The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas e Prevalebit. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1883. Acclimatisation and its Results.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1081, 23 October 1883, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas e Prevalebit. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1883. Acclimatisation and its Results.

Who is there that has come from the Old Country to the colony that does not cherish a pleasant memory of the notes of the feathered songsters to be heard in every rural lane in England ? The musical trill of the nightingale, the blithe carolling of the lark, and even the homely chirp of the sparrow, are reminiscences that only a poet can give proper expression to, but which everyone can feel. No doubt the pleasure of living in New Zealand would be greatly enhanced if we could have these things here, and we question not that the Acclimatisation Societies were governed by the best intentions in the world when they determined to try and plant them in our midst. But unfortunately this matter has its prosaic as well as its poetical side, and in this utilitarian age the former is certain in the long run to carry the day. When we look back at the history of our attempts to acclimatise foreign animals and birds, it must be admitted that they have not been very successful; and probably no institutions have been more heartily, and it may be added more deservedly, cursed by colonial farmers than the Societies referred to. It is now a little over twenty years ago that a worthy settler in Southland and a still more worthy runholder in Kaikoura were interesting themselves in their respective districts in the propagation and preservation of rabbits. Every effort was made to destroy the natural enemies of these animals, and the terrors of the law were threatened and enforced against all and sundry who ventured to bring a gun within the sacred precincts of the warrens of these rodents. Now, alas, we have only too well realised the result of this fostering care. Not only have the two gentlemen mentioned been irretrievably ruined, but thousands of their neighbors have to thank them for the losses they have sustained owing to the multiplication of the rabbits. At the present time the fee simple of all New Zealand is worth less by some millions than it was twenty years ago, and how to get rid of these animals is one of the most difficult problems the colony has to face, and it is extremely doubtful whether it will ever be solved. Revenons a nos oiseaux. At the very time when the rabbit pest was being so assiduously cultivated, a well-known solicitor of Nelson, Mr Henry Adams, was watching with enthusiastic interest some linnets’ nests, which had been built in his garden, and the readers of the Nelson Examiner were delighted with some excellent articles dealing with the habits of the birds in question. Tnat they were able to rear their young so successfully was held to be proof of the excellence of the climate in that district, but the effect of Mr Adams’s experiment is that the descendants of his feathered pets are now consuming something near a tithe of the cereal produce of the colony. Christchurch residents of fifteen years’ standing will remember that at about that period the merry chirp of the sparrow first began to make itself heard among the pines in and about the city. Practical farmers uttered a note of warning as to what would be the consequence of introducing these birds here, but they were laughed’to scorn by acclimatisers, who argued that sparrows did far more good than they did harm. Now we are reaping the fruit of this victory of sentiment over practicality, and settlers have long since realised that the tax then laid upon agriculture can never be repealed. But neither warning nor protestation had any effect upon the Acclimatisation Societies, as was shown by the fact that ten years ago the Christchurch Association sent to Nelson for a supply of larks, notwithstanding that these musical little pests were on their way to this province in search of pastures new on their own behalf. The song of the lark may be a delightful sound to the ear of the poet, but the farmer not unaturally views it in a different light, as he is only too well aware that he has to sow as much seed for the songster as he has for himself. The small birds nuisance has not as yet reached such gigantic proportions as the rabbit pest, but when we know that the rate of increase of the former is from 700 to 1,000 per cent., it is easy to see that the colony will have to pay dearly for the folly of Acclimatisation Societies.

But if, as is to be feared, it is too late for us to provide a cure for the evils that have been caused, we can still do something to prevent kindred disasters occurring. The colony is threatened with that arch-foe of the fruit garden, the blackbird, which has already established itself around Christchurch and Dunedin, and unless its progress is vigorously opposed, it will undoubtedly obtain a footing in other parts of New Zealand. Wherever the blackbird goes the beautiful mountain ash berries disappear, even the holly trees are stripped of their chief adornment, while gooseberries and currants are scarcely allowed to show themselves, and cherries have only a historic fame. Luckily, however, these birds are not difficult to repulse. They build their nests in low bushes, and if the young ones are destroyed before they fly the whole season’s broods would most likely be reared in the same nest and might all be disposed of. If our boys and gardeners will only act on the suggestions we have thrown out, much will be done to prevent the spread of a pest that deprives us of our most wholesome and delicious fruits, while it throws a complete damper upon an occupation that poets, physicians, philosophers and politicians all agree to be conducive to peace and health, as well as to individual happiness and national prosperity. Utter extermination pay be despaired of, but much can be done to keep such scourges in check, and this is the season of the year during which effective measures should be taken to interrupt their progress.

The ordinary meeting of the Church of England Temperance Society takes place this evening, at the Arcade Chambers.

The Pass examinations cf Canterbury College students began yesterday and continues till next Tuesday. 46 have entered, of whom 19 try for honors or exhibitions. Honors examinations begin on November Ist, and continue probably eight days. An entertainment was given by the Baptist choir last night at the Old Men’s Home, the service of song, entitled “ Pilgrim’s Progress,’’ being rendered very successfully. Mr Sawle gave the connective readings, and Mrs Kingston accompanied on the harmonium, while Mrs Nixon contributed the solos, her singing being heartily appreciated. There was_ a good' attendance of the general public, and the proceeds of the entertainment went to the piano fund.

At the inquest on Edward Drinkwell, at Christchurch yesterday, the jury found a verd’ot of accidental death, but the evidence was contradictory as to the presence of one guard. The train consisted of sixty trucks, and had two engines, each with a driver and fireman. One witness said the jerk which threw the deceaied off the tru k was caused by the inexperience of the fireman driving instead of the driver. Other evidence was to the effect that the jerk was no greater than is inevitable with so large a ballast train.

The Governor’s landing at Nelson proved a great success, the weather being glorious, and the whole population appeared to have turned out to welcome his Excellency. A proression of great length marched from town to the foot of Church Hill. Addresses from the Corporation, Oddfellows and Foresters were presented and acknowledged, the terms of which elicited cheer after cheer. His Excellency expressed himself delighted with his reception. The Governor, with Miss Jervoia and suite, will remain a week the guests of the citizens at Sunnyside House. Yesterday a squad of the Ashburton Rifles went through the second stage of the annual class-firing, Bugler Savage being first at 500 and 600 yards with 37 points, Private Groves coming second with 36. This morning another squad fired at the same ranges, Captain Douglas making top score with 47 points, Private Ashton being next with 37 points. We understand the match with the Kaiapoi Rifle Club is to take place on the afternoon of Saturday, 3rd November, and that the team will bo selected from those who prove themselves most efficient as marksmen in the interim. At a meeting of the Auckland Volun-

teer officers last night, re the meeting o:

the New Zealand Rifle association at Auckland, the following resolution was carried:—“As it appears to this meeting that no means have yet been taken by the local Secretary to ensure the success of the meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association about to be held at Auckland, it is resolved that Captains Dignan, Mahon and Payne wait on the local Secretary, Mr E. Cooper, and ask him if a meeting is to be called, and point out what arrangements are necessary ani what he requires to be done on the part of the officers appointed as a Committee or by the Association. ” A peculiar case came before Mr Ward, R.M., at Wanganui yesterday. W. F. Crosse, now of Auckland, was charged on the information of the polios with unlawfully removing from its burial place the body of a child, without thelOolonial Secretary’s license. The facts were that the defendant’s brother, Samuel Crosse, unlawfully buried the child in October, 1882, in his back garden avenue, Wanganui, and then removed it to Auckland. Whilst there he sent down to Wanganui for the body, and W. F. Crosse disinterred it accordingly last June. The police were unable to lay information against Samuel Crosse, because the unlawful burial was not discovered till more than six months after the offence was committed, but laid an information against W. F. Crosse for disinterring it. The R. M. dismissed the charge on the grounds that the information was bad, because the Act does not apply to a disinterment of a body not buried in a lawful burial place, and also because in any case the information can only be laid by persons having the control of the burial place. The R.M.’s decision elicited much comment, especially as W. F. Crosse’s counsel pleaded guilty in Court to-day and asked for a small penalty to be inflicted before his Worship raised the objection to the information.

A meeting of the Library Building Committee was held yesterday af ernoon at Mr Ward’s office, Arcade Chambers. Present —Messrs Ward (president), St. Hill, Bullock, Lechner and W. H. Zouch (hon. secretary). The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the Secretary reported that an application to the County Council for the remaining balance of the grant, viz , LIOO, had bean made, but payment had been deferred. The President reported that the whole of the funds for building purposes had been absorbed, and that about L6O was still required, in addition to the temporary overdraft at the Bank, which now stood at about LIOO. This, however, would be met directly the balance of grant was obtained from the County Council. Mr Bullock moved, Mr St. Hill seconded, and it was carried, that a public meeting be called for Monday, Nov, 6, at the Library Hall, for the purpose of electing a Committee for the coming year and other business. It was decided that all moneys or subscriptions still due on account of the building fund be paid into the trustees account in the Union Bank, in order to enable them to pay off all existing liabilities. It was resolved that a balance-sheet and report bo drawn up and submitted to the general meeting of subscribers, and that the terms for subscribers to the new library be as follows :—One year, 15s; six months, 8s ; three months, ss. It was decided to procure one dozen chairs and a large table for the reading-room, and after other routine business had been transacted the meeting adjourned. Two small boys named Edward and James Dunn, were brought before Mr Baddeley this morning, under rather peculiar circumstances. It appears that the children in question were some time ago sent to the Burnham school, and yesterday their mother paid a visit to the institution see to her offspring, and coolly brought them to the station, and on to Ashburton. Intelligence was transmitted of the occurrence, and on the arrival of the train here Constable Neill met the fugutives, but had considerable trouble in obtaining possession of them, as Mrs Dunn forcibly objected to being deprived of their society. Mr Baddeley ordered the youngsters to be taken back to Burnham, and dismissed the charge against the mother with a caution. The conduct of Mrs Dunn in Court this morning was certainly very strange, as she continually interrupted his Worship in a loud voice, questioning the justice of a decision which, as she put it, “ robbed her of what was her own ” In response to the warning of the Bench, the accused woman said that she thanked the Magistrate for his leniency, but at the same time wished it to be understood that she intended to reg'in possession of the boys as soon as she could manage it. She was proceeding to deliver what would evidently hav« been • long speech, but the constable cut short her volubility by hurrying her out of the Court, which sh" left closely attended by two small female children, one of whom was weeping loudly and copiously. The authorities at Burnham should benefit from this case, and in future keep a closer watch over those in their charge, as it seems to be very easy lor them to leave the institution if they desire to do so.