THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1898.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 3, 11 June 1898, Page 1

THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1898.

A. Conference of delegates representing the Geraldine, Levels, Mackenzie and Waimate •County" Councils was held in the Levels County office on Saturday last, to ascertain ■the best means of dealing with the small birds' nuisance. The Conference only lasted one hour and a half, but the geneial opinion of the meeting was in favour of poisoning in ■conjunction with the purchase of heads. The following resolution (taken from the Timaru Herald's report) was passed — "That tins Conference recommends that the present poisoning system be continued ; that eggs be paid for at 2d per dozen ; that heads be paid for at 3d per dozen during December and January, and during February, March, April «,nd May at 4d per dozen ; that heads of blackbirds and thrushes be paid for at Is per dozen (all the year round), and the eggs of these birds at 4d per dozen ; and that the , poisoning season be from Ist June to Ist December,". If these metHods are generally

'adopted much good will result, but we think it would be better to pay for heads in the poisoning season also. Although more expensive, it would encourage people to be carefal where they distributed the grain* One of the membeis (Mr Lyall) mentioned the method lately adopted in Waimate, that of drying the grain in a kiln, but his remarks seem to have been unheeded. Seeing that this is a matter of local interest we interviewed Mr Black, Oveiseer of the. Waimate County. "We were shown the kiln used for drying the wheat and can readily understand why birds prefer the dry, hard grain. No matter how carefully dried in the open air, there is always a certain clamminess and mustmess about the grain which would repel birds. This would be the case in a greater degree if it were kept in a damp place. The idea of the kiln was suggested to a Hook farmer while drying in an oven some poisoned wheat which had got damp. The birds ate it greedily and died in large numbers. The farmer communicated the result to the Overseer, in consequence of which .preparations were made for drying large quantifies. We went outside to the yard, and were invited to

count the "sparrows on the buildings and tre93. Not one was visible, but a few minutes after we saw three on the Council Chambers. To our own knowledge there used to be hundreds of sparrows about the Gouncll Chambers, and it is only reasonable to suppose that the causa of their disappearance has been the poisoned grain which has been about the yard from time to time. I a the country it is said to be no uncommon thing to find dozens of dead birds along the gorse fences. The best p^oea for the scattering of the grain are around horse feeders, in the bottoms of old stacks, on the roads, anywhere where the birds naturally go to find foods. They will not take it out of grass paddocks or from under treasJ The supply of poisoned wheat in Waimate is not equal to the present demand, and the kiln is to be kept going night and day -till th« demand is overtaken. If people are moving in the matter is to'be hoped they will take it Up thoroughly.' and by united astion maka such havoc among the sma'l birds that nothing need be feared from them for many years to come>