WELLINGTON GARRISON BAND.

Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue XXXV, 23 June 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

WELLINGTON GARRISON BAND.

TO THE EMTOB. Sib— Seeing that the members of the Garrison Band are petitioning the Defence Minister to have some of the regulations relating to band management altered, I would Dko to point out some that I thought very unjust when I was a member of it. 1. Capitation being earned by the band the same as any other corps, is it then fair that they should have no voice as to its disposal, as all other corps have? 2. As bandsmen undoubtedly know their own requirements best, is it reasonable that their finances and^ff airs can be properly managed by the various commanding officers who centre all their interest ia their own corps, who know nothing about band affairs, and care loss ? 3. A balance sheet not having ever been laid before them (certainly not while I was a member), in it not natural they should like to know how their funds are disposed of ? 4. If the officers (who are the managing committee, save the mark) really took an interest in the band, don't you think that at least more than three or four old broken* winded instruments might have been provided for them. When I was a member, the only ones provided were a big drum, a cornet, and an old horn. 6. Is the committee, as at present constituted,, formed in accordance with the regulations ? I say, no. Feeling euro that good would result if the regulations were so amended as to give the members an interest in their affairs, and wishing my old bandfollowa the success their plucky efforts deserve, I am, &c, Am Ex-Membek. 22nd June, 18S8.

Sir Walter Scott one day met an Irish beggar in the street, who asked him for sixpence. The wizard could not find one, and at last gave him a shilliug, saying, jokingly, " But now, mind, you owe me a sixpence." "Och, and sure enough I do," Baid the beggar, "and God grant yer honour may live till I pay you."

; ' A VALUABLE SCRUB DESTROYER. "Bruni" writes in the Australasian, 31st March : — Mr. R. J. Murchi/ion has I for years past been engaged in the preparation of a poison that will destroy all scrub, weedw, or noxious plants, Buch as the briar, Californian thistle, Cape -weed, and Bathurst burr. After a {jreat many experiments and much thought and care, lie has at last made a combination that has ' fully answered his expectations. The poison has effectually destroyed every plant upon which it hns been tried, and the price is so moderate that it -will eventually become a great assistance to the pioneer in scrubby country. It appears that though the poison destroys all vegetable life upon 9 which it is sprinkled, tho active principle s is so volatile that it is soon dispersed, and > the soil is then fit for cultivation or prot during pasture. As a proof of this, Mr. ¦ Murchison showed me a spot in his garden 8 -which was once overrun with Cape weed. 1 The poison, which U named "The Scrub , Exterminator," was f>ealy applied to the . weeds, with the result thut all were killed. b A ciop of French beans was then grown on H the ground, which gave a heavy yield. At r first there was a strong objection to use the i beans in the house, but when it was seen r that the fowls partook of them freely with- * out any bad results, they were eaten by k Mr. Murchison's family, and found to be s excellent. t In a paddook a short distance from the - house I saw the effect of the scrub exteri initiator when applied to various plants. - Thero were gum saplings nearly a foot in 'i diameter that had been dressed with the ex- " terminator, and the result showed that the i name was not misapplied, for the young ' trees were quite dead. The action of the - exterminator is thorough, for every plant I s saw to which it hod been applied was killed b to tho uttermost fibre of its roots. Ferns c are very easily destroyed, and in some instances I noticed that under the ferns tho s grass was still growing. Where a bank of t fern had been killed for some months the i young grass was springing underneath, ' showing that the exterminator does not * destroy tbe fertility of tho soil, but merely 15 kills nil growing vej.e L .Htion. Mr., Dfurchia son explained to me that the exterminator I was sprinkled over tho leaves and stem of 8 the plant by means of an ordinary watering13 pot. It was not necessary to let any of it f fall on tho ground to kill a plant. From ¦ what I saw on Mr. Murchison's property, II I fancy tho grnss would spring naturally ? about throe months after the poibon was i applied to the soil, and much sooner if the - land is cultivated. t Tho most interesting to me of the experit ments made by Mr. Murchison was the I destruction of a large briar bush near the t houßO, tho only one in the neighbourhood. ? This was dressed with the exterminator a II few months ago, and was, at the time of * my visit, completely destroyed. The roota i were so rotten that it -was broken off short * by a kick. Those who havo had to deal 8 with this pernicious plant know from sad 1 experience how difficult it is to eradicate, i how the smallest rootlet loft in the ground c will spring into vigorous life. By merely f sprinkling the exterminator over the leaves * of a growing plant it will be killed at f effectually as if it were struck by lightning. * If the exterminator were useful for this 1 purpose alone I consider it would be a great ¦i boon to Australia. c On my expressing a wish to see the ex8 terminator applied to Borne plants, Mr. a Murchison kindly brought over to JLilaa- * berris a couple of bottles ready mixed. * This small quantity was applied to the c stump of a vigorous young gum tree which ~ was out down for the purpose. Tho tree a was over a foot in diameter, and was * crowned with a fine dark foliage, showing 8 that it; was in perfect health. The result 8 of this experiment cannot be known for 'i some time. About a quarter of a bottle was used on this tree. The remainder of the liquid was sprinkled over a yotlng gum bush about four feet high, a young wattle of the same size, a thistle, a furze bush, and a bunch of fern. Mr. Murchison said I. that though the exterminator would kill any plant by sprinkling it over the leaves it was better to put some at the roots oi plants of strong vitality such as briar, 8 furze, and strong gum scrub. The scrub exterminator is prepared in y the shape of a powder, lOOIbs. of whioh * dissolved in 300 gallons of water forms a 1 liquid strong enough to destroy Ecrub, '• Californian thistle, prickly pear, briar, ij furze, and ferns. To destroy Cape weed, 1 sorrel, burr, and small weeds twice the ' quantity of water may be used. For 2d. 1 per gallon a liquid may be prepared that r will effectually destroy any vegetable pest. f It is not dangerous to handle, but it is re- > commended that after working in it the B hands should be carefully washed, a pre- " caution anyone would naturally take, with* ' out any directions. The "scrub oxterr minator" has been patented in all the s Australian colonies, and when ita merits 8 become generally known it will come into 5 deserved repute with all who have to deal 3 with noxious weeds. It has been proved 3 extremely useful in keeping garden paths 3 and carriage drives free from weeds, one 1 watering with the weak solution sufficing * to effect a clearance of all weeds. > Since my visit to Llanberris, I havo 1 heard from Mr. Dobbin of the results of the experiments made with the exterminator in my presence. The gorse and gum r bush were completely withered in a weok. ' Tho thistles died in about 48 hours. The 8 fern was quite dead when pulled up a week after teing dressed. At that time the r wattle still showed a little life at the tips of tho branches.