LAND AND WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2206, 11 June 1896, Page 31

LAND AND WATER.

The Oamai'u Mail's Wsimate correspondent writes : " Tho beach is searched every night and early morning between Timaru and Oamaru for frost fish, and a number have been found. One man counted 20 heads of fish that had come ashore and been devoured by the gulls. The weight of the fish is fiom 61b to 13lb, and they are in excellent condition."

On the 3rd inst. a remarkably fine specimen of the ribbon fish was found by Messrs Tipler and Hanker washed up on the beach at New Brighton. It was measured, and found to be 9ft 6in long and 18in in .width.

During the last few days a number of haku, or king fish, have been caught on the beach about Timaru, one of the latest specimens weighing about 161b being caught yesterday morning opposite the Belford mill. The fish are driven on to exposed beaches, but for what reason is not clearly known. In this colony it is not often that the king fish are seen farther south than Cook Str&ib. The flesh is very rich and well-flavoured, bub, like all fishes of this clang, muet be eaten quite fresh. They are goneiaUy of two distinct sizes, the smaller about 61b in weight and 20in long and the larger abjut 4 ft in length and weighing up to 40lb.—Timaru Herald.

Mr W. D*wson gave a smoke concert to the members of the Caledonian Bowling Club and a few friends in Mr Blaney's Hotel on Friday evening. In one of the rooms the party devoted themselves ' to tinging, &c, while in another part of the house a sumptuous supper was provided. All seemed to eaji^v tfeeow«lr«s

thoroughly, and Mr Daweon was aisiduous in bis attention to the wants of his guests. A capital musical programme was presented, vocal items being given by Messrs W. F. Young, Manson, Torranoe, and many others. Mr Robertshw aoted as aoconipanUt, and Mr Baker's band gave several (elections. Messrs Capstick and Hogg made efficient stewards. Towards the close of the evening's festivities .Mr Thornton proposed the health of Mr C F. Greenslade, which was drunk with musical honours, The Taieri Advooate reports that a splendid stag with fine antlers was seen the other day in the vicinity of Mr W. Reid's run at Lee Stream. The animal had probably come from the direction of Waikouaifci. A settler in the Feilding distriob has bad to pay about £4 for shooting a hen pbe%saut on bis own land. Whitebait h*ve appealed in th; M-waawatu river, which is almost a mo th earlier than usual. 'Che Natives ge.""-al!y sny wheu the whitebait corae puriy ,i <iry mmmtit ensues. A London cable ata^us tint Murdoob, playing for Sussex v. Somerset, scoied 144. A tkate was caught at Sumner measuring 7ft 6in long and 4ft 4in from fin to fin, and weighing about lewt. The total expenses in connection with the trip of the New Zealand rowing representatives to Sydney amounted to about £130, all of which has been raised by voluntary subscriptions throughout the colony. ' * * The Wakatip Mail says that the sale of netting licenses for the ensuing year realised good prices, the total being £95 15s as against £77 2s 6d last year. On account of the season not opening for more than four months, the terms were easy — namely, £1 deposit on oaoh purchase and the balance on approved bills at four and five months.