LOCAL INVENTIONS.-THE RABBIT EXTERMINATOR.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 203, 14 May 1887, Page 5

LOCAL INVENTIONS.-THE RABBIT EXTERMINATOR.

Mr George Williams, of rabbit exterminating fame, returned by the Rawea yesterday, from Wellington, whither he has been with the view of bi'inging his ingenious invention under public notice. Me found that the greatest obstacles he had to cope with were the army of officials who luxuriate upon big

salaries, and pursue an easy calling ■ under congenial circumstances, while bunny continues to increase and multiply. Mr Williams's advent to the Empire City struck dismay among the ranks of these oiiicials, but the inventor is happily a man not to be easily daunted. In the Wairarapa district ho found the farmers grumbling at the linos levied upon them for not keeping down the labbits, and despondent by reason of the loss entailed upon their livestock through eating the poisoned grain, which the < Government o ; fcnGia / l8 lavishly distribute while out on th6i* Iss a day rabbiting excursions. One farmer assured Mr that he lost no less than 300 sheep in 1 880 from this cause, while another had had five valuable horses poisoned. In Wellington Mr Williams had an interview with a number of members of both Houses of Legislature and very favourably impressed them by exhibiting tho models of his invention. The immediate result is Mr (i. Fisher's notice to ask the Government if they will place £100 upon the estimates for publicly testing Mr Williams's invention. In view of the continual and heavy outlay to which the country is now put in maintaining u highly paid Ratotufc Department* which would bo rendered unnecessary if this im ention proves equal to the expectations, the lequest for the sum necessary to ensuie a public test is exceedingly modest. "We trust in the public interests that it will be granted. Mean time Mr "Williams intends to devote some attention to the furtherance of ' other inventions thab he has in hand, and notably one for taking photographs at night. It is designed to considerably extend the usefulness of photography.