbit-proof fencing, if well looked after, in low country is, I consider, the most effectual way of dealing with the pest, and for high country the natural enemy.

From Sub-Inspector W. A. Scaife, Outram. (1.) Poisoning, shooting, dogging, trapping, some cases working ferrets, and turning out the natural enemy. (2.) That, owners having had ample time to be thoroughly conversant with the working of the Rabbit Act, the notice required under section 8 should be dispensed with, and Inspectors be allowed to deal summarily with negligent owners. (3.) The poisoning during last season was very satisfactory, but, owing to the extremely dry and favourable summer, the rabbits are again rather plentiful. (4.) Two. (5.) £35 10s. (6.) Seven thousand three hundred; about 3,700 acres available for grazing. (7.), (8.), (9.), (10.), (11.), (12.), (13.), (14.), (15.) Nil. (16.) About 150, by Gladbrook Station ; results not visible. General Remarks. —Ferrets seem to be increasing about the district, but, where trapping is used to destroy the pest, the ferrets are continually being caught and destroyed.

From Sub-Inspector B. Fullarton, Balclutha. (1.) Poisoned grain in winter, trapping and fumigating where ferrets not turned out, dogging, digging out burrows, and working ferrets by hand. (2.) I recommend that more of the natural enemy be turned out along the bush-land, where it is difficult to cope with the pest by other means. (3.) Fair progress has been made considering the favourable season for breeding. Owing to the exceedingly dry spring and summer, no young rabbits having perished from wet weather, a larger number of rabbits have been destroyed than usual in summer. (4.) One. (5.) £15. (6.) Twenty-four reserves ; about 4,000 acres rough pastoral land, unsold land about 90,000 acres, mostly dense bush-land. (7.) 591b. (8.) None. (9.) 61£lb. (10.) Four. (11.) Four. (12.), (13.) None. (14.) Four. (15.) One hundred; result good. (16.) One hundred and fifty; result not yet known. General Remarks. —The ferrets turned out by the department on unoccupied Crown lands, especially on sandy open ground and along edges of bush near the mouth of the Catlin's River, Glenoamaru district, have had good effect in keeping down the young rabbits, as, when going over the ground during this summer, I observed exceedingly few young rabbits. Ferrets evidently thrive well along the bush-country, as all seen by the settlers are strong and healthy.

From Sub-Inspector T. J. Miles, Lawrence. (1.) During winter months, poisoning; remainder of year, trapping (in places), shooting, dogging, digging out, " Torpedo Rabbit Exterminators." Ferrets in hand extensively used, and ferrets turned out. (2.) Would strongly recommend the turning out of tho natural enemies—viz., ferrets, stoats, and weasels—in large numbers; that wire-netting fences be included in the Fencing Act, and made a legal fence ; and that where practicable the rough country be netted off from the low ground ; also, that the gorse question be dealt with. (3.) Very fair ; rabbits are less numerous now than at this time last year, notwithstanding the dry weather during tho breeding-season, the high ground especially being very free front rabbits. (4.) Two. (5.) £75 10s. (6.) About 30,000 acres mining, bush, and unsold sections ; about one-third available for grazing purposes. (7.) 1951b. (8.) Nil. (9.) 1651b. (10.) Thirty-four. (11.) Thirty-four. (12.), (13.) Nil. (14.) Two. (15.) About 825, with good resuts. (16.) About 500; owners well satisfied with results. General Remarks. —Owing to the dry winter and spring, and through the whole of the breeding-season, the rabbits increased very rapidly, and, as owners were very backward in endeavouring to keep them in check, I had to tako legal proceedings against a great many settlers, both large and small, which had the desired effect, not only with those who were summoned, but throughout the district. The high ground is very clear, and at present the rabbits are confined to the low ground and riverbanks. The ferrets, where turned out in sufficient numbers, have done excellent work, and I would strongly recommend that they be bred and turned out in larger numbers than at present. The effect of the ferrets can be seen in my district on Siberia, portion of Mr. MacKellar's run on the Molyneux River, where, during the last three years, I have turned out about 1,500 on the river-banks; and all I find it necessary to do there now is poisoning in the winter. Where ferrets have been turned out, it is absolutely necessary to stop trapping, otherwise as many, if not more ferrets than rabbits, are destroyed.

From Sub-Inspector J. M. Scott, Queenstown. (1.) Phosphorized grain, trapping, ferreting with nets, digging out, and fumigation. (2.) Nil(3.) Fairly good, considering the dry spring and summer. (4.) Four. (5.) £60. (6.) Fourteen— mining, agricultural, and bush ; 18,750 : Crown Runs 455 and 36 ; with tho exception of about 5,000 acres, all fit for grazing. (7.) 901b. (8.) 401b. (9.) 3101b. (10.) One. (11.) One. (12.) Nil. (13.) Twenty-six. (14.) Three. (15.) Yes; 298 ferrets. I think, with good results. (16.) Yes; about fifty. I think, with good results.

From Sub-Inspector Hassall, Lumsden. (1.), (2.), (3.). Having just taken charge of district (Ist April, 1890), cannot say. (4.) One. (5.) £15. (6.) About 100,000 acres, of which about 10,000 acres is open pastoral country ; the balance is bush reserve. (7.) 381b. (8.) 201b. (9.) 21b. (10.) Nineteen. (11.) Eighteen, and one under section 12 paid into Court, (12.) Nil. (13.) School Commissioners of Otago (six cases),