LAND AND WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2675, 21 June 1905, Page 57

LAND AND WATER.

The whaling season has commenced on the northern coast. Messrs Jagger and Harvey received a telegram a few days ago from Mr H. F. Cook, of Whangamumu, stating that two large whaks had been captured. The latest news from the Sydney athletic world is of interest. R. J- Scott, New Zealand's champion wrestler, defeated Gunga Brahm under oatch-as-catch-can rules. Scott secured two falls in 4-min 2sec and smin 20sec. Scott has now engaged to wrestle Groth and then Buttan Singh. _ | Reports to hand from various districts throughout the Ashburton County point to the fact that hares are rapidly increasing, and that they are doing much damage to turnip and rape crops, young plantations, fruit gardens, etc. The increase in the hares is attributed to the fact that for several years past export buyers paid 9d to Is per hare, and at present little or no demand is made at 6d per hare— a price that offers no inducement to farmers and olhers to exterminate the pest. _ | The Kaikoura -whalers are busy preparing for the whaling season, and intend to commence operations almost immediately. Several whales have -already been' seen, and a good ©eason is anticipated. Discussing the proposal to introduce bears into New Zealand, Mr L. F. Ayson stated to a New Zealand Times reporter that when in America recently he was* in the bear country on the Sacramento and M'Leod Rivers. The black bear is not at all dreaded m America. During the salmon-spawning season large numbers of them visit the rivers *and feed on salmon -which die from injuries received in the journey to the spawning grounds. The species of bear considered dangerous in America are the grizzly and the cinnamon. _ An interesting test of endurance is to be made shortly by Mr W. H. Thomas.- a long-distance walker, -who purposes storting from the Chief Post Office, Auckland, on Saturday, June 17, at 1 p.m., on a walk to Wellington, via Napier. Mr Thomas has twice walked the 206 miles separating Christchurch and Dnnedin, and he also walked from Christchurch to Hokitika, this journey being, he says, the worst he -ever experienced. Another walk on better roads j which Mr Thomas undertook was between | Liverpool and London. 211 miles, which , were covered in 3d shr 15min. If the Auckland-Wellington roads are too bad for walking- Mr Thomas will postpone his start. A Sydney message states that Towns ana Stansbury have begun active training. HAWKE'S BAY G-TTN CLTJB. NAPIER, June 19. The winter .meeting of the Hawke's Bay Gun Club took place at Whakatu to-day, when the Open Handicap, of lOOsovs," was fired for. Thirty-one competed, including the best shots in the colony. Messrs D. Fraser, of Hororata, Canterbury, and G-. Chees&man, of Blenheim, divided the chief prize, killing 15 birds each, and each taking £40. Messrs T. Parker, E. H. Eccles, and T. Storey, with 14 kills each, divided the rein&inder of the prize-money.

Mr G. H. M. M'Clure and Mr T. N. Broderick, district surveyors, were to commence towards tho end of last week the survey of the subdivision of Mr H. D. Buchanan's Kinlooli Esibate, which has been acquired by the Government under the Land for Setlements Aot. , I At the Kaitangata Court last week ArchiI bald Manderson was fined £4- on a charge of using obscene language at the Bridge Hotel. The bench commented strongly on ihe frequency of this evil, and said there would bo no oj>tion in future. Robert Waddingbon was also fined £4 for using obscene language and £1 for committing a breach of the peace, and William M'Kinna was fined £1 10s for committing a breach i of. the jjeaoa..