FROM THE “STAR” SIXTY YEARS AGO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18629, 5 December 1928, Page 8

FROM THE “STAR” SIXTY YEARS AGO.

ADVERTISEMENTS AND NEWS OF DEC. 5, 1868. The ship Mermaid, Captain Rose, sailed from Gravesend on October 5, with immigrants. X X K Transfer of License. —The license of the Dunedin Club Hotel. Christchurch, was transferred from Shaw Crossland to Robert Hughes. « X X Wanted, a General Farm Servant, and also an Active Lad to milk. Apply to Mr T. Bruce, Gloucester Street, by nine o’clock a.m. on Monday, 7th inst. x x The sugars imported by Mr C. WTurner, ex. Rio from Mauritius, via Dunedin, have not yet come to hand. The market is not overstocked with sugars, and this importation comes opportunely. A. and P. Association. —Mr H. Crooks suggested that someone should be appointed by the society to take charge of exhibitors’ property at future shows, as he had sustained considerable loss in wines and vinegars at the last show. Mr Washbourn said it was owing to such losses as those mentioned by Mr Crooks that no one would exhibit cheese at the last show. X X x Acclimatisation. —A strong difference of opinion exists both here and in Australia about the expediency of introducing house sparrows into the colonies. Those who oppose their introduction say that they are little better than shameless robbers. The friends of the sparrows admit that they are fond of fruit and grain, but that they do much good work in the destruction of insects. We believe that this is true, and that they are useful in this way. Unfortunately for the cause of the sparrows, their depredations in the orchard are much more obvious than their good works in the other direction. One cherry tree stript of all its fruit is apt to be taken as more conclusive evidence than the destruction of ten thousand unseen caterpillars. Our attention has recently been called to a damning proof against the sparrow. A colony of these birds has taken up its abode in Dr Nedwell’s garden, where, strange to say, they are building their nests in the trees —a somewhat rare proceeding for house sparrows. An early cherry tree has attracted their attention, and not a single fruit has escaped.. If the sparrow’s continue their work at the same rate there is no chance whatever for the cherries. In a year or two the birds will be all over the country. It would be well, perhaps, for the Acclimatisation Society to decide at once whether they are to be permitted to increase. By timely precaution they

may be destroyed, but a year hence this would be well nigh impossible.