AN INVASION

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1930, Page 7

AN INVASION

VICTORIA’S ENEMY. MILLIONS ADVANCE BY AIR. SYDNEY, November 20. A groaL iiimy has raised its standard in \ letoria. Down through tlie State its millions ol brown uniformed mercenaries have been advancing, leaving desolation in their wake. Already hundreds of acres of oats and grass have been laid waste. Alany districts havo felt the iron heel, and it lias been difiicult to say where .the army would sii ike next. livery now and again it vanishes, and then it appears again out of the clear sky, and the damage goes on ruthlessly. These marauders go by the name of ihieliytelus Australis, which, in common terms stands for the common Australian locust, and when they gather in millions, as they sometimes do, they can do an enormous amount of damage. Millions of these flying grasshoppers took possession of the Rochester distinct last Thursday, and they did not leave until the following day. They did not show respect for anything. Thousands of them landed on the iron roof of a local dance hall throughout Ihe evening and it sounded like a heavy fall of rain. They took possession of the. howling green and ate from its surface every particle of grass. They even refused to leave when the water sprinklers were turned on to them. Private gardens suffered dreadfully. Scarcely a green thing was left. Then, as suddenly as' they came they departed. the Commander-in-Chicf evidently deciding that lie would seek pastures new, and green.

Great fears are being expressed that the attackers will lay waste the oat crops that have not yet been harvested, Oats are favoured by this vast company of vagabonds. It is fortunate that the grasshopper army lias done comparatively little damage in Australia. In South Africa they have caused thousands e? pounds worth, of damage at different times. Still Victoria is Diking no risks, and the enemy will not lif permitted to continue unchecked Two very effective ways of dealing with them have been devised, and unless they are more canny than they are usually given credit for. molasses, foi which they have an inordinate fondness, may bo their downfall. Baits of bran, molasses, and poison are laid for them, and it is surprising how quickly the enemy can he made to vanish. This army of millions should soon he no more.