The Codlin Moth. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 1765, 19 September 1885, Page 7

The Codlin Moth. TO THE EDITOR.

Sik,— A great deal of attention is being directed to this pest both in our own andthe neighbouring Colonies at the present time. Theiesultof the Auckland agitation last year, as will be remembered, was the prohibition of the importation of fruit from San Francisco. Unfortunately no thought appears.. to have been given to fruit-producing countries nearer our own door, and notwithstanding the fact that the codlin moth has been acclimatised in Tasmania for over twenty years, importations were still allowed from that colony. The latest scare in our sister province is the discovery that apples imported from Tasmania are infected with scale insects, and another hue and cry is raised for further protection and the appointment of a Government entomologist. Happy Auckland ! to have escaped so long a pest which has been common in the South for some time.

With the suggestion for the appointment of a Government entomologist with a thorough knowledge of both plants and insects I am quite at one. A competent man, whose business it was to travel through the country noting the existence of any injurious insects, and experimenting as to the best remedies, as well as publishing reports on such matters, would draw attention to them before they had increased to such au extent as to do much damage. The cost to the country would be a mere trifle in comparison with the amount of good that would be effected in the form of saving crops. Those interested could be instructed in the nature of the various pests by the publication of reports, and the delivering "of popular lectures, illustrated by diagrams of both useful and injurious insects. Under such a system one would never hear of such a case as, for instance, people killing the ladybird beetles because they damaged the plants, while the ladybirds were only killing the blight (or aphides) that were destroying thu plants. I myself have seen even intelligent persons killing carnivorous or flesh-eating beetles under tho impression that they were damaging the plant, while in reality they were preying on the pest that was injuring' it. I have also known gardeners crush spiders, and especially the ichneumon, failing to recognise their best friends. The average cultivator is not likely to notice the pests until they have done enough mischief to call attention to them, and then in general it is too late to apply any remedy before there is great loss of crops, while the remedy is also more expensive aud not nearly so effective as if it had been dealt with in time, as would be the case if we had a Government naturalist constantly travelling the country on the look out for insect pests, and armed with power, conferred by Act of Parliament, to compel owners of orchards to either clean their trees or destroy them.

Combined and simultaneous action is required to get rid of such a pest as the codliu moth, for if ono tree in a district be neglected all the efforts put forth would be of no avail. If we consider that each female moth lays from 300 to 500 eggs, and if we suppose that cut of these only 200 grubs be hatched— which I think is quite a low average — we will see how soon the whole district would be again overrun with the moth. Suppose only twelve female moths are allowed in any orchard, and we take 200 grubs at the lowest calculation for each, this will give us 2400 caterpillars in the first generation ; and if we calculate that they in turn produce say only one-half as females, the second generation will give us 240,000, and so on in rapid succession.

By all accounts the codlin moth was introduced years ago, and is now pretty generally spread over the country ; and as no" efforts are being made to exterminate it, the proposed Government entomologist would have plenty of -work to make a start on. Should a wise selection he made, the appointee being young, vigorous, and able and willing for the work, there is >>o fear of good rPS'iU". — I suj, &c\, Met.olontha.

September 1-1

Tuapeka County Council.

Tuapeka County Council met for the transaction of ordinary business in the Council Chambers, Lawrence, on Friday last. Present : Crs Bonnet (in the chair), Oudaille, Clayton, Smith, M'Nab, Fraser, Cameron, Cotton, and M'Farlane. The minutes of the former monthly meeting were read and confirmed.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Alexander Scott, manager of Waipori Station, wrote asking that the scrub be cleared off the miain road leading to Berwick (near the Tuapeka county boundary) before the shearing time. — Ordered that the request be attended to. Geerge Murray and Finlay Munro, Tuapeka Flat, complained that the road leading to their ifarms was covered with gorse, and that they fhad spoken to John Ross, who was primarily responsible for such a state of things, but he Jiad taken no notice. — The engineer was instructed to inform Mr Ross that he must remove the gorse from the roadline.

The assistant engineer of the Public Works Department, Dunedin, wrote stating that, on behalf of the Hon. Minister of Public Works, he had taken over the contract just completed by Mr Buchanan for the erection of the piers and abutments of the Beaumont Bridge. — Received.

James Richardson, secretary of the Raes Junction School Committee, asked the council to erect a wire rope and chair across the Clutha River, near Horseshoe Bend, for the convenience of children attending school. — Referred to the engineer for estimate of cost.

Charles Kerse, secretary of the Dunrobin Progress Committee, requested that the road be made passable from the Dunrobin School to the junction of the Teviot road. — Cr Cameron remarked that the piece of road referred to in Mr Kerse's letter was knee-deep in mud. He moved — "That the surfacemen attend to the road as soon as possible." — Carried. J. C. Brown, M.H.R., forwarded a telegram stating that the Government would place a sum of money on the Supplementary Estimates towards re-erecting the traffic bridge at Waitakuua. — Received.

John Blair and John Brown urged the council to open the road from Tuapeka North to Watson's bush without delay. — Survey to be proceeded with in a fortnight's time.

John M'Farlane intimated that at apublic meeting of ratepayers held in Tapanui riding recently it was decided that a certain road-line in block XI., Glenkenich district, be closed. — Cr M'Farlane was requested to value the land contained in the road-line which it was agreed to close.

Hugh Ross and five other ratepayers asked that the sum voted at a previous meeting of the council for repairs to the road leading from the main road, Tuapeka Flat, to Geo. Murray's, be expended at once. They were agreeable to give 14 days' dray labour on the road if the council would expend the vote. — Ordered that the work be attended to as early as practicable.

W. Smaill (ex-county engineer) wrote stating that he had considered the jottings out of his account-book, his private property. He removed the leaves with the object of furnishing the council with information about any claims that might crop up in future; but as the council appeared to hold a different opinion he had return the leaves to the office. He kept the rough jottings referred to for his own satisfaction only, as the county clerk kept all the books. The survey instruments had been returned to the Survey Office. — The Chairman said that some of the missing leaves from the engineer's account-book had been returned. The leaves were not private jottings ; they contained the particulars in connection with all the contracts that had been let since the time of Mr SmaUl's appointment. — Mr Cameron inquired if all the leaves had been returned. — The Chairman replied that some 16 leaves were still missing. — It was resolved, on the motion of Cr Cameron, seconded by Cr Cotton — " That the yngineer receive the censure of the council for the way in which he left the books belonging to In's department." — Cr M'Farlane moved and Cr Cotton seconded — " That the councillors satisfy themselves that the statement of Mr Sma\ll is correct regarding the missing leaves from his account-book, otherwise that he be requested to furnish the same." — Carried.

engineer's report.

The county engineer (Mr Edie) reported that he had gone over the roads in the greater part of the county during the last month. Taken as a whole, he found the roads in a bad state of repair, but nothing could be done to them with advantage until the weather takes up. He brought under notice that two pillars of the Flodden bridge had been destroyed, caused by 'a party named Johnson drawing a house on a sleigh over the bridge.

Or M'Farlane moved: "That the person who damaged Flodden bridge be informed that he will require to pay £2 towards the repair of the bridge." — Carried.

ROAD BEAUMONT TO MILLER'S FLAT,

The engineer suggested the advisability of making a deviation on contract No. 211 to avoid a Jarge bank near the confluence of the the Little Menzion Burn with the Clutha River. It would require 60 yards more masonry work than specified to complete the culvert, and the face of the embankment would also require to be protected by rubble to make it secure against the effects of the waters of the Clutha.

Cr Fraser asked that the contractors for road formation be heard in the matter. Mr Smythe (one of the contractors) said that his party had taken a contract which was supposed to contain 3000 cubic yards of cutting and earthwork, bnfc they had since found out that it contained fully 5000 cubic yards. They would be quite wiling to undertake the deviation provided thej^ received schedule rates for the work already done over and above the engineer's quantities. Cr Clayton did not think that either the councillors or the ratepayers as a body wished to take advantage of any contractor. In this instance the contractors took the contract in good faith, believing that the amount of cutting and earthwork sjiecified by the engineer was correct. It would not be unreasonable to comply with the contractors' request, seeing that the engineer had made a miscalculation. f!r Oudaillk considered that as the road was being constructed by Government grant the Government would have to be consulted before any fresh arrangements could be entered into with the contractors.

Mr Smytlie was favourable to making an offer to carry out the proposed deviation and plete the remainder of the contract for a lump Hum.

It was eventually decided to grant the contractors .£l3O to complete the contract, including the, deviation.

HIJNOTOWN ROAD,

Or M'Naii Haid lie noticed from the engineer's report that Whelan and party had not started with their contract (No. 227) for the formation of part of the Bungtown report. One of the partio'i who foiiflerwl Cor |,Ik; coni.rnM. told him

that it should have been out of hand ere this. He desired to know why the successful tenderers had not proceeded with the work.

Cr Cotton remarked thery was nothing in the way to prevent the contractors going on with their contract.

Cr Oudaille said it was very unfair to working men to allow contractors to dilly-dally with their contracts. Work had to be finished within a specified time, and the conditions of the contract should be adhered to.

Cr Cotton moved — " That the contractors be notified that unless contract No. 206 be gone on with within 10 days that the contract will be determined." — Carried.

BRIDGE AT LABES' CHOOSING

Cr Clayton moved :—": — " That the contractors for the bridge at Labes' crossing- ba informed that unless operations are commenced within 10 days that the contract will be determined." — Carried.

ACCOUNTS.

The accounts for the month of August, amounting to £1468 15s 9d were pnsso.l for payment.

EXPENDITURE — UPPER AND LOWER RIDINGS,

The clerk submitted a return showing the expenditure on county works for the month of August to be as follows :— Lower Ridings, £152 ; upper Ridings,-£I2S 13s 8d ; Government votes (road Beaumont to Miller's Flat), £8-1 14s — total, £365 7s Sd.

GENERAL,

Cr Cotton moved and Cr Ci.ay ton seconded— " That the bridge in Waipori Bush be put in passable repair by the surfaceman under the supervision of the county engineer." — Carried.

Cr M'NABmoved and Or Cameron seconded — " That tenders be at once called for a culvert at the boundary of Pope's property, Welherstones road." — Carried.

Cr Cameron moved and Cr M'Fari.ane seconded — "That three .surfacemen be employed in James Riding." — Carried.

Cr Frasek moved ami Cr C.uikkon seconded — "That the engineer report, at uext meeting as to the best means to be adopted by the council for regulating the heavy traffic oil the county roads." — Carried.

Cr Smith moved and Cr Oudajuj-; seconded — '/That the engineer be instructed to prepare plans and estimates for a bridge across the Lalla Burn, Teviot Riding." — Carried. Cr Eraser moved and Cr M'Fani.ane seconded — " That a clause be inserted in all specifications to the effect that no contractor execute any extra work in connection with any contracts entered into by this council without first getting the authority of the chairman in writing, and whenever such Authority is given the same to be laid before the council tit the next meeting thereafter." — Carried.

Cr Smith moved, and Cr Camicuox seconded

— " That the engineer report by next meeting as to the state of the road near the Island Block."— Carried.

Cr Bennet moved and Cr Camehon seconded — "That a portion of the deferredpayment due to Beaumont riding be expended on the improvement of the road to Remarkable Bush."— Carried.

Cr Bennet moved and Cr Cameron seconded — " That an extra surfaceman be employed for a few months to assist in repairing the roads in Beaumont Riding." — Carried. The Council then adjourned.