NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 December 1925, Page 3

NEWS AND NOTES.

Last week there was a very pretty sight, on tlie beach at the mouth of the Ooilii River, where a colony of tern had made their home, and some hundreds of these interesting little birds were seen sitting, each on a single egg. in a little scooped nut shingle nest, the egg and the bird being only distinguishable from the shingle on close ins[>cotinn. One would have thought that such harmless and pretty creatures would have been left unmolested, but they were not: nearly every nest was robbed and the bird's scattered '(states the Timnru “Herald"). The tern is a protected bird, and it is possible that those responsible for this wanton act of cruelty may hear more of it,."

The ancient question as to how nationality is determined was well thrashed out at the monthlv meeting of the Gore A. and P. Association (writes the correspondent of the “Southland Daily News”). If a man was born of New Zealand parents a month after they landed in China, is he a Chinaman, etc., etc. The actual question the members were endeavouring to get a ruling on was. “If a mare is mated in Britain and is shipped out and foals in New Zealand, is the foal eligible to be entered in classes for Dominion-bred stock?” Information was given that Air Coubrougli bad written to the Clydesdale Society for information on the point before entering bis filly, and had received word to the effect that the owner at time of mating was considered tlie breeder, but for show purposes if was always allowed that t'*° owner of the mare while it foaled could l e the breeder. The members present decided to write to the society to have a written ruling on the subject themselves for future reference.