WINCED FRIENDS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13540, 18 October 1907, Page 6

WINCED FRIENDS.

A PLEA FOR THE LITTLE BIRDS. At the meeting of the Stratford County Council, on Wodnesda3 T , tho Taranaki County Council's proposal to have a Taranaki district gazetted under the Birds Nuisance Act, 1902, with the object of taking united action against the small birds nuisance, was discussed. Councillor Thomson moved that the suggestion should not be entertained. Councillor Christoffel seconded. Councillor BroAvn moved .that the Council should express itself in sympathy with the suggestion and should cooperate ' with the Taranaki County Council. He spoke of the loss to croppers caused by the birds and regretted that the nuisance was growing. Councillor Hine seconded. The Chairman (Councillor Marchant) admitted that at cropping times thp birds created a nuisance, but held that for the rest of tho year they werefriends of the agriculturist. He did not like the amendment, as he thought tho Stratford Council could protect itsown area without joining in a scheme over which it would not have control. He went in for cropping fairly largely and had successfully coped with the nuisance by laying poisoned wheat. Birds were to an extent confined to localities and this system of poisoning destroyed only those on mischief bent. Councillor McCutchan also had a word to say in defence of tho birds. Ho said that in a certain year the ground was fouled by a plague of caterpillars. The tremendous loss of grass made the situation serious. But disaster was averted — the birds came to the rescue and saved the situation. He remombered on a far back section in a certain locality myriads of caterpillars eating their way slowly but surely across the farms. They had readied a paddock of his and had cleaned the grass off half of it when a big swarm of birds hove in sight. With lightning rapidity the birds swooped down upon tlte destroyers, and though they seemed to scarcely stop in their flight to a neighbouring wood they completely cleared the section of caterpillars, and while one half of the paddock was bare the other was as green and fresh as ever — saved by the birds. The Chairman mentioned another caterpillar plague. A good many years ago, he said, the plague was so bad about Waitotara that the farmers could not reap a harvest of wheat or corn.

It was decided not to co-operate with the Taranaki County Council as suggested.

Omata Store.