LAND AND WATER,

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 48

LAND AND WATER,

The shooting season for native arid imported game opened on Monday. Sporting men and others should remember, however, in reguard to native game, that wood pigeons, kakas, and pukaki (swamp bens) are protected this year. It should also fee borne in mind that .shooting is not allowed on Lakes Waihola or Waipori, or within half a mile of these lakes. The imported gamo comprises only hares and Califomian quail, ..nd it is necessary to take out a license before these can be shot. We learn from the secretary of the Acclimatisation Society that so far very few licenses have been taken out. For some time past there has been considerable doubt among devotees of the rod and line as to whether Lake Waihola was suitable for perch fishing. The question appears to have been set at rest by Mr Thomas M'Gill, who on a visit this week captured 13 fish, averaging over lib each, with rod and line. Mr R. M'Nab, M.H.R., captain-elect of the Murihiku Mounted Rifles, has received advice that the services of the corps have been accepted. At a meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal, Wellington, the inspector stated that he visited Miramar during the progress of the polo tournament with a view to inquiring into the allegations of cruelty to the ponies. He found that at, the conclusion of the game the ponies were very much exhausted. They were ridden with double bits and an under check-rein. He examined one *nimal and found it suffering from ringbone on one of the forelegs. The owner, in response to a question, had said that the pony would be all tight when warmed up, but promised not to work the animal again, and would turn it out on his station. The society decided to communicate with the owner of the pony, and the matter then dropped. Master George Dacre, a 14-year-old boy, when fishing at the Wade Heads last week with two Auckland gentlemen, landed 15 sharks out of a total of 29 caught. A good afternoon's work for a little fellow. The Southern Standard states that complaints by sportsmen are numerous that considerable shooting is being done amongst the wild ducks in the country districts around Gore. The same complaints have reached the ears of the rangers, and the latter are on the alert to detect those guilty of these breaches of the gaming laws. It is intended to rigidly prosecute them, if detected. In the second round for the Saville Cup in the polo tournament, Hawke's Bay defeated Christchurch by eight sroals to three : Hawera defeated Wellington B team by 15 goals to eight. In the dolo tournament at Wellington the Hawke's Bay team defeated Hawera by 15 goals to 8. A CYCLING DISPUTE Press Association-— By Telegraph — Copyright. SYDNEY, March 27. In reference to the action of the New Zealand Cycling League in refui-ing to accept the New South Wales League's entry for the Christchurch meeting, the secretary of the local league saye that they will see that they are recognised by the New /Zealand League as the governing body of amateurism in New South Wales, or else they will prevent any Australian cash riders ever competing in New Zealand.