98 WILD LIFE IN NEW XKAI.AXD. 



home-tead at Popotunoa Station [Clinton ], but they also failed to 

 thrive, and disappeared. It is probable that there were other 

 attempts to acclimatize rahhiis. all moiv or le.ss unsuccessful. " 



From the point of view of a naturalist the failure of these 

 attempts is very interest inu'. It shows that there is a vast differ- 

 ence in tlu- auuivssive power of the various breeds, for the country 

 on which these various lots of rabbits failed to make i:ood has 

 since been completely overrun by other rabbits. It may In- that 

 they were unable to establish themselves until a certain amount 

 of clearing had been done, and till a considerable number of wekas 

 had been destroyed by tussock fires and other means. Wliatever 

 the cause, it is the case that no rabbits were able to establish them 

 selves freely in New Zealand before 1S(>(). 



Dr. Men/ies. who was at the time Superintendent of the Pro- 

 vince of Southland, is usually credited with having been the 

 successful introducer of them to the south of the South Island, an 

 achievement the credit of which has not been very eagerly sought 

 after. Thev were liberated on the sandhills between the ocean and 

 the New River, a place known as Sandy Point. 



According to Mr. Huddles! one. silver-Lrrey rabbits were tirst 

 introduced into Nelson in or about ISC)."); but there is no record 

 as to what came of this importation. Sir CeorLre <Irey also apj 

 to have introduced them at or about the same time, for in tin- 

 annual report of the Canterbury Acclimatization Society in ISWi 

 ii is said that "an enclosure has been set apart for the silver-i:re\ 

 rabbits presented by Sir (leor^re (Jrcy. which have thriven well and 

 increased t,, ; , gfeal eXtefht, and h'iri in tn <lixt nlntttd to niriitln r* 

 for find ntnr." Later in the same year the society passed this 

 minute: " The surest ion of L r ivinu as a reward for the destruction 

 of hawks and wild cats some silver-LTey rabbit* was approved." 



There is a very popular impression that the Ota.L'o Acclimat 

 i/ation Society has no re>ponsihility in cdnneetion with the rabbit 

 pla.iriie. Well, here a i'e the fii:ures taken from one of their own 

 reports: " In lSof> the society liberateil sixty rabbits, t wen t y -t h I'ce 

 in 1SG7. and eighteen in 1SC.S. There is no record a> tn when 

 these came from." 



These are t!r- only records I have been able to si -eu re BO Par M 

 to the introduction of rabbits into this colony, but there is still 

 of information to be searched namely, the publications 



