DESTRUCTION OF RATS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 105, 4 May 1900, Page 2

DESTRUCTION OF RATS.

The Engineer at the Ponsonby pumping station reported to the. Council last evening that 2803 rats had been burned in the furnace, the average latterly being 1.01 per day. The Mayor (Mr David Goldie) said that arrangements hjad now been made to burn rats at the various tips to prevent them being earned long distances. In connection with the fre-> distribution of poison by the Council, Mr J. A. Pond, Colonial Analyst, forwarded a letter expressing the opinion that the method adopted by the Council in freely giving arsenic to applicants was fraught with considerable danger to life, more especially as the material was not distinctly coloured, and the recipients not required to attest their individuality by signing" a receipt. Mr Pond pointed out that the presence of uncoloured arsenic in food could not be detected by the eye. The Mayor said charcoal was mixed with the arsenic distributed, but perhaps not in such large proportions as Mr Pond thought advisa.ble. If any more poison was distributed more charcoal could be used. The Council decided to thank Mr Pond for his letter. Cr. Stichbury suggested that a special day be set apart for poisoning rats, riotonly in Auckland but in surrounding districts. Or. Pa.rr supported Cr. Stichbury's suggestion, and moved that Saturday week be set aside for the purpose of poisoning rats, and that surrounding districts be invited to join in the work on the same day.

PAEROA, this day,

At a meeting1 of the County Council yesterday the sanitary arrang-ements of the various townships were diseuss~ ed, ancl the Inspector was given tn-

lai-ged powers for dealing' with rubbish, dirty stables, yards, etc. A committee consisting- of Councillors Barry, Cassrels, and Poland was appointed lo go into the Health Act, and draw up a report and submit the same to a. special meeting of the Council next Thursday.