TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 185, 3 May 1933, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY

Shooting Season Opened TOPICS OF INTEREST Dominion Special Service. From reports received from the Soritii Wairarnpa it appears that, the bags secured by sportsmen at tbe Wnirarapa Lake and adjacent lagoons mi Monday, the opening day of tiie shooting season, were only fair. Sportsmen were early at the usual camping grounds and there were about fbe usftal number of guns for a first day. Ono prominent Masterton sportsman secured nine ducks and two black swans and expressed the opinion that this would about represent the average bag of Ihe best: shots. The licenses issued nt the Masterton Post-Office up to yesterday for the current season total 50, as compared with 58 last season. The Grey town. Post Office has so far issued fifteen licenses.

Large Supply of Eggs.. The report presented at the annual meeting of tho Carterton and District Poultry Club stated that from July 1, 1032, to March 31, 1033, about. 51.000 dozen eggs were sent to Wellington, with a net return to suppliers of £2300. The following officers were elected :—President, Rev. \V. I l ’. Stent : vice-president, Mr. W. W. Webb; lion, secretary. Mr. J. 11. Good; egg board, Rev. W. F. Stent and Messrs. K. Brazoiulalc, G. Edge, I. Moody, and J. Upritcbard.

Slaughter of Wild Ducks. Duck-ponds that become slaughterponds in the shooting season now exist in the vicinity of Lake Ellesmere, and are growing in number, according to one shooter at Ellersmerc (states the Christchurch "Sun"). lie declared that at least 300 duck were using one pond. Some of the ponds were a fair distance from (he lake. He thought that the birds must have been attracted by these sheets of water when (lying along the line of rivers and streams. Christchurch men, he said, were renting the ponds, and in some eases arranged for. the wild Uirds to be fed, so that they would not leave. "Duck shooting is not much sport when you blaze away over a patch of water about 20 yards each way,” be said. . Fine Draft of Sheep.

A remarkable draft of lambs from Mount Aspiring (Otago) lias just been killed at the Pttkeuri works. Mount Aspiring is situated about. 30 miles due west of Pembroke and the country is all native pasture. To reach the railhead at Cromwell these lambs had to swim two rivers, followed by a 10 days’ drove on bare roads, then ti day and two nights on trucks before reaching their destination, in till a journey of 260 miles. Notwithstanding this tedious and . lengthy trip, about 05 per emit. were killed and weighed just on 381 b. A line of twotootii wethers, from the same place, killed at about 5-llb. For a draft of lambs reared entirely under natural conditions this is a very creditable performance, and a tribute to careful management.. Interest in New Zealand Legion. Keen interest is being taken in the New Zealand Legion in various parts- of the Wuirarapa, mid several branches have already been formed ip the Lower Valley. An endeavour is now being made to form a centre of the legion in Mnsterton, and with that, purpose in view Mr. G. M. Koberlson. of Wellington, will address, a public meeting in the Masterton Municipal Social Hall to-morrow evening on the aims and objects of the organisation. An opportunity will be given during the meeting for enrolling members. Spread of Ragwort in Taranaki. There are divergent views regarding the ability of ragwort seed to travel through the air. Mr. N. Wright, of Rahotu, Taranaki, said al a meeting last week that he was definitely of the opinion that lite seed could not travel more than .1.0 yards. “Ten times that in miles.” at once countered Mr. T. Pull. Other speakers considered that, with a strong south wind the seed of ragwort was capable of being carried as far as 500 miles. Dealing With the Earwig. Most Tmtmarunui gardeners. are liming serious trouble this season with the pest commonly called “earwigs” (says the “Auckland Star”). These do an extraordinary amount of damage to plants and root crops, mid arc most dillicuil to deal with. Apart from their destructiveness in the garden and in the house, it may not be known generally that the earwigs will give human beings a very nasty sting -villi the forked tail if forced to defend themselves. A few days ago a young girl’s right thumb was painfully rmnefined in two places in this way !>y mi earwig, which she had picked up to throw outside.