New Zealand News.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 September 1913, Page 4

New Zealand News.

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I SHAGS AND TROUT. .By way of impressing- on, members of the Dannevirkc Angling I and Shooting Club what a destructive element shags are to trout, Mr J. Parker, the secretary of the Hawke's Bay Acclimatisation Society, told the last meeting that one shag recently shot in the district contained 36 freshly devoured trout. The shag was, in his opinion, the worst enemy trout had to contend with, and lie ox- ; hoi'ted members to "out" the shag with all possible despatsh. It was useless for one society to wage war against this bird "if its next door neighbour did not employ similar tactics, because they wiil simply go where thei ris liberty permitted and connived at. The war against shags, to be effective, must be universal." HE HELD THE TRAFFIC. I Three cars on the up-Hiie and three on the down-line in Customs street east were held up (says the New Zealand Herald.) It was presumed that there had been an accident of some knirl, and the crowd quickly gathered. Presently a policeman appeared and shouldered through Ihe spectators. A queer scene met his astonished gaze._ A small soap-box trolley heavily laden with firewood had overturned between the lines, and the miniature porter rubbed clean patches on grimy cheeks -with the aid of many tears and equally grubby fists. Stil weeping copiously the small boy and his trolley were conveyed to the footpath and the delayed framcars, drays, and the interested pedestrians went on their way. A PARROT OTIASTC. "Man never knows in Hie morn j what troubles the day will bring," and the truth of this is sworn to j by ono of our well-known business men (says the Balelutha Free Pi ess) who set out to recapture a neighbour's parrot. Coekie made a successful bid for liberty, and was thoroughly enjoying the ex- ; perience when our friend sallied forth after him. A kind invitation to enter an empty cage mot with a derisive "What*?" from the I bird. A race followed, but "feathers" always managed to keep a lead and Victoria Park was reached with Iho bird a winner by ■ yards. From the free top the I bird hurled all sorts of happy j greetings at his pursuer, who j quietly climbed up after the esI raped one. but when almost within I grasp coekie shifted to another I tree, and i nthis manner pradici ally every three of size and imj porta nee in the park was visited. j From one tree fop eoekio romarki cd. "Ft's a fine day!' and as the j man was high enough off the. j ground to sec the weather he did j' not dispute the point, but wlien ! his feathered friend politely ask\ed "How are you?" his wrath burst forth, and eoekie was not [(leased will) the reply. A visit ! to the baths was enjoyed by both parties, even though a "dip" was not indulged in, but the "wild j parrot chase'' w;is given up after i three hours, and a cordial j "good-bye" from the top of the ! windmill added oil to the fuel of the pursuers wrath as did the sight of his suit after the fever of the chase had died away, ami much loss did the sight af eoekie quietly returning to Ins cage shortly afterwards. The "•onlleinan is not selling "feathers" over the counter just now.