NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1469, 29 January 1887, Page 3

NOTES.

It is satisfactory to be assured, as w were the oiher day; on the au'.hority c "An Old Australian," that the so-calle< " locusts," whhh are now doing so mud damage m Victoria, are not to be con founded with the species of msec which since the days of Moses — an( no doubt before then for that matterhave been such a scourge ir Eastern countries, but merely an indigenous grasshopper which has beet known m Australia ever since white men knew anything about the greal island-continent, and which, as it has never yet been imported intc New Zealand, is never, it is to be hoped, likely to be. As for this Australian locust or grasshopper, however, it appears to be destructive enough m all conscience, and even the genuine Egyptian scourge cannot afford to give it many points. For another Old Australian avers that it will eat every green thing before it, even to green paint, solemnly declaring that he has known the locusts to clear off every scrap from his garden fence and window-sashes, leaving the wood as clean as if it had been sandpapered. We whistled m incredulity at such astounding voracity, but our informant whose veracity is unquestionable, not only pledged his word of honor that he was neither joking nor attempting a hoax, but stated his willingness to guarantee that he was not even mis:aken by staking a substantial sum at :he long odds of 100 to i. So the statement must be accepted as fact, istounding though it be, and this being x), we have all the more reason to be thankful that New Zealand is free from this particular pest. It is* even said that it the eggs or insects were imported hither by any chance there would be no danger of the locust being acclimatised, as it is stated that it could not survive our winters. So much the better. We have pests enough as it is. Talking about the fondness of the Australian locust for paint, reminds us of an amusing story that is going the rounds anent the somewhat unfortunate experience of an artless artist m that article who practices his art m our own particular City of the Plains. On dit that having an instruction to paint the gymnasium at the Side School, he despatched a journeyman on that errand, but owing to a misunderstanding, said journeyman went off and painted the gymnasium of the High School instead. As the Governors of the latter institution, as appears from their balance-sheet, are by no means m possession of surplus funds, and are clearly not liable for work which they never ordered, it is to be feared the job is not likely to turn out a particularly paying one for the painter. Still, as they will profit by the mistake, let us hope that they will endeavour to mitigate the misfortune of the mistaken mixer of colors by allowing him some small solatium for his sei vices. A gentleman who takes great interest m the project of the proposed Antarctic Expedition, to which we made reference m a recent article, expresses the opinion that from a scientific point of view the results may be of very great value. He thinks it even possible that there may be found m some parts of the Antarctic, whose unexplored area equals about one-sixth of the Earth's surface, races of men corresponding with the Esquimaux of the opposite pole, and entirely new fauna and flora. He also concurs m the probability of the discovery of new whaling grounds and seal fisheries, but indicates other natural resources likely to prove a means of profitable trade. For example, there are, it appears, m Victoria land, immense stores of guano, and among tne bird*, whose vast numbers account for the accumulation of these large deposits of that useful adjunct to husbandry, there is one which is itseli likely to yield a product of considerable value. It is a species of puffin of great size weighing from solbs. to 601b5., and yielding great quantities of oil. Some interesting information on the subject is, we believe, to be found among the " Transactions" of the New Zealand Institute, and if any of our readers happen fo possess a copy we should be obliged if he would either lend us the volume m which it is to be found, so that we may reproduce it for the information of our readers, or send us for publication a transcript of such passages as may be of general interest. Tme success of our pisciculturists m stocking the rivers of New Zealand with trout may fairly be described as phencmenal. Utterly devoid of fish as they were only a few years ago, most of our rivers and streams are now swarming with speckled beauties, and some — the Opihi, for instance — to judge from the enormous takes of individual anglers, must be nearly m tne condition of that stream m Ireland which the enthusiastic native described as " shtiff wid 'em." Over a cwt. to a couple of rods m a single evening, and a kill of over a ton, as one sportsman's record for a season are episodes m troutfishing which it would be hard to parallel m any country. In our own immediate neighborhood the waters of the Ashburton afford excellent sport, but it is to be feared that unless some steps are taken for the prevention of illegal practices, this will not long be the case. We hear of poachers going into the river m its upper reaches on horseb?ck at night with torches, and spearing the fish without any attempt at interference. If the story be true— and we get it from excellent authority — what is the Acclimatisation Society about, we should like to know ? After all the fuss made by its members w.hen the local Society was formed, and their persistent refusal to assist m securing for the latter Society the control of the streams m the district, the neglect now shown is all the more reprehensible. We are glad to learn that the visit of inspection made yesterday at the Old Men's Home by the Committee of the Charitable Aid Board has resulted m a determination to endeavor to remove the grievance of which the inmates have so long and so justly complained. It appears that it has been decided to try a thorough system of fumigation, the inmates being, if necessary, temporarily boarded out while that operation is proceeding. We are very doubtful, though, of the success of the experiment. It may, and no doubt will, mitigate the nuisance for a time, but we are persuaded that the only radical cure is fire, and not smoke only. However, there is no harm m trying the effect of the latter first,