LAND AND WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2510, 23 April 1902, Page 50

LAND AND WATER.

Mr Ay-on, Chief Inspector of Fishenet, who lias ju-t returned fiom an in-pert ion of tbi< oj-tn- fisheries at Stewart I-land and the iiiterineduue fisheries in the including Moeraki, ha 1 - '■pent :i couple of days at the Jlakatniamoa salmon station. Mi Ayson informs the Oamtiiu Mail that the lors add damage caii-cd by the recent flood in tito Hukatarainea \m-, Jianpily, but of a trivial nature, only about 150 yearling fish out of 20.000 having been lo<-t, with a few alewiib from the (iothic'h shipment of salmon ova, which armed early ))i Mai eh. Tilings are progressing remarkably well at the hatehori \«, and the outlook for the acclimatisation of -ahnon is highly eiirouiaging. A paity of touii'-ts recently returning acro»s Foveaux Strait fiom Stewart Island noticed a humble bee past* across the track of their steamer at a di°tance of n\ miles from the Bluff The sturdy little voyager had apparently set his compass for Dog Island. Ife it not quite unusual for such an mpect to be found so far away from tcira firma/' The Timaru Herald states that the result of the opening of the shooting season m Oiago on Apiil 1 has boon to drive the ducks on to northern water.- Numerous mobs both of grey and paradi<-c may be teen flying over the town daily. A pigeon-flying race was flown from Ashburton to Oamaiu on the 15th mst. for a trophy presented by Mr O. R. Wise The weather was unfavourable foi pigeon-flying, and coii o equently slow times were ierorded. The results are n<- follows — Mi J M'Combie's Rousfh Rider 2lir 41mm 40-er. 1 ; Mr C Biowu'u Loaiaty, 3hi 42uiia 3j»f,c. Z; Mr

G. Wray's Carbine 11, 3hr 50min 7sec. 3; Mr R. Wilson's Blackthorn 11, 4. The thanks of the club are due to Mr J. Hl.H 1 . Stevens for liberating the birds, and Mr J. Genge for noting as timekeeper, also to Mr O. R. Wise- for his trophy. With a view to putting* a stop to shooting cut of Feason, the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society has engaged the services of an energetic ranger, who will watch the shooting gsounds north and south of Timaru till the opening day. Hares are very plentiful this season, and seme excellent eporfc has been afforded at South Forest Hill, Oreti Plains, and Heddon Bush. — Winton Record. The Christ church City Council having agreed to present a pair of white swans- to the Rotorua Sanatorium, several of its employees, with Dr B. Moorhouse, made an excursion down the river the other morning. The birds were found, and after a good chase, m which two boats took part, a very fine pair were secured, which will be forwarded on to Rotorua. Mr Williaci Martin, the champion YankeeAustral cycliot, left Wellington by the Warrimoo, recently, for Sydney. Speaking to a representative of the Po3t, he said that he was pleased with his tour in the South Island, and that it was more than likely that he would return in July to race at the indoor carnival at Chr*itohureh His proposed visii, t j Europe would, in that case, be abandoned It was unlikely that he would cor.ippto in Australia during next racing reas-c-. "' 1 find the work too hard now, especially the handicap racing. Some handicappei ■» have no idea of what a fair thing is. They put a rider who is at all successful further and further back until it is a wonder that some racers, who are real triers, do not drop dead on the track. I want to race where it will not be too hard work, and, therefore, the next New Zealand season will find mo over here."' Asked as to when he meant to leave the track, Mr Martin said that when he found he could no longer hold his own in firbt-class company he would "" quit." We (Timaru Post) understand that the highest score made in the North Canterbury district was 108. so that Timaru takes both medals for the South Island, Private A. Burford's score beinsf 11?. .-md Tro say.-. 109. The Ni.itii Oiugo 'lime, s-.n.-. x ei^ao highest -i orers m Otago ior the Government) medal for shooting are: Corporal A. M'Ken/.ie (Queen's Rifles, Oamaru), 108; Lance-corporal Cooper (Waikari Rifles), 102; Sergeant Shank (Gore Rifle*), 100 ; Sergeant Poole (Dunedin Riflea), 95 : Private Dippie (.North Dunedin Rifle.->), 95; Private Keay (Southland Mounted Rifles), 9*; Private Kelly ((Joro Rifles), 91; Sergeant Spiers (Waitaki Mounted Rifles), 91. Our local crack is to be complimented on topping the list for Otago The highest aggregate for the trophy presented to the Owaka Riflc-o by Lieutenants Riehaideon and Latta was put on by Private Craig. Mr E. Mcnlove has presented a fine pair of white swans, which were recently captured on one of the lagoons at Windsor Park, after a long and exciting chase, to the Acclimatisation Society for the Oamaru Gardens. The birds reared a brood of five cygnets this year, and one of these will keep his parents' company on the fancy water courses in the gardens. The other cygnets all got away from their would-be captoro. From the Southland News, 11th irst. : Unfavourable weather in the north on Weduesday prevented the Invorcargill Homing Society from flying th». principal race of the young bird eenes, but the event was duly got off ye=t->rday (Thursday). The race was irom SeaclitF, and a log prevailed at the starting point, \«th dull and threatening weather all the way, but the birds worked well, and a elo^e and interesting race resulted. Tnu'iial interest attax-'ned to tho contest, as it was the first occasion on which the sexes met m competition, and all fanciers were keen on scoring a win. and when it was announced 'hat the club's indefatigable secretary (Mr W. J. Noble) had achieved the ccvet»d honour, one and all expressed satisfaction. The first bird took Mr H. S. Kyle's trophy and a club prize, while tho second contestant also W3<s to receive a club prize and a trophy presented by Mr A. Fer-pus-on The winner had a short time to the good, but a great uue eventuated between the next three birds, and, after allowing for position of lofts, Mr Day was in third place, while Messrs R. Blackham and 11. Double tied for second, the time of the two birds working out even to the fraction of an inch. The race was over an airline of 123 miies, and fight lofts were represented by So bird*. The <lub desire to thank tho «,tati(jiimaster at Her.cliff 'or the care taken of the birds during the time they waited libcraticti. The following are the places and velocities attained — W. J. Noble's blue eh cock Norwester, 826 yd? 3in ; R. Blackham's White Swan 823ycf»* lft lm : H. Double's blue cheq. hen Dainty, 823 yds lft lin ; R. Day <? 823 yds 3in, G. Mnckay'a 812 yds, R. Longley's 806 yds. R. H. Joyce's Ring No. 61 801 yds, J. -Fnend 795 yds. Mr Joyce's No. 60 also timed in 800 yds. This event conclude-, the iacing season, and the result of the young bird races given the following result" for the club's aggregate prize: H. Double 61* points. W. J. Noble 474 points, R. H Joye. and R. BLackham 43| points, (J. Mac-kay 40 points. A Blenheim telegram strte* that the loca Oun Clvh 1 s pigeou match for JLIOO was divided between J (Jrwg urn) Price two nominations each) and J H. Redwood, E Chfeeseman. and: F. Redwood (one nomination each). A further «urn of £10 and a medal were won by MrJ.il. Red w ood. ____^_