COUNTRY NEWS.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2004, 7 October 1869, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS.

The first case under the new salmon and Trout; Act came before the Jv sideut Magistrate at Christchurch a few days ago. when three little boys were bn.tight up charged with having fished within the prescribed limits, in contravention of the Act. The accused did not deny the offence, but pleaded ignorance of the law. They were discharged with a caution.

A correspondent of the Wa'ikouolti Herald who visited Mr Young’s mill at Palmers on a few days ago, writes as follows In the mill-race, which is a line stream of water, I hal the pleasure of seeing at least two goodsized trout a sign that the experiment lately made there is likely to he highly successful. The trout appeared to bo very shy, and darted through flic water with amazing quickness. Mr Young expressed disappointment at our not being able to see more, but gave as a reason theduluess of the day’. He also stated that the fish had found their way down the river into the deep waterholcs. I think some precautionary measures should be taken t-> prevent the Maori s netting the trout, as I understan 1 that about this time of the year they’ are in the habit of using that means to catch minnows, and of course if the 1 1 out cams into their net they uotill nnt object. I noticed a number of Maories all fishing down towards the junction of the millraco and river. r l lie Acclimatisation Society should sec that the Province sustains no injury through their ignorance. Perhaps it is also worth mentioning that no 1 ss than over 200 hawks have teen shot by Mr Young or his men during the period he has been in Shag Valley. The centenary’ of Captain Cook’s lauding in the Colony will be celebrated at Waikouaiti with a picnic, which promises to he a grand affair. The long drought which has prevailed in the Waikouajti district is having a most prejudicial effect op the young crops, ami the prospects of the farmers are likely to be seriously injured thereby unices a change soon takes place. A meeting of those interested in the development of the copper at Mount Poyal is to he held at Pleasant Valley to morrow evening. It is in contemplation to form a prospecting company' in order to strike the main lode. Although the vein appears to show itself more on private property than elsewhere, Mr Neilson, the owner or the land, has made a most liberal offer to the discoverer in the event of its proving payable. From all appearances thorp is certain to be a good lode found.