From the reports of New South Wales Rabbit Inspectors for October we learn that, although the season is exceedingly dry about Broken Hill, the rabbits are increasing, and that in more favoured parts of holdings they are breeding. In the Hillston district, more attention is now being paid to the destruction of rabbits, and “if there is another drought.” Cheerfully observes the inspector; “rabbits will be almost unknown in that district.” A marked decrease is reported in the number of rabbits in the Wilcannia district. This is due to two causes. In the first place some of the owners of land are doing everything that can possibly be done to cope with the pest, and in the other case the presence has been noticed in increasing numbers of iguanas which are know to destroy rabbits. The iguanas are mostly on the west side of the river. Nearly all the owners are doing something to keep the rabbits in check; but there are some who take the view that only in the driest of weather can much be done advantageously for the destruction of the pest. As the result of what has been done the rabbits do not appear to have increased so fast during the month of November as heretofore.

 The rabbit-proof fence from Mungundi to the Namoi River, at Yarraldool, is progressing towards completion. Number 1 and 2 sections, extending from Mungundi to six miles south of Thalba Creek, with the exception of ten miles on Collymungle, are rabbit proofed; on No. 3 section, on the Namoi River, out of 46 miles; 14 are netted.  The work has been delayed owing to the dry season.

 Rabbits would appear to have forced their way into the Monaro district, N.S.W., at last..  At a hare drive near Adaminaby, last week, says the Monaro Mercury, two black rabbits were captured, and many more were seen.  There is, it is also stated, any number of the pest around Yarrangobilly, stock inspector, has possession of the scalps and skins of the animals captured, which he says, are undoubtedly those of rabbits. The trappers have not been able to find any burrows as yet. Mr. Hudson has also received a parcel from Adaminaby containing a grey skin. It has every appearance of that of a rabbit. 

 The Queensland Minister for Lands has received a preliminary report from the Government Bacteriologist on the result of his experiments on the destruction of rabbits with the bacteria of chicken cholera. Mr. Pound reports that bacteria of chicken cholera, when added to the food of rabbits, produces an extremely virulent form a septicaemia or blood-poisoning, which invariably results in the death of the animal in from eight to twenty-four hours. Carefully conducted experiments shown that, although chicken cholera is a natural disease in fowls, they are not nearly so susceptible to its influence as the rabbits. The disease, if introduced among rabbits living in close community, may under certain conditions be highly contagious. The active bacteria of chicken cholera were found in the excrement of rabbits suffering from diarrhoea after being fed or inoculated with the same microbes.  It has been definitely proved by accidental and by specially planned experiments that rabbits suffering from acute diarrhoea as the result of infection with the chicken cholera germs, are capable of communicating and disseminating the disease among healthy rabbits in close community. The bacteria of chicken cholera, mixed with pollard in the form of pellets, will lose their virulence after being exposed to sunlight for twenty-four hours.  The practical utility of employing chicken cholera as a means of destroying rabbit son a large scale, in thickly infested country, has been fully demonstrated by experiment conducted under natural conditions of Dilltoppa. This method, like the phosphorus poisoning, can only be carried out in a satisfactory manner during the dry seasons, when the natural food of the rabbits is scarce. The evidence which has been brought forward by a somewhat exhaustive series of carefully-conducted experiments proves beyond all doubt that the disease known as chicken cholera is contagious when introduced among the rabbits living under natural conditions, and is, in Mr. Pound’s opinion, for far conclusive as to warrant the Government of this or any other colony granting permission to pastoralists and others who suffer directly from the depredations of rabbit to utilise this scheme of rabbit destruction.