LOOKING BACK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 23, 7 November 1938, Page 4

LOOKING BACK.

FIFTY YEARS SYNE. (From the, “Guardian,”~Nov. 7, 1888). Cycle Club’s Paper Chase—The members of the Ashburton Cyling Club took advantage of the half-holiday on Friday to hold a-paper chase. Considering that the show was held on that day, a fair number of riders turned up. The “pack” consisted of Messrs Stephens, Salek, Wall, Bennetts, Pickford, Elliott, and Noakes. The “hares,” Messrs Jones and Murray, got away from the Post Office at 2.30 p.m., and by the time their five minutes’ start was up, had placed a good lfiilo and a quarter between them and heir pursuers. The hounds hunted well for.half an hour until they were thrown off. The scent on the Beach Road by the hares taking to some stiff paddocks and fences, and the trail getting lost to sight in the long grass. After considerable casting about, however, the trail was found again on the Waknnui Road, and a start was made towards Wakanui. Many of the riders, however, had had enough of it; and returned homo one by one until Dir Stephens was left alone to’ cat'ch two hares. The rider nevertheless pluckily stuck to his work, and had the Satisfaction, although arriving 20 minutes behind the hares, of riding the whole distance. The hares arrived home at the Post Office at, 4.35 p.m., having covered about 24 miles.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO (From the “Guardian,” Nov. 7, 1913). Small Bird Pest.—Bird trappers in the Rakaia districts report having made very good cheques during the trapping season, and they add that the small birds appear to be more numerous than ever. The trappers have a grievance, however; they contend that the trapping season closes a month too early. They state that, if the season were extended another month, they would be afforded a much greater opportunity of bringing about, more effectively the end for which the County Council spends so much , money annually. A month later the new pastures would, have covered most of .the natural feed, and tlie birds, would flock to that spread by the trappers. For the last month of the trapping season the birds caught have been principally sparrows, the most destructive of all. One trapper states that the trapping of birds now means a large diminution in the eggs laid. A fortnight ■ ago he caught 800 sparrows in one day, and all but 30 of the birds were females. Rakaia Library—The Rakaia Library membership is keeping up well, hut the library is not partonised to the extent it should he. Lately a batch of new books has been introduced, making over 2000 volumes.