AMBERLEY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7838, 19 April 1886, Page 6

AMBERLEY.

[from our own correspondent.]

If occasional very light rain ,(with just one day's exception), such as can only be likened to the water from the fine rose of a water pot, with days of sunshine, is deemed suitable for the. autumn season of the year, then we have it in perfection, and it must be congenial to human beings, a<3 everyone remarks on the lovely weather we are enjoying. Decidedly the change in the appearance of the pasture lands, extending over to the road sides, is grateful to the eye. The farmers are, I infer, becoming more alive to the necessity of keeping their sheep clean, as an additional sheep dip has been established, and I am told that the charge is exseedingly moderate, so that no keeper of sheep should fail to avail himself of the opportunity of adding to his own profit by the increase and quality of the wool, as well as to the relief of the poor animals for many months to come. Our sportsmen have been doing fair work since the shooting season commenced, and some have brought home good bags; hares and wild fowl are plentiful, but the longtails have almost entirely disappeared. One or two have been seen, where in former times a good bag could have been obtained by a decent shot. This year is a closed one against these birds, and I fear it will never be re-opened, for as long as the system of poisoning sparrows exists there can' be but little or no game. And many farmers say, " I like a little sport, and should be glad to have a few pheasants to shoot, or to give a day to my friends, but I cannot afford to lose my corn by the pestilential swarms of sparrows." In reply, I suggest the purchase of sparrows alive by the Eoad Boards (in lieu of eggs) at a price per head. I say alive because otherwise the heads of poisoned birds might be brought. If sparrows are required alive for shooting out of a trap there would be no difficulty in obtaining them. And when you have somewhat thinned the country of these pests then return to the purchase of eggs if you please. Like taxes, they will never be got rid of entirely, but they may be reduced, and the sooner some system is commenced of this kind the better. There is no doubt it will cost money, but then it must be calculated which is the more expensive, feeding sparrows or destroying them, and it is to be remembered that the price of the.poisoned wheat will be saved, and an immediate reduction of these marauders.

The Brackenfield hounds met at the Kennels on Saturday, and the weather was certainly all that could be desired for the opening day. They are sure to find plenty of hares—too many, I fear, for a good run; but in this respect there will be an improvement as the season advances. The guns will have somewhat thinned their numbers, aided by greyhounds, as well as many questionable breeds of dogs—a long-legged description, which are given to making better bags for their owners, than those of acknowledged pedigree. Not that I am an admirer of such mongrels—on the contrary, I am quite in accord with your leader of Saturday. I hope the time is not distant when their numbers will have sensibly

diminished. Our zealous police constable will, when he has a little more leisure time, no doubt make a raid on such as now infest a certain spot in this locality, and who are many ownerless. These Bhould, after due notice, be destroyed, or if claimed wear the badge of ownership. This little town is moving" ahead. A new industry for this locality is all but started. The flour mill that I have previously alluded to as in course of erection, is now a conspicuous object, and is expected to be at work in - another fortnight, and I trust will be extensively patronised. I shall defer a description of it for a future letter, when I have seen it in full swing.