CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11243, 8 April 1902, Page 6

CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE.

"On* ts-lio marched" tak«= the local clerzv severely to task for tk*ir absence from tli? recent H-.tnd of Hotj? d:-nionstration. ,- In-stf-A-i."' hs rays, -of personally leading the yi:ung of their flocks, inspiring the ~ lads with enthusiasm and courage, and b~ thrr preface, openly declaring vhich side tbev

are on. they -eanlv remain the comiortable retirement of their I^*** 1 " ,' and let who like do the leading and tea hing which i, undoubted vinorj t£r^A SnYTT while" party ar« in the mid.t of the turmoil heat and stress of battle, thy majority of the Uuistchurch dergr Vld «W v only in accord *!i« v, ,. ~, ~ Until a reform bcjflm to rhine with the htstre of succew. ckrprmen. with a fe* brilliant exception*, even if approving of its aims .wl Wet*. «« content v. fl h a place very much in the rear. Tnen lack of courage t» face -wtile cnticism. their love of ease, an inflated sense of thetr dignity and superioritr. make tbeui unw.lling to share the grime and no.se wh.ch their comrades are bearinii in the front, and s-o they complacently look on. Mr "John Merrin. writing on the small birds nuisance, considers that of th-i courses open to farmers, poisoning is the most effective for exterminating tfle birds. But all methods must fail unless there is united action. It is the old birds that have to be reckoned with, and special attention should to paid to uem. Moreover, poisoned grain has to be treated in a woper wav to make it attractive. A bu?hel of well prepared srrain put out by .ur Mernn resulted in 800"dead birds being picked up and probably as many more were accounted for but not discovered. , . "Old .Soldier" writes protesting against the shooting of colonial officers by the Imperial authorities. He concludes: —"If there is no better explanation of the matter than we have at present, then for the preservation of our boys, even- colonial on service should be at once -withdrawn from South Africa. The effeminate sentimentality of this war is but little better than the disgraceful peace of Gladstone's, and will cost nearly as much."