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erected on the same site. This house will shortly be ready for
occupation.
The tenant of 54, Edward Road has now vacated these premises,
and it is apparent that 14, Warwick Cottages will also shortly
become vacant.
The premises at 107, Leicester Road, are still occupied, and it
appears that no action will be possible on these premises for some
time.
Last year it was reported that 7, Edward Grove, was unfit for
human habitation and could not be repaired at a reasonable expense,
and the Council had authorised service of the usual notice. The owner
submitted to the Council an undertaking to carry out extensive
repairs which was accepted.
As the works shown on the undertaking have been carried out,
the matter is now concluded.
No new Closing or Demolition Orders were made during the
year.
Rodent Control
One hundred and eighty-six complaints of rat and mouse infestations
were received during the year. In order that these complaints
could be efficiently dealt with, a total of 625 properties were visited,
and 277 of these were found to be infested with rats or mice. All
the infested properties were treated by the Rodent Operator.
During the year a new poison, Warfarin, has been used in suitable
cases with good results. This poison has the advantage in that
rodents do not suffer from poison prejudice where it has been used,
and it therefore allows the use of permanent baiting points where
these are advantageous.
In accordance with the requirements of the Rodent Control
Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture, two treatments of the sewers
were made. The first in January being a maintenance treatment
and the second in July being the annual 10 per cent. test of the
sewer manholes, followed by a treatment based on the results of
the test.
The maintenance treatment of the sewers which was carried
out in January consisted of prebaiting 57 manholes with sausage
rusk. These manholes being those which showed “takes" at previous
treatments, with the addition of manholes in the immediate vicinity.
Of the manholes prebaited, 16 showed "takes," these were subsequently
poison-baited with sausage rusk and zinc phosphide.
Two days after laying the poison it was found that in 8 cases the
bait had been partially consumed.
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