LAND AND WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2287, 30 December 1897, Page 35

LAND AND WATER.

Many complaints are being made hy owners of homing pigeons about the numbers that are losb in the flight between Invercargill ancl Chmtchurcb. Ttie last race from Invercargill (writes the Christchurch correspondent of the Cluthi Leader) was attended with most disastrous raaults, as only 12 birds out of 18 managed ito teach home. When euch birds as Crusader, a I bird which has successfully flown every course in the colony, failed to put in an appearance the day of thfl race, suspicion of foal play was ! immediately raised. .This suspicion was fully borne out when the old bird struggled home four days afterwards, pretty well riddled with shot, but without his twojoft companions, both itood birds. On the Saturday previous to the Invercavgill race a race was flown from Bal« clutha, and all the birds "homed," some o£ them making very good time. It ib suspected ,her*e that the birds ate shot between Invercargill and Bftlclutha, and I hear that the Flying Cub have received information that a resident of Balclubha has been known to shoot at the little messengers on their journey. It is worth knowing that the penalty for Bhooting these birds is pretty heavy, and as they are all branded the perpetrator is sure to bo found out sooner or later. A Cbristcburch telegram states lhat the New Zealand Swimming Association h*s fixed the following dates for the Australasian Champion*hip meeting : — February 26 and March 1 and 3. Competitors are expected from Queensland, New Sotfth Wales, and various parts o£ New Zealand.-

Melbourne papers state that it is the intention of Chapman, the New Zsaland champion, sculler, to proceed to England -and engage with some of the best English amateurs in sculling. A Sydney cable states that the 440 yds Swimming Championship of the colony at B attaint was won by Lane, beating Percy Cavill by 4yds. Time, 6min 12J?ec.