The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1881

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 756, 30 April 1881, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1881

A. practical settler in this district informs us that he has the, method of oat-phosphorus rabbit poisoning described some time ago by Captain Raymond, of Invercargill, in the Australasian, and possibly we may do some service to many of our readers if we describe the method, In the first place the proportion of materials used is lOOlbs of oats and 8 gallons of water to lib of phosphorus, In the second, when the water is boiling take half a bucketful of it, put the phosphorus'in it, and ksep this smaller boiling well stirred over a slow fire for about a quarter of an hour, when the phosphorus will be dissolved, The small boiling is then to be emptied into the vessel containing the bulk of the. boiling water and stirred in it for five minutes. Nest the oats are thrown in before the phosphorus has time to settle, and stirred vigorously till they have absorbed all the water. The success of the operation depends upon constant stirring, The phosphorised oats are then covered, to prevent evaporation, and allowed to steam for twelve hours, after which they should be stirred again and covered, and in another twelve hours they are ready for use, In laying the poison removing the stock is advised, The oats should be scattered as in sowing, with occasional lumps here and there. It should be laid near rabbit tracks, but not on them—near rabbit holes, but not in them. Where stock is running it is not desirable to lay the poisoned grain in lumps—it should be thinly spread by trustworthy men. It is advised not to disturb the rabbits by approaching the lands laid with poison for three or four days, as the maximum mortality is not obtained till the fifth or seventh day. It is claimed that phosphorised oats prepared by this method are fatal for at least two months after they arc laid upon the ground.. Eabbits, it is said, rarely touch it till it has laid upon the ground for two or three days. An inspector of one of our rabbit districts reports that it is not desirable to put a pressure on the proprietors of land just at presont to destroy rabbits, because the season for poisoning has not arrived, Captain Raymond, however, declares that his method is effective all the year round, and we have local testimony to prove the assertion. It would appear from this that valuable time is being lost in the Maslerton rabbit district, from, perhaps, the trustees and inspector not being familiar with Captain Raymond's method, It appears to us very desirable that an immediate trial of it should be made, or evidence of those settlers who have adopted it taken, and a pressure at once brought to bear to make settlers exterminate their rabbits, It is practically admitted now that the work of destruction is suspended and that landowners are permitted by the trustees to wait for winter weather, If '. Captain Raymond's method b,e right—and we have every reason to bplieve it is—the trustees must be wrong. We hope before tho next meeting of trustees to fyear that the Raymond method has been fairly tried,

The Mastertou Football Club opens the season this afternoon in Mr Drummond's puddock at 3 p.in. Tho Hon Thonias. Dick lias been ap" pointed Minister pf justice vico the Hon Mrßolleston. Messrs J. Irons & Co,, sell a quantity of superior household furniture at their auction rooms at 2 p.n), this day. Mr J. W. Fear of Willis-sfc,, Wellington, advertise repairs to sowing maohines, and new machines furnished at lowest prices with a guarantee Messrs Beetham have supplied Lincoln sheep to the boiling down works at Tauherenikau this soason, which havo rendered as much as CI lbs of fat per head, thus realising from 15s to 16s per sheep, Kirkcaldie .and Stains the well-known drapers of Laipton-ipy, Wellington, announce the arrival of new goods ex Crowiithorpe, and invite inspection of the same. Mr J. Thorburn, clothier, of Willis-st,, Wellington, invites Wairarapa visitors to town to "try" his establishment for men's and boy's clothing &c. _ The Molding, sawniillers have petitioned the Government for a reduction in tho freight of timber. ■ The breakwind at Siberia, on the Riniutaka, is about to be extended for a chain farther. A, Armstrong & Co. are instructed to sell by public auction on Saturday, May 14th, 20 horses, mixed saddle and draught. Colonel Reader, who accompanies the Duko of Manchester on his New Zealand torn*, was formerly a fellow-student with His Grace at the home milifciary college. The Victorian census returns taken on the night of the 3rd hist., give the population of Melbourne and its environs as 252,000; Sandhurst, 35,000; Ballarat, 43,000: and Geelong, 13,000. More interest appears to have been taken at Greytown tljan at Masterton in the annual election of trustees, Tho result of the poll on Tuesday last was— Baillio, 44; Hammerich, 33; E, A Wakelin, 25; R. I Thompson, 15. Messrs Baillie and Hammerich are therefore the successful candidates. Wo have received a sort of skeleton letter on tho Black bridge tolls. If our correspondent is too lazy to put his ideas into a readable form, he should get some one else to do it for him, We do not manufacture Jotters on the'promises, and have consigned the materials which have. in this iustauce been forwarded to us, to our waste paper basket. Sir George Grey has emerged at last from Kawau. He was received on arrival at Auckland on Tuesday by Mr Tole, M,H,R., J. M. Shera, and others. He proceeded to the Thames yesterday in the Rotomaliana,.and. would, it convenient to electors there, address hj ponstituents there yesterday. Arrangements are. left in the hands of the Mayor of the Thames, ■Sir George Grey will probably go to. Coromandel next week'jto address that section of the constituency.. No arrangempnfs are yet made for his address in Auckland In the last Gazette a notice appears vesting a reserve for the Carterton Public Library in Messrs Wm Booth, Adam Armstrong, and Richard Fairbrother as trustees. Tbe Featherston Kecreation Ground is also gazetted as being brought under the Public Domains Abfc, 1860, and a Domain Board, consisting of Messrs J. G. Cox, WiOundy, J; Donald,:

The oustoms revenuo (or last quarter was £346,272, being £51,686 in exoeaa of the same period last year. • The savings banks returns indicate a revival of; prosperity, there being a marked increase of deposits as compared .with withdrawals. ■•< Th e; Duke of Manchester, in oompany witk'Oolonels Reader and Peavce, arrived last Thursday evening at Opunake. :They started next morning for Pimgarehu, and it is supposed they will visit Parihaka. Mr Herring, who has travelled through the Middle Island as a delegate for a large number of Yorkshire farmers, who are contemplating emigration, is expected to arrive in Masterton to-day. Mr G. Beetham, M.H.R., has kindly undertaken to show him this part of the country, • - • An accident happened to Mr W, W, Oorpe's timber wagon, driven by Mr R. Geange, yesterday afternoon. It was proceeding down Johnson-street, and. when passing near Mr Ockendbn's residence its weight proved too muoh for the strength of a small bridge there,,the timbers of which gave way—the hind wheels jf the wagon going through. The driver was thrown to the ground, the sudden stoppage also causing the horses to fall, Mr Geange fell in such a manner that had the ohains given way whioh held the timber to the wagon he must have been killed; but fortunately, although the front and back chains parted, the centre one held firm, and the driver escaped with only a shaking and a few bruises. The pole of the wagon was shattered, and that was the only damage done to the team, Mr Hutton, the road overseer, was soon on the spot, and assisted to extricate the wagon, after which he had a couple of lanternb erected to warn travellers of the dangerous state of the bridge. The load on the wagon consisted of 3000 ft of green timber, and would weigh probably seven or eight tons. .' :

An Auckland telegram reports that a sailor at Riverhead stabbed a young girl, aged about 19 years, of prepossessing appearance, who had been on a visit to that place. Two railway porters and a stoker started off in pursuit of the would-be murderer. They, found him at the house giving ths girl, whom he had a few hours before attempted to deprive of life, milk with a spoon. Upon being informed of the mission of the visitors, he immediately yielded himself up. On one of them remarking that he had no handcuffs nor anything to bind him with, the sailer said, "Oh, I will go quietly with you; you need be under no apprehension on that account," and he kept his word. He was brought to the station, and, after being searched, was allowed his liberty. He continued, however, to walk up and down the platform for several hours, apparently quite unconcerned. While being searched a penknife was found upon him. Oh observing it, accused said, " That's not the knife I did it with; Bradley has it," When arrested he confessed to having committed the deed, saying, " I stabbed the girl through love; Boss caused me to do it." The reasonable inference from these words is that he and Boss were rival suitors. Possibly thinking Eoss the more favored, and prompted by jealousy, the sailor madly wreaked his vengeance on the object of his affection. The man also remarked, nonchalantly,.to his captors—"l know I shall be .hanged if the girl dies," The young woman is stabbed in two placos, and her condition is _ considered very serious. We hoar from reliable authority that it is the intention of Messrs Schroder, Hooper & Co. to make their first grand display of Autumn and Winter Millinery, Drapery, and Clothing at the Hall of Commerce, on Saturday, March 19th, consisting of 71 packages and bales. As the bulk of 'their magnificent stock lias been imported direct from the manufacturers, the, public can rely upon obtaining all the latest fashions and designs .of the season at oxtremely low prices. We would advise all purchasers and lovers of fashion to.mako an early call at the Hall of Gommßrcß and inspect their stock. Their-adyertiaelnent will.bo found on the front page of this paper.—[Anvil.