RATS AND RAT TRAPS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 167, 17 July 1877, Page 2

RATS AND RAT TRAPS.

xo the Editor op the 'Evening Mail.' i Sir— -Idonofc believe in rafc traps baited with gloves on ; rats are far too cunning to be taken iv so. easily. You may catch, a few i rats iv almost any kind of trap while it is new, but when they find themselves trapped they leave an odour, expressive of fright which oth<?r rats recognise and avoid as a warning. A good large circular wire trap with several openings, if plunged into scalding water every time before re-baiting, will catch great numbers, but nofc the old and knowing ones. In Jast month's Scientific American (which can be seen at the Nelson .Library) ia described a live trap on a most excellent plan, but it can hardly be described without a diagram. It is in two storeys, and any wire worker could readily make one. If « Over-run'a " object is merely to get rid of the rats, Chloride of lame sprinkled in their holes will banish them for a time, or even unslaked lime put into their holes will answer, it gets into their coat and annoys them ao that they leave their haunts, but this is unsafe in a stable or granary, or indeed, in any wooden buildings Coal tar is said, to have the 3arae effect if smeared round their holes. In a granary or malt house the best of all traps is a deadfall but ifc requires attention. A barrel with a sheepskin on the head is very destructive whera rats are in large numbers. Yoars, &c, TBAYEtLEE,-/;

Cattle stalking is said to afford excitement and profitable employment on she West x Coa3F. • No wonder fchat Volunteering is warmly supported in Otago when, snchploma as the following are to be picked . up .—The leases .of twenty-sewn poles of \their drill' shed reserve, soM on Friday last, 'will bring into the Dunedia Volunteers for the nest twentyone years the tidy little amount of £585 per annum. Mrs Tucker, wife of a butcher in Auckland, was feeding a sausage machine, which another person was turning, when suddenly her hair, which she wore in large plaits caught in the wheels and was drawn in between the rollers. Before she had time even to call out her head waa forcibly drawn against the cage, which bruised her forehead frightly, and tore out a good deal of hair. The assistant was looking another way at the time, and did not observe the accident till he felt extra exertion required in turning. In Patea county a trap waa upset and .smashed through some cattle straying, on to a road. The proprietor of the trap, unable to find the ovtaer of the cattle, has issued a writ claiming damages from the County Council for not taking more stringent measures to prevent cattle straying on the roads under its jurisdiction. A number of independent electors were nicely sold at Eeatheraton. They knew there was to be a free spread, but did not take the trouble to ascertain where. The News Letter relates that they found their way into one of the hotels, and seeing a long table loaded i wish danties pf : all descriptionsi they deliberi afcely sat down and ate and drank of the best. J ...Much to thejr astonishment they had to hand over 4s each before they left the room. The ! > mistake, caused a good deal of merriment > W;hen it becatne known. " i As indicative of the highly civilised condifion of the Kumara community, the local journal of Monday says.-^lfc is rumored that as many as three prize fights were to have taken place early yesterday morning, but in consequence of the police, or for some other reason, the " events " did not " come off." \ An "Auckland tejlegram to the Post says:— Sericjus casualties: from football playing are "■multiplying. An accident ;has occurred to Caipon, of Te Awainutu. The muscles of the leg were torn clean away from the bone .tftdnjeath, the-jkn.ee, and now lie rolled up in a ball on the upper side of the leg. Calpon was removed to Hamilton, his condition requiring constant medical attendance.— A bro&en leg for one player and a severe shock to the nervous system of another attended the last game in Waikato on Saturday.— In -Auckland, on Saturday, Earle broke his collarbone while enjoying the pleasures of this delightful pastime.