ARRIVAL OF THE STORM BIRD.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 98, 16 March 1863, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF THE STORM BIRD.

Times Office, Monday morning. The Storm Bird, Captain Mundle, arrived here this morning soon after five o'clock—having left Wellington at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Called at Castle Point yesterday, staying about three hours ; and on leaving that place passed a barque supposed to be the George Canning for this port. We are in possession of an Advertiser of the 14th inst., hut it contains no news of importance. The Sea Breeze, Zillah, and Bxcelsior had arrived in Wellington.

Sparrow Murder. —Now that France has prohibited the destruction of small birds, and that Australia and New Zealand are importing them to keep down their retnndancy of caterpillar s, &c. thefollowing exploit of the “ wise men” of Crawley ought to be shown to the world:— *• Crawley Sparrow Club.—The annual dinner toot place at the George Inn on "Wednesday last. The first prize was awarded to Mr. J. Bedford, Worth, having destroyed within the year 1467. Mr. Heaysman took the second, with 1448 destroyed Mr. Stone third, with 982 affixed. Total destroyed, 11,944. Old birds, 8633; young ditto, 723 : ®§>S S ) 2559.” Unfortunately there are many “ Crawleys ” in England, where this silly destruction of the farmers’ friends is carried on. The farmers know she injury that sparrows thrushes, blackbirds, &c., cause to the crops, but the “ crop ” of the birds themselves is to the naturalist sufficieut proof that the birds do more good than harm by their feeding on caterpillars, grubs, &c.