LAND AND WATER

Otago Witness, Issue 2509, 16 April 1902, Page 50

LAND AND WATER

Laat week sonic good rabbit shooting was obtained in the Rakaia river bed. On Thursday two mon shot 357 rabbits in seven hours, whilst another party of 15 from Christc hurcli secured 1229 rabbits as the result of two daj V shooting. — Christchurch Pros--The Taien Advocate .-tatos that a narrow escape from a serious accident occurred the other night near Maungatun. While two well known W< j-,tj -,t Taien pportomen were out in quest of duck", and had arrived at a, lagoon where they could hear ducks quaekiug, they derided to wade towariL the ducks. An enthusiastic young sportsman, who happened to be waiting about the lagoon, hear ing a splashing &ouiid, took it for granted that the sound was railed by a flock of duck*, and discharged both barrelb of his gun" in the direction of the supposed ducks. His teelings may he imagined when he heard an agonised yell, which greeted the discharge of hit gun, for both sportsmen received a number of pellets about the lower limbs Needless to say the young sportsman found it necessary to leave the vicinity in double-quick time, as the air was getting very eulphury. Several stoats ha\p been teen in the Linwood (Canterbury) district lately, and a fullqrown one was found asleep in a baby's cradle. The mother was just putting the child into the cradle when she noticed the animal. In her fright she (hopped the baby on to the floor and ran. The stoat tie camped. A black owan wac shot in tho \llnnty of Wyndham during the week. The Southland Times 111 a reooni issue teported that a party of five spoitsmpn on the Otakau 0:1 the opening day of the feason beoured 78 i\\n ks, which justifieß the icmark, we think, that they Miould be heavily fined for t-ueh wholesale i-laughter No wonder parne is becoming «enrce when *o < allwl sportsmen go out on a war of ex termination. When --can ity of game is re ferred to poi-oned grnin. Tenets, and nca^lfii get t ho eiedit, but the men of " big bags, " are tho human ferrets that do more harm in one day than all the natural enemies of the cluck would do in a yeai. — Western Star. Unaware that his rifle was loaded with bhot the starter of a Mvnnming race in the River Murray (Victoria) fired towards the compptitoi - One of the swimmers was fatally wounded as he was in the act of diving. Roller skating i» again "catching 011 '' in Chrititelmrch The aviary at Rotorua. already one of the moat perfect in the colony, is being added to to such an extent that it mii'-t prove a decided attraction, not meiely to tourists but to colonials ps well. It if «ituntpd in the magnificent gardens of the Sanatorium, and already contains specimens of ducks of several vanetie*. swans, kiwi, weka, pukeko, while now kakapo and kca arc being obtained, bO that the aviary will contain all available specimens of the water fowl and land birds peculiar to New Zealand. Much is heard of the New Zealand birda, but tra\ellers and many others unable to get out into the bush have in the past had few opportunities of seeing them. Tho annual meeting of the South Island Couraing Club was held at Oamaru on the 7th mat., Mr O. R. Wise in the chair. There was a large attendance of members. The annual report was read. The members were congratulated on the pplendid results attained and the increasing importance of the club in coursing circles. Reference was made to the success of tho Plumpton meeting held last May, and attention drawn to the largely increased prize money and entries for the coming meeting. Tho year ended with the sjilonditl credit balance of £110, a fact which, considering the position of the club at the commencement of the year and the fact that the nominations did not equal the prize money, was exceedingly satisfactory. The coming meeting was expected to be very much better even than last year's. The committee were most grate- ' ful to all those who had assisted to bring the club into its present very high position. The report nnd balance sheet w6ro con- ! sidered exceedingly satisfactory, and were adopted. After the annual meeting the committee met to complete arrangements for the coming meeting. Mr J. Mitchell was appointed judge, the selection of a slipper being left over meanwhile. The Christchurch Homing Society held a race from -Culverclen on Saturday, sth insf:., being the annual Oaks Race for hens only bred this season. Sixty five birds competed, representing 16 lofts. Owing to rain in the northern district the velocities reeordca wpio

tanoe of 50 miles 492 yds in 2hr 37min 7seo, with a velocity of 56.3yd5. Following are the results: — G. Pmrott's Lyddite, 563 yds per minute; A. Johnstone's Retrieve, 561 yds;' H. Berry's Iris, 506 yd*; F. Bull's Waterlily, 449 yd s; A Gerard's Lady Hordern, 437 yd s; F. Wilbon's Mercia, 430 yd s; A. Stewart'* Pauva, 425 yds: F. Unwin's Sea Foam, 423 yds: W. Siiiten's No. 270, 417 yds; H. Spring's Tourist, 406 yd s; F. Bntterfield'n Conundrum, 393 yds. Mcs«in Smith, Kingsford, Sloan, Johnson, and Close also^com* peted. Inspector Moorhoiise, of the Tourist De. partment, has returned from Stewart Island, where ho liberated 15 young red deer, the majority of which weio got from Victoria and the remainder bred in Wairarapa. They \v°ee set free on the Freshwator River, which runs into Caerlowel arm of Paterson Inlet. Some sportsmen have made good bags in. the vicinity of Invercargill this season. A party of five on the Otakau on the opening day secured 78 ducks — Mr J. Thornbury 36, T. Milburn 20, J. Fosbinder 13, F. Fo*biiuler 7. and T. Double 2. In view of the near approach of the shooting season (~iys a northern exchange) the Govenrment regulations on the subject may be of interest. Sportsmen may not. use anything but a shoulder gun, which must not exceed size No. . 10 at the muzzle, 101b in weight, or bo fitted with barrels exceeding 36in in length. Licenses must be obtained to sell game, but any person taking out a license to sell imported game, is not required to make any extra payment for a license to sell native game, although both licenses must be taken out if it is intended to kill and sell both kinds of game. No game can be exported without the written consent of the Colonial Secretary, nor held in possession 'ater than seven days from the close of the season. The shooting season will open on May 1. and close on July 31, except in Otago, where the season is from April 1 to June 30. The Oamaru Rifles fired their fourth match counting for the aggregate on the Beach Range on Thursday last. Private Dewar takes the trophy for the highest score for the day. The conditions, were seven *hots and two sightcrs at 600 and 700 yd Timaru Pigeon Flying Club has commenced the training flights for young birds, working along the railway southwards. Their programme works up to a race, from Invercargill on May 22. Before leaving Christrhurch, Mr W. Martin .the champion cyclist, presented Mr F. E. A^quith, secretary of the Clnistchureh Cyclinsr Club, with a very handsome gold albeit, as a memento of his visit here.