THE SMALL BIRDS NUISANCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2004, 1 June 1885, Page 2

THE SMALL BIRDS NUISANCE.

The members of the Farmers' Club acted viselv at their meeting on Saturday when they decided upon takin® united action to combat the small birds nuisance, which is threatening the ruin of agriculturists, For some

years past, sparrows, linnets, and larks have done incalculable damage to the seed sown, and to stuuding crops, and very little was done to reduce their numbers, The steady growth of the evil has, however, induced several members to speak out, the practical outcome being that Mr Hessey brought thesubject beforelthe meeting. Mi'E. E, Chamberlain gave some valuable information ; he related his own experiences in laying poison, His plan was to obtain a solution of strychnine, steep wheat in it, and then sow the grain on newly ploughed ground, where it was readily pieked up by the birds, which died in great numbers. Mr Chamberlain further stated that a large boiler which he lntd used was at the disposal of the Club, the offer being gratolully accepted. What it is now proposed to do is to sow poisoned grain simultaneously on newly ploughed ground on a large number ot farms, and there is reason to hopo that by this means the pest will be greatly reduced, Farmers will perhaps, be interested to learn what has been done in another district. A little over a year'ago the subject was brought under the notice of the Sandon-Carnarvon Road Board, and it was agreed to piocure a considerable quantity of strychnine, and to supply it to farmers at cost prico. ■ This was done, mid the result has been most satisfactory. The action of the Furmeis'Club will, we think, have even a better effect.

The Phcenix Lodge, 1.0.G.T,, meets to-night. An important and unreserved sale of new and second hand furniture is announced by Messrs Lowes and lorns for Saturday next. The severest frost of the season occurred this morning, and ice was to be seen in some of the streets where the sunlight did not penetrate, even at noon, Mr John Caffery notifies that lie is pr e " pared to deliver goods to any part of the district. Orders left at the Makora Mills will bo punctually attended to. At Messrs Lowes & lorns' sale of fruit and ornamental trees 011 Saturday, the competition was good, all lines beinp cleared. They afterwards disposed of a quantity of furniture, produce, and sundries, Messrs P. H, Wood & Co report that theiropening sale on Saturday was a great success. Tlicy put through sundry lots of furniture, fancy goods, slothing, stores, cutlery, Electro Plated Ware, "Carpets, Oilcloths &C, All lines quitted at satisfactory prices, A rowdy individual giving the name of McKonzie, was taken in charge by Constable Collorton at Cashpoint on Wednesday last, after smashing sundry panes of glass in the Telegraph Office window, and driving; one of the good women of the place to seek protection with her neighbours. He was supposed to be under the influence of whisky. The Freethought Society held an interesting meeting last night. One of the addresses dealt jyith the comprehensive.subjoctofßoyalisn) y Republicanism, the speaker having a decided leaning towards the latter. Another was a reply to a Sunday evening lecture recently delivered by the Rev JD. Fulton, Extent music was supplied by the Masterton String ted, The Tomporanee IfeJJ, which is thrown open to the public, was fairjy ye]l patronised on Saturday night, There )ya§ a good supply of Colonial, English, ijnd American papers on the tables, and an as? sortment of other literature, in addition to ehm and draughts. The room will be opened emy ©yening, when not specially engaged for meetings. The remains of the late Mrs W. Everitt were conveyed to their last resting pjaco in the Catholic Cemetry 011 Saturday afternoon. The cortege was very largely attended, and the service was conducted by tho Rev, Father Tre,icy. Tho deceased lady, came out to Wellington in one of the first five ships of the New Zealand Company, iii September 1839, and passed the forty second anniversary nf her wedding 011 the IVth May last, She lived for some time in Wellington, then at Castlepointand Whareama, and latterly 011 the Opaki. It is remarkable that her death was the third that occured among pioneer settlers within five days.

Anotlior of the old colonists has passed away in Mrs Holes of (Jkau, Cashpoint. Mrs Holes, with her husband and two children, arrived in the Aurora in January 1840, They lived for a few years in Wellington awi $lO Itutt and in 1854 they came to Oastlepojijt; a few years later they purchased a section of land at Okau, where they have since lived antf reared a family of children, five of whom ?re living. Mr Hobs was drowned in while attempting to cross the Whareama river at its mouth. Mrs Holes was looking on, but unable torenderassistance.

The r.eiMng beauty in England is said to be tljie g p officer in the First Life Guards, (Jaylev. She is a daughter of Mr .CifappejC, jtfye wellknown music publisher iu ftgni-atiieet, Tall in figure, and lithe and graceful in movement, she attracts attention whereover she goes by the sweetness of hor expression, and the simplicity of her manner. Masses of curly brown hair clusteraround a Greek-shaped head, and a pair of large violet eyes light up a countenance in which the regularity of the features is notmovoadnjpbletkntliowinsomenessof her bright look. At a gejier.il meeting ,<jf ,([elites to the Wellington Football JJniofy was decided to play the first heats of the Senior and Junior Qifp njatelie? pij the 13th and 20th Juno respectively, It was also decided to alter Cup rule 3, by striking out the word "lot" and substituting "Management Committee," It was also decided that the Wellington aud Athletic, and Grcyfcown and Masterton matches shall take place in their respective districts. The local Clubs will therefore settle the place of their match between themselves. Wo are indebted to Mr J. Williams, Secretaiy of the Masterton Ghjb, for this information. An American recently visited the river Jordan says Jje "jjeycr saw in this country a stream so vile, {t jg Jess than eighty feet wide, less than ten feet deep, and as dirty as can bo, Its current is as swift as a mile race, He stood about half an hour on "Jordan's stormy banks," and saw all he cared of it. The banks are called " stormy" because of the millions of mosquitoes that live there and storm people who are fools enough to travel hundreds of miles to see the river,

Professor and Clara Baldwin arrived by the mid-day train to-day, and open at the Theatre Iloyaf to-night. These artistes have drawn wonderfully good houses wherever they Jjave appeared, and they have invariably succeeded in mystifying their audiences. Their fame has preceded them to the Wairarapa, where many are anxious to test their feats of mind-reading. To have a question answered that has simply been thought of, and to know what a person has done in secret a minute ortwo before,appearmoßtunußualifnotimpossible things; yet all these and many more equally incomprehensible are done. We think that a crowded hpuse is a certainty for to-night.

Tlio steainor Wakatipn from Sydney arrived at Wellington this morning. Mr Davy's report on the Sutton enquiry will not be made public until Parliament meets, when it will be laid on the table.

Mr W, A. Ellis, tho well-known pliychmetrist, will arrive to-night, and give public illustrations of thought reading. Ho has lately been at Nelson, whero lie met with extraordinary success.

Captain Edwin tolegraphs this afternoon as followslndication strong cold winds between North East and North West, and of glass falling within 'next twelve hours.

Mr McCardle informs us that our information to tho effect that ho is an applicant for the office of assessor under tho Property Tax Act is incorrect. We should not, of course, have published the statement if wohad not considered that our authority was good. The evidence rf the plaintiff in a partnership account in tho R.M. Court this morning, created not a little amusomout. In the first place he had purchased bread to the value of Bd, which he brought to camp in a soaked condition, and for which lie charged his partner 4d. Then they had a quarrel, which led to blows because defendant used plaintiff's axo, and as tho latter put it to the Court, 1 ' broke the blooming handle." Defendant then left, and did not return for twelve days. Plaintiff deducted this time when they settled up, Defendant was not altogether unwilling to pay the amount, but at the same time stated that he ran away because he was afraid of plaintiff, and moreover could not work because his hand had been cut in a struggle between them, His Worship had not a little difficulty in getting the rights of the case, especially as the parties were foreigners.