LAND AND WATER

Otago Witness, Issue 2647, 7 December 1904, Page 59

LAND AND WATER

Whaling has been very successful at Norfolk Island this season, the catch of cow , whales being a record one, 16 being captured in three weeks. | A coursing club, with a membership of [ 42, has been formed at Blacks. The club 1 has decided to affiliate with the Wellington j Union. ! The trustees of a large estate in Wairarapa Lower "Valley have complained to the ( Tourist Department of the encroachment on their pastures of large herds of deer, 1 which have been deplenishing the available herbage^ to a considerable extent. A herd in one large paddock some miles in extent is said to have numbered quite 200. The estate adjoins the deer- reserve, and the trustees are requesting the Government to fence the reserve along their frontage. About six months ago a seal swam into Puponga Harbour, in the Nelson province, and has remained there ever since. Men engaged in working at' the wharf have made a pet of the animal, and it will submit to being stroked. Every day at high water ' it- scrambles up on the deck of a stranded scow to sun itself. Some 7000 -rainbow "fry.- have been liberated in the Wakatipu Park pond by the Acclimatisation Society. About twioe that number .was secured from the Otago Society, but unfortunately nearly one-half perished in transit. — Wakatipu Mail. At a meeting of the X.akes District Acclimatisation Society on the 28th ult., the secretary stated that residents at the Greenstone were complaining about the destructiveness of a male fallow deer which was liberated in that region some time ago. The residents asserted the animal would have to be shot if something were not done. On Saturday afternoon a cable from Tasmania was received by Mr A. A. Paape at Invercargill announcing that at the Axemen's Carnival, held at Devonport, Casey and Hutton, New Zealand representatives, won the double-handed sawing contest championship, and were placed second in the inter-State teams chopping contest. DUNEDIN HOMING PIGEON CLUB. The above club held a race on Saturday t from Culverden, a distance of 248 miles air- , line. Thirty-four birds competed, and, with, the aid of a favourable wind, put up splendid velocities, which were a credit to their owners. | Mr H. Short's bird " Young 86," secured first I place, flying 246 miles 1485 yds in 4hr 25|min. I a velocity of 1636 yds lft per minute; Mr A. I Brown's' bird, "Shamrock," secured second place, flying the distance of 248 miles 1050 yds ! in 4hr 34£min, a velocity of 1593 yds 2ft per I minute ; and Mr M. Holmes's bird, '" Silvester," came third, flying 248 xni'l-es 1320 yds in 4hr 36min, a. velocity of 1586 yds per minute. The winning bird has proved himself a wonderful performer at long distances, having won the CulvtTden race three years in succession. The- next race will be from Clarence River afc 'the -end of this week, the club having abandoned the and Cape Campbell races, owing to the inconvenient time at which the steamers arrive. A SWIMMING RECORD. CHRISTCHURCH. December 4. At the Yaldhurst Swimming Club's sports tr-day J. M. Hamilton made a successful attempt to Jower lis own New Zealand record of 2min 57 4-ssec for 220 yards. He started well, swimming the first 50 yards in 30 l-ssec, ( . and'the 100 yards in 66 l-s»ec. Towards the end of the journey he slackened somewhat, taking 85seo for the second 100 yards, but finished well, completing the distance in 2min 51 l-ssec, and beating his previous record by 6 3-ssec.