WAIRATO DISTRICT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7000, 24 April 1884, Page 6

WAIRATO DISTRICT NEWS.

[FBOM OUB OWN COBBESPONDKNTS.I

Hamilton, Wednesday. Mb. McLaughlin, ef Papatoetoe, with Mr. Price, Engineer, of the Thames, are now at Woodlands, making a trial of the steam dredging machine for outting and deepening the swamp drains, whioh has been invented by the former gentleman, and constructed by the firm of which the latter ie a member. Some delay has been occasioned in the experiments now being carried on, through having to send to the Thames to effect .some slight necessary alterations in the gear, but on receipt of these experimental operations will be again resumed. ; The foJlowing notice of motion has been f'ven for the next sitting of the Hamilton orough Council on Monday: "That the clerk furnish a return to the next meeting of this Council, showing the amount of money paid to solicitors by the borough since the formation of the borough, and the names of the particular solicitors to whom it has been paid, and for what." Cambbidge, Wednesday.

There is a very strong counter feeling growing against the proposed wholesale destruction of small birds by poison by the Highway Boards in June next. Apart altogether from the legality of tho proceeding as viewed from one or two aspects, it is felt by very many that the step in the interests of the agriculturist is a wrong one. The harm that the small birds do at harvest and at seed time isdoubtless very annoying, but after all, the question arises whether this percentage of damage should not be looked upon as the premium paid by the farmer for the safety of his crop from the ravages of the caterpillar and other inseot pests. Certain it is that before the small birds bad largely increased in number in country districts a man might sow, but he could never be sure that he would reap. Swarms of caterpillars swept, not only the cornfields, bnt the very pastures bare and brown, and even where a crop of growing grain escaped them, it was only to be destroyed while yet too green in the ear to harvest. Many a one in the old days has stood in a field of oats on a still night, and heard the "pat, pat" upon the ground of the pickles of grain as thoy fell tp the earth, out through the stem just below the ear by the caterpillars. Those who remember these days will be glad to learn that at Saturday's meeting of the Cambridge Highway Board, more than one member spoke against the wholesale poisoning soheme. There are quite as many persons, amongst them men of large practical experience, suoh as Mr. J. C. Firth and others, who have also large interests at stake, who are quite as anxious to preserve the small birds as there are those who desire to destroy them in suoh wholesale manner as proposed. The keeping within reasonable bounds the increase of these is a matter whioh may well be left to individual- efforts, but the public generally are not inclined to admit the legality of expending the public rates on- such a purpose; or ef the members of any Highway Board employing persons to scatter poisoned grain; along the highways as proposed, whether the persons owning the adjoining properties approve of the destruction of the birds or not. L • • " '

: Toe trial of Mr. McLaughlin's tea-tree cutting maohine at Cranstoun was so muoh a success that several of the maohines have been ordered by settlers in this district. A description of the maohine has already appeared in this column. The entranoes for the several events in the forthcoming Autumn meeting of the Cambridge Jockey Club, to be held on Wednesday and Thursday next, give promise of one 6f the beat day's sport ever seen in Waikato. The course, too, is in excellent condition, and the season most suitable for a large attendances 1 from all parts of the district. The steamer Delta will ran as usual from Ngaruawahia and Hamilton.

It is stated' that should the decision, on Friday, in the Pukekura lioensing election be that the votes of those of the temperance party, who left only four nan.es on the ballot papers instead of five, are thereby rendered void, the same rule will apply to a large number who voted on the other side, and left only three names on the ballot papers nricanoelled. ; ' __^^_