THE GOOSE NUISANCE, (To the Editor.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 171, 18 May 1871, Page 5

THE GOOSE NUISANCE, (To the Editor.)

SIX, — I desire, through the medium of your columns, to direct the attention of Inspector Titchener to a nuisance which has long existed in this town, and which is daily growing more and more intolerable. The Inspector, in his peregrinations, must have observed the numerous flocksof gca°.e in our streets, which stuHoa themsehesat various points, apparently seeking whom thoy may cliew. I for one often notice them, and they as frequently observe me ; and knowing instinctively, 1 suppose, that 1 am of a timid nature, they seem to have marked me as their 3pecial victim, for whenever I approach any of these evil-disposed abortions, they immediately stretch forth their long necks and come hissing after me, as though determined to discover of what material my neverinindables are made. I woula almost as soon think of encountering a bevy of young damsels on mischief bent, as of racing a flock of these so-called tame geese -the one would be exquisite torture, the other, unendurable agony. Even at night, when everything else in nature is, or ought to be, enjoying repose, this nuisance is as great as in the daytime ; and doubtless, Mr Editor, when you have been burning the midnight oil, your ears have frequently been assailed by tlu horrible spasmodic croaking 3of these feathery things of torment, as though Pandemonium had opened its jaw 3 and Rent forth its legions to disturb the stilly night. Many of my fellow-citizens coincide with me in affirming that the nuisance of which I complain is as great as any with which we ara afflicted ; that it is the duty of the Inspector of Nuisances to snpnresa it ; and that there is no reason why Rtray geese, if they are an annoyance to the public, should not be impounded the same ss stray cattle. In o doubt if they wore taken into custody on the charge of having no lawful means of support, th«y would soon be claimed by their disconsolate owners, whom the Inspector could then pounce upon and present with a card of invitation to the R,M,'s leve«. For the capture of these wandering descendants of the Anserferus, I would suggest to the Inspector a similar method to that adopted by the Siberians to ensnare the wild goose. He should first of all erect a hut or hovel by the side of the Wetherstones <'reek, leaving a small aperture in the front and back walla. This done, he should next proceed to envelope himself in a white nheet, advance towards the flock of geese, drop down on all f-turs, and slowly make for the hut, while hia assistants should go behind the flock, and, by howling with all their might, drive them forward. The sweet, innocent birds will mistake the man in white crawling along in the mud for their leader, and follow him to the hut, when he should croep in at the hole left for that purpose, and out at the one on the other side, which he must close op. The geese will follow him through the first hole, and as soon as the last goose has gone in, he oan pass round and secure them all. Trusting, sir, that some such means may be adopted by which the town may bo freed of a great pest, — I am, &c, Twixkle, JVxr. Lawrence, May 17, 187 L