LAND AND WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2674, 14 June 1905, Page 59

LAND AND WATER.

Trout were openly exposed for sale in Timaru on Saturday, despite the fact that the season has now bepn ciosed for two months.

Iho value of the mutton birds secured by the Maoris of Southland for this season approximates to £2300. This amount is not all profit to the Natives, however, for tho charter of the boat and the cost of stores must be deducted from it.

It is reported Lhat hares are very numerous in the Nightcaps district, and are becoming something of a pest. Efforts are being made to haye the license fee reduced, and if this were done it would help to keep the hares in check, as more persons would go m for coursing. The Christen uroh Golf Club has engaged Mr James Herd, of St. Andrews (Scotland), who is one of the celebrated Herd family of golfers, as a professional coach. Mr Herd, who takes up his duties on the 21st of this month, has just concluded a two years' coaching engagement in Tasmania. Dr- Vt allace Mackenzie, of Wellington, says the Maoris have, under the Treaty of Waitangi, the right to shoot native game all the year loand. While the young Campbells, sons of Mr Peter Campbell, of Crescent Farm, Wyndham, were one day this week, _in company with two other gentlemen, walking along the banks o£ the Wyndham River, which runs through their property, they were attracted by an eel's head peering out of some still, shallow water in a small armlet of the river. Investigation showed that this little pond was liter-ally swarming with monster eels, all twisted up in a state of torpor. With the aid of a shot-gun and a couple of hay foiks the young fellows successfully emulated the prowess of Togo in the battle Tsu-shima, in so far as scarcely one of the enemy escaped to tell of the incident. In all, 46 eels were destroyed, their aggregate weight being 7001b, and averaging 151b apiece. An autopsy of some of the biggest, which were up to 251b weight, and 4-ft 6in in length, revealed that they were gorged with juvenile members of their own kith and kin.

A curious effect of Sunday's snowstorm at Okain's Bay (according to the correspondent of the Christchurch Press) was to be seen in the river, the bed of which was literally strewn with thousands and thousands of herrings for a distance of over a mile. It is thought that the melting snow, pouring into the river, must have proved fatal to them.

A mild sensation was caused in Volunteering circles at Invercargill last week when it became known that during the course of the Wednesday afternoon's firing at Grasmere butts one of the markers, while sitting in his recess, had been struck on the hand by a bullet, two fingers being broken. Tho bullet, it appears, hit the top of the mound, and then traversed downwards. The mound has since been mads thoroughly safe. The Colao correspondent of the Orepuki Advocate states that the mutton birders have had a good season this year, their catch being about 143,000. Good prices are being obtained, ranging from Id to 5d per bird. The weal her was fine on tho islands, and very little time was lost, everyone being in perfect readiness to come home when the steamer called. It is interesting to know that a clog, which was left on tbo> islands last year by mistake, was found on their return this season none the worse for its solitary confinement of 12 months.

For shooting wild duck out of season on April 9 a. man and boy were fined £2 and £1 respectively with costs at the To Aroha Police Court.

The staff of the G-isborne Municipal AbattehH made an unusual "kill" on Sunday week (says the Poverty Bay Herald). During the heavy storm of the previous day two whales had ventured too far up