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New Zealand Mail, Issue 674, 30 January 1885, Page 11

How to kill fowls is a question of.importance at the present time. There are surplus birds to be got rid of, and if these are to be killed then nearly every poultry-keeper wishes to perform the happy despatch in the manner least painful to tbe victim. We well remember our first attempt at this unpleasant work. The process of breaking the neck seemed easy enough—on paper--but when it was tried,ah!--we fain would bury the memory forever. The struggles of the. poor wretch, prolonged by our. own nervousness madeus vow that we would never attempt it again We did so, however, and learnt in time to give that twist which severs the neck. Bat it was ever a hateful business, and wc were glad when we found a bettor method —better for ourselves and better for the fowl. The plan adopted was to tie the birds up by the legs, using soft cord for that purpose. If hung against a wall with tbs head level with our breast, it was very easy 7 to manipulate it. The bird was fi.-st stunned by a blow on the head, and then the windpipe severed by means of a sharp knife. The blood flowed freely, and the action of the wings, which were left loose for the purpose, helped in that direction. In a short time the muscular action ceases, and the birds hang lifeless. This plan secures the proper bleeding of the fowls, and has certainly the advantage of preventing pain to the poor victim. We do not deny that there are those who can by a singlo turn of the wrist put out the neck of a fowl, but the amount of pain involved in the attainment of this skill is very great, whereas,, by the plan we have recommended the greatest *

novice can give “ the happy despatch” quite easily.—The Live Stock Journal.

latest shipping intelligence. io . arrived. ' ‘ Thursday, January 29. Wanftka.ss, 278 tons, Russell, from Nelson. Passengers—■'Misses Leech, and [Birch, Mrs Noble, Messrs' McAnerin and Phair, Master Birch. U.S.S. Co, agents,, _ . Waihi, s?, 63. ton?, Manning, from Blenheim. Passengers —Messrs \V atson, Schacht, and Parker.. U.S.S., Co, agents. . . Manila, 5 ‘psl 62 tons, Baxter, from Blenheim. Passengers-LMrs Baxter and child. Turnbull and Co,-agents. " ' 1 , Torea, 'Steam«yacht, Lambert, from Blenheim. ' .w ■ •• SAILED. • h. Thursday,;, January t 29, u , Hawea, ~ss, 462,t0n5, ,Hansby, for Picton and Nelsen;.. Thprpe, Mrs Lucas, Mr arid' Mrs Stoodley, '.Captain Bell, Messrs -Slhirrions;' Collins, Blair, and O’Connor. U.S.SV’Co,-'agents.' ' ' ; K ' ' !< ‘

The Union- Steamship Company’s steamed Wanaka 'arrived fhere afr s>anr yesterday-from' Nelson..-.-; She returns to.-day.w- v v-awß n. The steamers C; Manaia,;and. ii .\Yaihi - arrived, here from Blenheim,. the/formeyat 10,30 andthe latter at 10,45 airi yesterday, ha.Ying.crossed. the bar at 4V4s'ata. . /’ "'/% \ A■<A , The steam yacht Torea, belonging to Mr H. Redwood of Blehheinli arrived here yesterday' morning for the purpo.se Of being 'fitted wiHi new propeller, -and-cylinder.' by -Messrs Mills and Cable, of the Lion Foundry*,;: in ,-u. icras The foliowingyesselslwere in port yesterday: —The New Zealand Shipping pompany’s Opawa arid . Piakb‘ the former discharging at the Queen’s ‘Wharf,' and the latter loading at the Railway Wharf; the Shaw, Savill,' "and Albion barque Helen Deriny, loading at> the;.- Railway ' Wharf'; the barque' Kentish; Lass ; *th& barquentine ' Eyvor:; the Union Company’s steamers Hawea; Wanaka; and Waihi .the steamers Maori,.Manaia, and. Torea ;,the ketch,Agnes., .. ; -j.-. ... r: i i)-v.