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Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 11, 7 October 1927, Page 6

Concern is being felt in the South* Island at the spread of the German owl (states an exchange). The Otago Acclimatisation Society introduced the bird with an idea of combating the small bird nuisance, and it is now gravely doubted whether the importation was a wise one. The owl has had apparently no effect upon the prevalance of Sparrows, but it has resulted in reduction of tlie small native birds, particularly the tomtit, fantail, and grey warbler, which have proved an easy prey.

Deer are regarded as vermin by tho State Forest Service, and as there is now no protection of them m State plantations, including those in Canterbury, every means is licing used to get rid of them (states the Christchurch "Sun"). The campaign inaugurated by the Forest Service includes offering a bounty of two shillings a tail. Poisoning experiments are also being conducted. Salt licks have been established to attj'act the deer to places where they may bo poisoned or shot, and considerable numbers have been killed during the past season.

The position in regard to the sowing of spring wheat is now becoming serious in Oiago (states the “Otago Daily Times”). In the Taieri, which is recognised as one of the chief wheat-growing centres in the South, a large amount of surface water is still lying on. the ground, which in other places is very sodden. As a consequence little wheat has been sown on the Taieri, and a lot of it has been drowned out in the lowlying areas. It is now questionable if much more spring sowing can be carried out on the Taieri Plain. A quantity of wheat may, however, bo planted within the next fortnight, provided the weather keeps tine. The recent rains have also affected the position regarding spring sowing in (be districts south of the Taieri, but conditions have been more satisfactory in Central Otago. It appears as though the crops from the South Otago district will bo very poor next season, <