FROM OTHER PAPERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 191, 7 May 1908, Page 8

FROM OTHER PAPERS.

4 . A gratifying, account of the clearance which tho littlo owls, some time'ago imported by tho Otago Acclimatisation Society, have effected of the small birds in tho fruit-grow-ing districts of Central Otago, particularly in tho Earnsclough Flat,, is given by Mr. G. M. Marshall, who has just returned, from a visit to tho district (says tho " Otago Daily Times"). For fifteen years past it was absolutely impossible to grow largo crops owing to tho depredations of tho green linnets and goldfinches, which simply flocked down on the fruit gardens aiid almost cleaned them of the blossom buds. Tho introduction of owls to tho district has'proved tho salvation of tho fruitgrower, for in places whero previously the bird pest was overwhelming thero is now not a small bird to bo seen. The result of this is that the trees aro in splendid condition, and promise exceedingly _ well for next year. Not only have tho birds- named disappeared entirely from tho fruit gardens, but sparrows ana even starlings aro now practically an unknown quantity. Nature has evidently told them that tho little owl is a dangerous enemy, and they havo either taken to tho rocks or disappeared altogether. Mr. Iverson, whose experience the above has been, has not had occasion for two years to firo' , a shot to frighten away birds, and it is simply due to tho presence of the owls. The almost complete clearancoof tho small birds is_ instanced in the fact that this year tho Vincent County Council paid £150 less for birds' heads and eggs than in tho previous year. It would bo very much better, said Mr. Marshall, if tho County Councils were to join forces with the Acclimatisation Society and devote money to tho irhporting of owls that is now used to poison tho small birds. Tho consignments that havo been placed in tho district have been known to breed, and some havo been seen with as many as four young owls. The danger of leaving, the paths about tho boiling pools in the Rotorua district was exemplified again last Thursday evening. Mr. H. Tristram; a member of the mechanical staff of the. "Rotorua Times,'' was shoving a friend on a, visit, to Rotorua the sights of Ohinemutu. He saw a path opening through a clump of manuka, and turned, into it, thinking it would lead to some point of interest., Ho had taken only a'few steps when he plunged to-mid-thigh into a boiling pool.. Ho came out very quickly; but not in timo to save himself. Both of his legs were -badly scalded from his. ankle to above the knee. It is anticipated that he will be laid up for about three weeks. . ' The fear of being buried alivo is a very real one to. a great many, and they will often endeavour by strange devices', to escape tho danger of its occurrence. They , will mako provision in their wills for a small surgical operation to bo performed ' before : they are committed to tho earth, alld may oven mako arrangements 1 for a post, mortem to.be performed. But wills aro generally. read after the funeral, and even if ;a post mortem is suro to prevent ono's being buried alivo it is equally efficacious in preventing the recall to life, ' if life is.: not yet " extinct. • In' all tho' hundred' ' and' more '• Acts of' Parliament . connected with our duties to our dead thero'is not ono clausa that deals with, tho verification, of death. . It will bo an enormous relief if. a communication recently madejto tho Academic des Sciences should turn out to bo based on fact. On applying the,. X-rays to a living' siibject of any ago tho stomach :arid;.intestines, are not visible; for tho organs are in. coiitinual motion, and aro transparent to the rays. But if tho subject is dead tho organs at onco bccome visible, provided the subject has ever lived at' all and, has taken food. _ A photographic reproduction of the abdominal organs would, therefore, •-.according to this, be an absolutely. unmistakable sign that all was over.' •- / ' The common yariety.. flf, is easily frightened, and h'eh'ce it was £h'at\a ; would-be housebreaker made himself .scarce on Friday, morning in double quick time, when ho hoard ,one of those handy bits of .mechanism suddenly ring out an alarm, says the "'Wan-, ganui Herald." It was; fortunate for- the would-beburglar that the qlock in -question set off when it did, otherwise he would probably now bo in durance, vile. It was an early hour, and lie had unsuccessfully tried to prize open a window leading into one bedroom, incidentally waking up and scaring tho inmates (children). Ho then proceeded to another window, 'which .he was in the act of opening when the alarm clock frightened him, and he mado off. Had he npened tliewindow, ho would have been caught for certain when ho put his head. through) as tho head of the houso was just getting out of bed ready to pounce on the intruder. Wo understand that there ' have been several potty thefts at_Aramoho receutly,. coal, wood, etc., having disappeared- from a number of back yards, and residents ,had bettor be on their guard.' The preacher and congregation in'-the Methodist, Church were startled ' recently, by hearing a little feminine scream from tho choir, and then to notice the members holding themselves hard in restraint of their .feelings, says the - Woodville "Examiner.". But mattelrs quietened down, quickly, and went on as usual to the end. of the service, Mr. Ginger explaining that an. animal which had no business to bo there was there; and had rather startled some of the members. . The fact was that a'good-sized rat had suddenly run past some of the ladies, and, being as scared as they, were, 'made . for the organ hid in it. After the service was over,minister, officers, .and small boys, armed with stair rods,'mado a' hunting party in respect of that rat, with high hope of sccuring .it as a trophy. However, when it found tho organ was not''a safe retreat; ,it. made for ' the door, and reached it in less time than it has over been reached before, and got, safe away. Fast ■ as it went, though, one of the ladies who were waiting thinks she went faster. But if Miss Fletcher heard all the compliments that have been passed on-her pluck in tackling that organ for the'closing hymns, knowing that the rat was- in it,-. sho would be proud. A well-known resident of, Gisborne had a somewhat painful experieiicp oii Good Friday night; says a local paper.;'Tho young man, who was suffering from-an attack of influenza, was sleeping heavily, arid .when he awoko about 11 p.m. ho discovered that his two artificial teeth attached .to a small plato had slipped down his throat., An attempt was made to remove tho teeth by coughing, but without avail'. Dr. Coker was called in, but on his arrival, tho plate had worked its way further down tho young man's gullet. Dr. Collins arrived oil tho scene shortly before 1 o'clock and inserted a long instrument with a brush on tho end of it, in tho throat, and in that way was successful in extracting tho teeth. The young man was very mucn exhausted, tho teeth haying been lodged in his throat about two hours. A hooting, yelling, and frantic crowd greeted the judge at Tauherenikau the other day when he emerged from his box after giving his decision on tho last race, says the " Wairarapa Daily News." Tho followers of Naumai danced on tho lawn and in the bird cage round tho secretary's ofiicc, shaking their fists _ and tearing their hair, howling like wolverines for the blood of'the iudgo who dared to give a decision on a (race in accordance with his own prcceptions and not agreeably to favourite backers. "Como out here," they vociferously wailed, " "We'll tar and feather you! 1100-00-oo." The judge amicably declined the urgent invitation, and betook himself calmly- to the refreshment room, whore ho proceeded to regale himself, thereby increasing tho wrath of the hooting, gostulating crowd; "Naumai won," yelled some, while others in a desperate effort to drown the sound of " Naur.iai," responded with "a cry of "Tumut, Tumut, was first!" The only people in the crowd who appeared in any way satisfied,, were tho followers of Conquer, which was accorded first place. These latter departed peacefully and smilingly jingling sundry coins for each ticket in fearsome glee. From the manner in which the three placed horses passed tho post it was absolutely impossible for a spectator on the lawn, or stands to definitely say which horse actually passed the post-first. Had the judge avoided the slight delay in hoisting the numbers the chances are that nothing would , havo heen said by the public. The delay gave_ the crowd the opportunity of .Renting their spleen, and they did it.