INFECTED RATS IN AUCKLAND.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10637, 23 April 1900, Page 5

INFECTED RATS IN AUCKLAND.

DISCOVERY OP THE BACILLUS.

(press association teleg&am.) AUCKLAND, April 22 (midnight). Dr. i»iason and Mr Gilruth waited upon his Excellency at Government House tonight, and expressed regret at having to report that the result of their bacteriological examination of certain rats found upon the wharves left no doubt whatever that the animals suffered from the bacillus of bubonic plague. This fact, however, need net raise any extraordinary alarm, because sooner or later the infection of rodente must have occurred. In Melbourne and Brisbane during the last few months infected rats have been found, yet no human being has contracted disease there. They urge ail civic authorities to use all precautions possible and distribute poison free for destroying rats. The men who were working in the shed where the first suspected rat was killed, have been well isolated.

Shortly after his return from his country tour, says the Auckland correspondent of onr Donedin contemporary, his ExoeUency began investigating the bubonic plague question, and looking into the preventive measures being adopted by the Municipal and Harbour Board authorities to keep it out of the port and city of Auckland. Principally through his action a Vigilance Committee has been appointed by the City Council to more rigorously enforce increased sanitation of the city and to improve the methods of dealing -with city refuse. It appears that his Excellency, when in England, made a stuJy of such metiiodp, in order to benefit the district in w&dcb he resided in Ireland, so that the whole details are afc bis fingers' ends. I understand that he threatens to make a house to house viatation wit& the Vigilance Committee, if necessary, so that when his Excellency waltaes into the backyards of burgesses they wiU doubtless come to the conclueion that he is a real "live" Governor, and that under him they live end move, if not have their being. Hβ has also woke up to tin Harbour Board

authorities considerably, and is keeping watch and ward upon them, more particularly Ward.