LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Press, Volume XIV, Issue 1827, 19 February 1869, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[fkom our own cobrespondent.] WELLHfGTO2f, Feb. 18, 3.38 p.m. . The Ahuriri has arrived from Napier. Te Kooti has turned up near the Thames, where he has seized horses belonging to the friendlies for his cavalry, has erected a strong pa, and is apparently bent on mischief. Major Mair has warned the settlers of his district to bring their families in. A fire occurred at Napier last night. Mr Palmer's stables were destroyed, but the horses were saved. 7 p.m. The Hon. Colonel Haultain has returned from Wanganui. The news from that place comprises only a multiplicity of speculative prospects, dependent on when and where Tito is found. Although his whereabouts was positively asserted a few days ago, the statement is now known to be incorrect. He is supposed to have crossed the "Waitotara; but there is no certainty in this. The Governor's doings at "Wairarapa pa comprise levees, native gatherings, &c, but nothing of extra provincial interest. He returns to-morrow. The meeting addressed by the Eev. Mr. Inglis, Presbyterian Missionary, last night was well attended, and the proceedings were full of interest. Te Kooti's news came upon us like a thunder clap, and causes much depression. "Voxunteeb Inspection.— The different Volunteer Corps will be inspected by the officer commanding the district this evening. Thbatee Eotaii.— <c Under the Gaslight" again brought a crowded house last night. The piece will be repeated this evening, when a performance will be given under the patronage of the Mayor and City Council. ! MfiKTiNa of Ceeditqbs.—A meeting of the creditors of Alexander William Doran was to have been held yesterday morning for I the proof of claims and appointment of trustee j and supervisors, but the non-attendance of creditors rendered it necessary for the registrar to adjourn the meeting for a week. Supeeme Cotjet.—Mr Justice Greseon will sit in the Court Chambers this morning at 11 o'clock. The following is the public list:— Re will of George Harrison Davis, deceased, for leave to issue probate to widow (Mr Helmore) ; re bankruptcy and re Henry Langford, for adjudication and meeting of creditors (in person) j re bankruptcy and re Henry Beechey, for adjudication and meeting of credirors (in person) ; re will of James Patterson, deceased, for probate (Mr W. Williams.) YOLTJHTEEB GENERAL COMMITTEE. —A meeting of the Volunteer General Committee was held in the Criterion Hotel yesterday evening for the purpose of considering the cost of preparing the new rifle range. Some conversation on the subject took place ; but aa j there were but few members present, it was ■ resolved to defer further consideration of the matter until next Thursday evening when another committee meeting will be held. Acclimatisation.—The pheasants turned out in the gardens of the Acclimatisation Society appear to be thriving well in the various localities amongst which they have distributed themselves. Several second broods of young birds have lately been seen. The acclimatisation of .partridges and quail has hitherto been attended with very partial success, aad renewed efforts will have to be made before ihgge psluable birds can he added to our list of iDeeet-deetroyers. The greatest success appears to have been attained by those birds turned out at the Cheviot Hillg where Californian qaail may be counted by, the score; blackbirds, thrushes, and patridges by the hundred ; and pheasants by the thousand ; a result due, in a great measure, to the vigilant exertions of the owner, Mr W. Robinson, in keeping down vermin.

Election. —The nomination of candidates for the representation of Lyttelton in the Provincial Council, in the room of Mr D. Davis, resigned, will take place at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Lyttelton, on the Ist March ; and the poll (if one be necessary) on the 3rd of that month. Cbomwell.—Feed for cattle at Cromwell ia said to be exceedingly scarce juet now. There are at present 600 cattle on the flat between Cromwell and the Kawarau Gorge, and starvation is already epoken of. The Southland Conspiracy Case.— Messrs M'Kenzie, Sayers, and Ayltner have been re-arreeted on the charge of conspiring to defraud the Provincial Government of Southland by opening the tenders for the Southland Railway. I The Mails.—A mail for the United Kingi dom will be made up at the Post-office on Saturday, for despatch by the Omeo; but the postmaster, considering it improbable that the Omeo will arrive at Melbourne before the homeward steamer leaves that port, states that only such letters for England as are specially addressed will be forwarded. The Fijis.—lt appears from information brought to Dunedin by the cutter Lapwing, that the whites in the Fijis are losing confidence in Thakombau, and have appealed to Maafu, an intelligent and powerful chief, who it is believed is fully able to cope with the savages who are troublesome in the interior of the large island, Viti Levu. The white population has. .greatly increased of late, and the prospects are most encouraging. It is only ia one or two parts of the large island (which is about 400 miles in circumference) that the natives have been troublesome. Westland Racks. —A meeting of the stewards and the committee of the Westland Jockey Club was held on Monday night at Dyson's British Empire hotel. The subcommittee submitted to the meeting a programme of two days races, which was confirmed. The stakes amounted altogether to the magnificent sum of about £550. In all probability a third day's racing will be provided, and if so, the Club propose to put before the public two very novel eventsVolunteer races for light and heavy weights. Aeotic Expeditions.—Of the three expeditions to the North Pole, the mere announcement of which had set the whole scientific world in a etir, the first two —the German and the Swedish expeditions—have returned without having accomplished their mission, but not without considerable results for the interests of science. The last came back to Tromsen on the 13th of October, after having advanced towards the North Pole as far as 80°—a limit hitherto attained by no ship, but which the expedition could not go beyond. - This non-success has nowise discouraged the promoters of the French expedition, which, is now in a fair way of preparation. A WOED FOE THE SPABEOW, —Iβ the sparrow the gardeners' friend or foe ? This is a question which has often been discussed, and the verdict has almost invariably been in favor of the sparrow. In the face of all evidence, however, there ia a prejudice against this little bird, the reason probably being that he boldly commits his crimes before our eyes, while hie good deeds, which far outweigh his trivial delinquencies, are done by stealth.. Our friends in Australia were unhappy till they could get sparrows from home, and now, after having them less than four years, they begin to think all manner of evil regarding them. Mr Edward Wilson, whose labours in the department of acclimatisation are universally recognised, and to whom, if I mistake not, Australia owes its sparrows, has been asked to produce authentic information as to the balance of its merits and demerits. He has done so, and has recently communicated the result of his enquiry to one of the daily papers. He has ascertained that no less than 1400 cockohafers' wings have been found below the nest of one pair of sparrows. Each female insect produces about 40 grubs, which burrow for three years in the ground, preying upon the crops during the time to an enormous extent. As many as 100,000 of these grubs have been found on one acre of land, and as each acre will grow about 40,000 mangolds or turnips, there are about three grubs to each root. In some years the damage done by this single insect in France alone has been estimated at the astounding sum of 40 millions sterling. - A very simple calculation shows that, simply in feeding their youngi a single pair of sparrows annually prevent the production of 14,000 grubs, and the account in favor of the birds is not yet complete, for— Where'er they take their walks abroad, How many grubs they see, And no doubt dispose of (to say nothing of insects), without leaving any record of their good deeds} for sparrows by no means restrict them eel yes to cockchafers, even when those delicacies are in season, but will eat almost any kind of insect or grub that comes in its way. Mr Wood, in his c. Illustrated Natural History," 1862, states that a single pair of birds were once watched for a day, and were seen to carry to their young no less than forty grubs an hour. Such labours as these are not to be disregarded. Let a somewhat stout farmer, especially if he ia dressed in the orthodox style of top boots, rather tight clothing about the girths, attempt to bring home forty grubs an hour, and we are much mistaken if at the end of the time he does not feel a great respect for the sparrows, and I think that for their labour (which he can now appreciate) in destroying his natural enemies, they are fully deserving of the seeds and fruit to which they occasionally help themselves. Let our Australian friends accept Mr Wilson's conclusion without hesitation. Wherever the sparrows and other email birds have been ex* tirminated, the crops have been destroyed by the consequent increase of insects, and in eeyeral cases the same government which ordered the destruction of birds have been compelled to revoke their law, and issue orders for their protection. The balance pf nature cannot be rashly interfered with by blind mortals without evil consequences.—*- « Once a Week."