EARLY MORNING INTRUDER

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 14370, 21 May 1947, Page 2

EARLY MORNING INTRUDER

RAT CAUSES DIVERSION AT NINTH AVENUE

DEVASTATION IN FAMILY BATHROOM

An early morning intruder, in the form of a rat, which apparently jumped through an open window, caused a short but exciting diversion for residents of a home in Ninth A-venue a few days ago.

The first indication that something was amiss was given soon after midnight, when the sleepers were aroused by the noise of something falling! into the bath. There followed the sound of other falling articles, including razor blades, shaving soap and a bottle of disinfectant which broke as it hit the bath. By this time, it was apparent that, the time had arrived for an investigation. „

With some trepidation, the woman, 4 of the house reached the scent of the disturbance, to discover that the unwelcome visitor was a rat. She was quick to summon her husband, who soon tarmed himself with the handle of a broom.

The climax, as far as the householder was concerned, was reached when the rat—now covered: with dis-infectant-—appeared on a shelf above him as he was crouching down in order to prod into a corner under the bath.

The rat, which had then decided that the time was long overdue for a hasty getaway, was now attempting to sneak off, and was clambering over shelves knocking things right and left. The resident found some difficulty in hitting the intruder in the confined space.

As the rat, in its flight, ran around the room, intent on dodging the hasty and repeated swings of the broom handle, the resident managed to connect with several glancing blows, one of which brought to an end the rat’s earthly existence.