ALEXANDRA NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2263, 11 January 1887, Page 2

ALEXANDRA NEWS.

• [krom our own correspondent.] Alexandra, Monday. Another instance of the danger incurred by the introduction of ferrets into the country occurred here last week. One of these diminutive but ferocious animals, which had escaped from its owner, found its way into the Alexandra Hotel, and meeting the landlady, Mrs Finch, in the passage, at once attacked her, Mrs Finch ran into a room and got on a chair to escape from its attack. A number of Maori wahines being there, the ferret at once made for them, and their yells and shrieks as they bolted out of the house and down' the street soon brought assistance, and the little " worrior " was soon captured by its owner, who chanced to hear the row. There is also another nuisance at large ususlly at this time of the year, and that is the dogs belonging to the natives. Having once got in their crops the natives usually absent themselves from their settlement, and either go to work for their European neighbours or pay a round of visits to friei)c}s at a distance, whgpe "kai" can be found. Whatiwliatjhoo js'no exception to this rule, and quite a number of their hungry dogs are about, whose owners are absent seeking far a living. No doubt they destroy a great number of rabbits, but they also go in for sheep worrying. I had a visit from them a few days before Christmas, and fourteen fat sheep were killed and worried in one night, fijost of those that were not killed at once dyiijg The only satisfaction I obtained was' killing one <|f the dogs (which had been seen and recoernised) at a settler's house at Alexandra, who repudiated the ownership, stating he had given it to a IVfaori irjnnfch.s ago, ancj that h« could not keep it away from his house, Another dog I shot a few days afterwards caught in flagrante delicto while taking a feed from a sheep it had killed. Yesterday morning early, two

more were worrier], hut the two dogs engaged in the sport were fortunately discovered before any further damage was done, and cleared out for their settlement at once, A messenger brought back one of the (Jogs (\VhA js Quite Iprmless now) the owner freely ei'viiig it up as' utu for tl)o damage, but tlje other ' br.ut§ still at large. I fancy something should be done to prevent natives keeping such a number of useless atjjipals. The only wonder as they do not do more damage. Unless'the pain, that G<jmri)ij,ndpj> Jacjwifi has so long warneq us to prepays fop, comes very shortly, the potato orop in this part of the district will be an utter failure. Tawhiao has been on an eel fishing excursion to Rangiaowhia. He returned homo last night. The many friends of Mr G, T, Wilkin-

son, the native agent hore, learn with regret his approaching departure from the Government service. His uniformly unostentations demeanour and civility to all those who had business with him, has made him both popular and respected. A harder working servant the Government have not in their employment, he having for a long time past performed the duties that in Grey's time it took at least a dozen to perform. On Thursday night last some of our larrikins took and smashed the lock and gate of the paddock rented by Mr T. Finch from the Town Board. The paddock is principally used for the accommodation of the horses which run Mr Finch's conveyance to the Te Awamutu railway station. The water trough was upset. The horses, fortunately, did not get out, or a number of passengers would have been disappointed who had booked their passages. Suspicion is strong as to the delinquents, who had better take warning, lest they fall into the hands of Constable Jones.