The Little Owl.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 2210, 29 August 1910, Page 4

The Little Owl.

SHOULD ITS IMPORTATION BE STOPPED. At Friday's meeting of the Acclimatisation Society Mr Deans reported the arrival of 49 ittle owls by the Kia Ora, and asked that their distribution be approved. Mr Chisholtn said that applications had been received for all the birds which had arrived, and asked that Mr Deans be duly authorised to distribute same. Mr M'lntosh : Preferably to people who will keep them round about their homesteads. Mr Deans' report was adopted as read. Mr Oowie said he thought it was time they were calling a halt, and trying to discover whether those birds were doing damage or not, He had been informed that the owls were tackling the quail.

Mr Chisholin remarked that if the question of the usefulness or not of the little owl was going to be raised he would have something to say on the matter. As for eating quail, he could not see how that could be, seeing that the owl was a nocturnal bird and the quail a day bird. The shipment was to be 100 owls, and there should be a, further consignment of 40 or 50 on tire sea now, which would make up the balance of the consignment. Mr M'lntosh: They may not be allowed to land according to a telegram they had received. He thought it might be as well to cable Home to the Agent-general to stop him sending more birds out. A telegram from the Hon. D. Bud do, Minister of Internal Afi'tirs, was then read as follows : •' Authority granted to land shipment of little owls ex Kia Ora, now due, but Minister cannot undertake to admit any further shipments until it has been proved that these birds fulfil the purpose for which they were introduced, and are not destructive to small native birds."

Mr Chamberlain said that if these birds were on the way they should make application to see what they were going to do about the matter.

Mr Chishohn said it was most desirable that they should have some authentic information on the point, and he thought the best thing to do would be to leave the matter in the hands of the Game Committee to report and the meeting decided to adopt this course.