LAND AND WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2320, 18 August 1898, Page 36

LAND AND WATER.

The Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club have decided to ask Rosiugrave (of Byduey) and A. H. Holder (of Wanganui) to compete afe the club's Novsinber meeting. The club's delegates were instructed to vote for the rtnioval of the headquarters of the Cyclists' Alliance to Wellington.

The introduction of snipe, Himalayan partridge, and a number of Australian game birds is contemplated by the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, which has also accepted an offer made by Sir Edward Buck, an Indian sportsman of repute, to assist in procuring spotted-billed duck (a bird which provides excellent sport in India) and other varieties of Indian game, which, it is believed, will readily acclimatise in our colony. The Liverpool Daily Post mentions that a world's record has been established by Coloursergeant Matthews, 12th Middlesex (Civil Service Rifles), under Queen's (Ist stage) conditions. Colour-sergeant Matthews performed the great feat of compiling the highest possible—namely, 105 points, lii/f Siting shots at 200 and 600 yards were also bulls, and that at 500 yards only just missed the " eye. _ Ihis has never been done with the Martini, lUS being the highest that has yet been made. Colour-sergeant Matthews' 8 score Avas made with the Lee-Met ford. The Southland Times reports that tlie rara avis mentioned at the meeting of the Otago Institute, known as Notornis mantelli, was caught in the bush bordering on the Middle Fiord, Te Anau, by a dog belonging to Mr John Ross (brother of the guide) only a few days ago. Mr Ross sent it down to a scientiho gentleman in Invereargill. Of course Mr Ross could not be certain that the strange bird his dog had laid at his feet was really a specimen of the Notornis. His friend, however, easily satisfied himself on that point,and at once sent it off to the university taxidermist, Dunedin. When set up it will be returned, and the fortunate owner will permit it to be exhibited for a time somewhere in town. The bird presents a general resemblance to the well-known pukaki, or swamp hen, but is of much heavier build,with short strong legs and small wings, its movements being limited to the srouna t and its habitat, tka fortf&k